quick dumb sewing question

[phdlife]

What's the best way to affix a band of really narrow ribbon around the hem of a top you're making for a lo?

I can't quite picture what you mean but zigzag stitching over it in a contrast colour would be pretty.

hmmm can't find a quick pic to show you - I just want to put a line of ribbon that goes all the way around the top - a bit like this except that really narrow ribbon, 3mm wide or something - I can kind of imagine the zigzag stitch idea working but actually in this case I really wanted the satiny look.

Image isn't loading for me.

At 3mm I would really struggle to attach it nicely, I'll be honest. It should be possible to sew straight parallel to the length of the ribbon, on either side, just on to the ribbon (ie at 0.2mm and 2.8mm or something) but it would be a huge ballache.

Alternatively you could look at anchoring it every 20mm or so with a pretty button or cross-stitch. Still fiddly, but easier and deliberate-looking.

Hope this bumps to someone with more skill!

Think I'd just use one row of machining along the top edge of the ribbon.

two rows might cause it to pucker.

ok well I'll give it a shot, though I'm only learning to sew and extremely crap at straight lines... maybe glue?

Use a Thicker ribbon then!

sew r-e-a-l-l-y slowly and be prepared to unpick! if you go around a corner or over a bulky hem and think the machine might get a bit caught up and snag/cause a balls up, sew manually with the machine over these llittle bits - ie turn the big wheel on the right with your hand, then go back to the peddle.

hope that helps?

oh, and: have you got enough ribbon/any old extra leftover stashes that you could practise with first??

might save it for this evening then. whenever I get the machine out, ds (5) is in here like a flash, insists on pressing the pedal for me!

I've done something similar using satin-finish bias-binding, think it was finished by hand, but looks surprisingly good so will do it again.
An alternative would be to use large tapestry-type needle and simply sew narrow ribbon through.

Did you do it phdlife? after reading showtime's suggestion, made me think- you could do machine embroidery satin stitch with a nice thread instead of actual ribbon.

have you got the ribbon?
i've attached ribbons as waistbands before - just overstitch about 1mm from the edge.

it will be hard to attach the second edge, as it will make a bulky movement - hard to describe, but it'll runkle.

no I haven't tried, all my nights are broken atm and I'm flaking out really badly the minute the kids are down. It's funny, it seems such an obvious thing to do to me but the mechanics of it are surprisingly difficult. Know exactly what you mean, nickel - 'runkle'. exactly.

i know about broken nights!

what you could do is use the free-arm part of the machine and pull it tight (without making the stitches tight) round the free-arm.
in theory, this should hold the fabric down so it doesn't runkle.
I can't do it on my machine because the bed bit doesn't come off (my overlocker does it though)