Ribbons

Ribbons play an important role in (almost) everyday life. Being a flexible material to express creativity with, it was appealing before and it is still appealing today. A simple strand of colored threads can be made into something wonderful. Not many people posses a talent for doing magic on ribbons, although many try it as a hobby, not all have the love for mixing and matching different ribbons. I think that I do not have the ability and type of creativity to work on ribbons but I still find it interesting. My mother loves ribbons and she mixes and matches it for our store. I accompany her on her ribbon triumphs but I do not look at ribbons the way she does. Although many people out there (like me) are interested and like ribbons not everyone love it.

1History

The first sign of ribbons was used by the Egyptians it was the basis of their clothing. A ribbon, or at least strips of cloth, was used to hold up their lower garments. These strips of fabric were also used around the waist to give some shape to a garment. The more complicated and unique the clothe the higher the status of the wearer, in other terms a plain piece of clothing were for slave as more elaborate pieces were for wealthier people. This way of dressing continued on towards the Greek and Roman eras.

In the Middle Ages people began to use more elaborate designs for clothing. At that time the bodice was widely used, it was fastened tightly to the back using ribbons. In the twelfth century the skirts had become fuller and had more designs and pleats than before. At the beginning of the fourteenth century there was a growing difference in men and women’s clothing. At this time clothing was tighter and figure-hugging that ever. Hairstyles and headdresses also changed in style from old ways of hairdressing to more modern ways. By the sixteenth century Henry VIII loved richly decorated garments and headdresses, and to protect himself and the court from being copied by everyone he introduced the legislation preventing anyone but royalty and aristocracy from wearing decorative embroidery. At this time shoes were also elaborately decorated with rosette ribbons and ladies styled their hair with the use of ribbons. The ribbon fashion was greatly demonstrated by Queen Elizabeth I, whose was always decorated with ribbons, bows and embroidery.
As garments evolved to petticoats and stockings with breeches all of it were usually seen with ribbons. Ribbons were used everywhere from gowns to hair, bonnets to shoes, sashes and rosettes it was even used on children. Ribbons were for the first time used in curtains and cushions.

2Ribbons were produced in a dazzling variety of weaves and colors; plain, striped, checked, waters, shot, shaded, and figures ribbons were all widely available.
England was at the epicenter of ribbon production and seized its chance for industry. Ribbon manufacturers prospered and ribbons were shipped to France, London and Italy. At this time ribbons were loomed weaved and the introduction of the Dutch Engine Loom made it possible for weavers to weave four ribbons at a time.
The demand for ribbons increased and it almost became and industry in itself in coastal villages but yet the demands were still not met.
Then cam the two year craze of scallop-edged ribbon, but when the death of a Member of the Royal Family would make the fashion world mourn with black.
Then department stores sprang up and fashion was no longer about nobility as it had been before. Off-the-rack clothes were available for the very first time. And two items in almost every woman’s wardrobes was the parasol and wide-brimmed hat, both were ornately decorated with bows and ribbons. Handbags was now introduced to the world and was decorated with…what else…ribbons. Ribbon factories were made using engine looms and ribbons were being traded around the world.
From the 1930s ribbons has lost its role in fashion but still stays true to gift-wrapping. Nowadays the world is rediscovering the ribbon crafts.

