Who stitches with ribbons?

In your year of becoming a Kreinik thread expert, we've been studying Kreinik A To Z. This week's

lesson is: R Is For Ribbons. They may not be as well known as Kreinik Braids, but Kreinik's metallic ribbons are staples to many needle artists and growing in popularity among younger stitchers. Why; who stitches with ribbons? Let's find out.

Embroidery

A few decades ago, ribbon embroidery on denim was hot. Kreinik and Leisure Arts published a "how to use metallic ribbon in embroidery" booklet that was popular. Fast forward to today, and embroidery on clothing is back, albeit in an updated style and on different fabrics. Embroidered costumes—like the ones by Michele Carragher in Game of Thrones—are in demand. The more embroidery in general grows in popularity, the more stitchers seek out a variety of threads to make their designs dimensional and interesting. Kreinik 1/4" Ribbon, for instance, was created by request from Japanese embroiderers who wanted a wider size. It is now used in general embroidery for specialty stitches like woven spider web roses and other flower stitches. 

Needlepoint 

The draw of stitching with a ribbon is the flat texture. When used in needlepoint, a metallic ribbon gives you maximum light reflection. Needlepointers have found that Kreinik 1/16" Ribbon gives great coverage in tent stitch on 18-mesh canvas, while Kreinik 1/8" Ribbon is good on larger mesh. Couching techniques use the wider 1/8" Ribbon for layered stitches. The way we make the ribbons—a woven braid, if you will—means they are flexible and move easily into any specialty stitch. 

Plastic Canvas

The flat ribbons have been used to stitch plastic canvas projects for years because they cover so beautifully and give a smooth look. Young stitchers are picking up this medium as an alternative to cross stitch fabric, and finding the need for fibers that cover the edges.  Both 1/8" Ribbon and 1/4" Ribbon work perfectly on plastic canvas.

Cross Stitch

Yes, you can cross stitch with a flat ribbon like 1/16" or 1/8" Ribbon, even on the traditional 14-count Aida (just use a larger needle). It makes an interesting border when worked in giant "X" formation. Also, as people are looking for more unusual items to stitch on, such as screens, pegboard, chairs, etc, the larger size such as 1/4" Ribbon covers nicely. The pop of color from the metallic, and the flat surface from the ribbon combines to make a stand-out design or stand out area in a cross stitch design.

Fiber Art

As people expand their creative passions into felting, sculpture, weaving, machine embroidery, and other fiber arts, they are mixing materials to make things more interesting. There are no rules to this kind of creativity, which is exciting. They depend on a variety of textures, finding flat ribbons to be ideal companions to round yarns, stiff real metals, round hardware parts and such. It all works together to make any fiber art more dimensional. 

Fly Fishing

If you're mate's a fly fishing fan, you may have noticed them stealing some of your metallic threads for their lures. Fish love the sparkly stuff. The ribbons are used for wrapping, bodies, and wings. Shred the ends a bit to make the thread ravel (use this technique in needlework too, for interesting stitches and fuzzy texture). 

And more

There are so many other uses for flat metallic ribbons, the options are truly endless. They are great in tassels, as bookmarks, as decorations in hair styles, wrapped around bouquets, luggage identifiers, and ornament hangers. The sparkle adds elegance when anywhere. They offer color, shine, a flat texture, and a 3-D touch. 

Try ribbons for your next creation, or keep some on hand for decorating emergencies. For more information:

• Kreinik 1/16" Ribbon color range: http://www.kreinik.com/shops/1-16-Ribbon-10m.html
• Kreinik 1/8" Ribbon color range: http://www.kreinik.com/shops/1-8-Ribbon-5m.html
• Kreinik 1/4" Ribbon color range: http://www.kreinik.com/shops/1-4-Ribbon.html