3, 1Basics

A. Types of Ribbons
There are different types of ribbons sorted by styles, colors and textures varying by width. It is purchased by yard or by meter or reels. There are ribbons for clothes which have selvages sewed onto the sides. While some have wires woven into them to help shape the bows but most gift ribbons are non-woven with sealed edges that don’t ravel. Different ribbons are available for different uses, prices being more expensive for high-quality used in clothes and décor which last long, while cheaper ones are used for gift-wrapping sold in boutiques.
1. Satins
Satin ribbons are glossy, shiny and smooth which can be single or double faced, it comes in so many colors, patterns and finishes, it is a flexible ribbon which can be used anywhere.
2. Taffetas
Taffeta ribbons have a fine, smooth, cloth-like weave that results in making it reversible. Often copper wires are woven into its edges to shape the taffeta into different shapes. Widely available in different styles, colors and patterns, a bit more expensive than stain ribbons.
3. Grosgrains
The weave pattern of this type of ribbon finishes with a crosswise rib. It is strong and is available in a wide range of colors and patterns.
4. Jacquards
A ribbon with a design woven into it, looking like a mini tapestry. The woven designs could be different colors creating different designs. Jacquards are much more expensive than taffetas.
5. Sheers
Translucent ribbons which creates girly effects. Available in different colors and designs sometime there is a wire woven into its sides.
6. Velvets
Like an ordinate velvet fabric velvet ribbons are velvets cut into ribbon size and sewed at the sides. Soft and smooth with deeper colors.
7. Etc.
Ribbons used for crafts and gift-wrapping. Like a double sided ribbon, shiny on one side and rough on the other side; curling ribbons specially made to be curled for gift packages.
B. Ribbon Roses
There are different ways to make a ribbon rose or rosette. You can use a taffeta with wires. Pull one wire and gather it the shape of a rose, hold with a piece of wire. Or you can sew it using a needle and thread. Make petal folds and stitch it into place, this can also be done on a wire stem.
C. Ribbon Weaving
Like the weaving I made when I was a kid using art paper, only it is made with ribbons. The usual under, over, under, over weaving, used to make quilts and best made with different colors. There are also more complicated weaves like the patchwork weave, the zigzag weave and the tumbling blocks weave.
D. Ribbon Embroidery
Like any other embroidery only the stitches are worked in ribbon not thread. The usual stitches are used to create life like replicas of original objects. The running stitch, the French knot, the lazy daisy stitch, the chain stitch, the blanket stitch, the cross stitch, the back stitch and the slip stitch. And the most unique is the spider’s web rose best made with ribbons because it creates the most life like effect.
E. Simple Ribbon Bows
Made by tying ribbons to create shapes and keep things in place. There is the shoestring, like the way everyone ties their shoes; a tailored or dior bow, made of almost flat , stacked loops that graduate by size; then there is the pompom bow, which is the most common gift-wrapping bow, it is the pompom-like ribbon that is usually used at boutique wrapping stations; and last but not the least is the curled style, which is done using curling ribbon that is curled using the blunt end of a scissor.
F. Ribbons used for Decoration
Ribbons can also be sewed on pieces of cloth for decoration, creating a lot of different patterns. Used mostly on pillowcases, placemats, bags, lamps, jeans and hats.

A way of expressing creativity (through wrapping)
Ribbons these days are now like paints and pencils, using and creating something with it is already an art. Considered and used greatly by some people as a way of living. Many people specialize in making ribbon works while some are professional gift wrappers. Just like beadwork ribbon work is considered a modern craft with a vintage twist.

4 Nowadays there are new ways to modernize gift wrapping, like in the book Let’s Wrap by Linda Summerlin, it suggested very creative ideas. The book suggested layering pieces of different patternes paper; it gave ideas to use different, unique wrapping paper like, maps, comic book pages, aluminum foil, magazine pages and old sheet music. The book also suggested adhering odds and ends, related to the gift inside the package, such as stickers, old toys, ornaments, frames, beads and masks; using leftover materials and recycling old materials, you can reuse art paper cutouts as a layered wrapping paper; you can even customize labels and wrapping papers using your computer, you don’t need a special software to do that just as long as you can use Microsoft Word then it is as easy as 1-2-3; and the most common and easy way is to add a ribbon, because ribbons never lost its style to me.

I am going to use an old hair scrunchie to decorate a hard copy of this post and a drawing I made, for my mom’s birthday. I hope that after reading this introduction to ribbons and wrapping that your creativity can soar for wrapping greater and more unique gifts for your friends and family.

*This post is specially written for my mother with love and inspiration, on her birthday August 28, 2007. Dedicated to her passion for ribbons, Happy Birthday Mom, now you know a lot more about ribbons you love!!

*Researched from (books) New Crafts Ribbon Work by Christine Kingdom, Let’s Wrap by Linda Summerlin, Creative Bows Made Easy by Offray, and Quick and Easy Wrapping by Yoshiko Hase, all bought from amazon.com.

1Researched from New Crafts Ribbon Work by Christine Kingdom and (photographs) by Peter Williams, Produced by Anness Publishing Limited.

2 Taken from New Crafts Ribbon Work by Christine Kingdom and (photographs) by Peter Williams, published by Anness Publishing Limited.

3 Researched from Creative Bows Made Easy By Offray published by Creative Publishing International.

4 Researched from Let’s Wrap by Linda Summerlin published by Absolute Press.