Looking to add a personal touch to your home or holiday decor? Look no further than crafting your own ribbon from fabric! With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can repurpose thrifted sheets, clothes, and other textiles or purpose fabric from the craft store into beautiful ribbons that will make your decor truly shine.

In all my years of designing homes, I've discovered that it's the details that truly elevate a good design to greatness. It's those little—or sometimes big—touches that infuse a home with coziness and charm. From candles to ribbon, drawer pulls to plant pots, it's these elements that add personality and character to a space. But what happens when you find yourself in need of that perfect detail? That's where a bit of creativity comes in handy.

How to Make Ribbon From Fabric

In today's blog post, I'm excited to share one of those charming details that you can easily create at home without breaking the bank. We'll delve into the art of making ribbon from fabric, and I'll even share some insider tips on where to score fabric at a bargain. It's a great way to get started and at little additional cost.

So gather your crafting supplies and let's get started on adding that extra special touch to your home decor!

How to Make Ribbon from Fabric

Recently while visiting my daughter's new charming abode she wanted to add ribbons to her second hand curtains but money was tight. So I had the brilliant idea of making ribbon from fabric.

After finding a yard of neutral cotton fabric at Walmart we began making ribbon which ended up being an easy, quick and inexpensive project. Here is a list of supplies you will need if you decide to make your own ribbon. Let's get started.

Materials Needed:

• Fabric scraps (thrifted sheets, cloths, tea towels or anything fabric)(note: fabrics that don't fray work the best but a little fray makes a beautiful ribbon too)
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Iron or straightening iron
• Fabric glue or sewing machine (optional)

Step 1: Selecting and Preparing Your Fabric

Begin by rummaging through your stash of fabric scraps, thrift, or pick up fabric cuttings at the craft store. Look for materials in colors that match your home decor or holiday decor. Old bed sheets, worn-out shirts, discarded dresses, or small scraps from an old project can all be transformed into stunning ribbon.

Another thing to consider is the type of fabric. Look for fabrics that do not fray or fray a little. Here are fabrics I keep my eyes open for: denim, canvas, twill, chiffon, satin, and velvet. A little bit of fraying is actually very pretty so it doesn't have to be a fabric that has absolutely non-fray qualities. A raw edge can create a pretty, vintage inspired look.

In fact, one of my favorite fabrics to make ribbon from is flour sack material from kitchen towels. You can buy a set of these flour sack towels from Walmart and make many white ribbons. I made these ribbons for the pies at each place setting at Thanksgiving.

Do you see all the ribbons I made in the background. It is easy to do and I didn't even have to iron them.

Once you've chosen your fabric, ensure it's clean and free of any wrinkles or creases if you choose. If necessary, give it a quick press with an iron or straightening iron to smooth out any imperfections.

Step 2: Cutting the Fabric Strips

Now it's time to decide on the width of ribbon you'll be making. Using your rotary cutter, scissors and ruler, carefully cut the fabric into strips of your desired width. For wide ribbon, cut your strips 2-3 inches, standard-sized ribbon, aim for strips that are around 1-2 inches wide or if you want something tiny cut a width of 1/2″.

For our project I went with an even easier way of making ribbon from fabric. All I did was use a ribbon the size I wanted as a measuring guide. Then I cut into the fabric piece next to the ribbon example and tore the fabric from one end to the other.

Determine how long you need each strip of fabric to be. Consider how long you will need your ribbon to be for your project and make sure your fabric is long enough. If you need very long ribbon to make garlands and such bed sheets come in handy for this.

Now feel free to mix and match different fabrics to create a unique and eclectic look. Gingham and florals look great together and solids always match everything.

Step 3: Finishing the Edges

Once you have cut your ribbon lengths if your fabric frays you will need to finish the edges. I will be honest here. I do not use fabrics that I have to finish but here are ways to finish your fabric if you have that perfect textile for your project and you need to finish the edges.

To prevent fraying and give your ribbon a polished finish, you have a couple of options:

• Option 1: Fold over the edges of each fabric strip and press them with an iron to create a clean hem.
• Option 2: Use fabric glue or a sewing machine to hem the edges for a more secure finish.

Choose the method that best suits your preference and skill level.

I also like to use a straightening iron to press out my fabric strips of ribbon. It works perfect to get a clean crisp look.

Step 4: Decorating with Your DIY Ribbon

Now that you've crafted your own fabric ribbon, it's time to get creative with home and holiday decorations! Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

1. Wreath Embellishments: Use your homemade ribbon to adorn a festive wreath for your front door. Simply tie the ribbon into bows and attach them strategically around the wreath for a charming touch.
2. Table Centerpieces: Spruce up your table setting by tying ribbon around napkin rings or incorporating it into a decorative centerpiece. Mix and match different patterns and textures for an eye-catching display.
3. Garlands and Banners: String together lengths of ribbon to create vibrant garlands or banners to hang across your mantel, staircase, or outdoor patio.
4. Gift Wrapping: Elevate your gifts by using your homemade ribbon to tie bows around presents or gift bags. It's a thoughtful and eco-friendly way to add a personal touch to your holiday gifts.
5. Baskets: Tie homemade ribbons around basket handles for a cozy cottage look.
6. Holiday decor: Don't forget holidays such as Halloween, Christmas and Easter. Pick colors that coordinate with holiday such as black fabric ribbon for Halloween, red and green for Christmas decor and pastels for Easter.

This is a drop in the bucket of all the ways you can use ribbon to decorate your home. Check out more decorating with ribbon ideas here.

How to Fray Fabric?

If you're hoping to have a little fray on your ribbon for a more vintage look, it's a simple task. Use a straight pin and pull the fibers away from the fabric. You can do as much or as little as you want, depending on the look you're going for.

What is the Best Stitch to Keep Fabric from Fraying?

If you do not want your fabric to fray and you have a sewing machine, a simple zig-zag stitch will do the trick.

How We Used our Fabric Ribbon

Now back to my daughters curtain project. After finishing decorating her master suite loft it was time to hang the curtains. Because these are pinch pleats we needed a solution to hang them on a standard rod which was already in the space.

We tied all the ribbons to the rod and then used a drapery hook to hang the curtains on each ribbon.

The ribbon ideas was genius!

See how cute and cottagecore this turned out!! With all the bows it really added a decorative element to the curtains.

Overall implementing curtains into this large loft space was a win win and the bows turned out to be a quick fix.

Here is the other window. After making all these ribbons in a matter of 30 minutes now I am motivated to make more and start thrifting pretty fabrics to create beautiful ribbons.

Final Thoughts:

Crafting ribbon from fabric is not only a fun and rewarding DIY project but also a sustainable way to repurpose old textiles and reduce waste. By infusing your décor with handmade touches, you'll create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Remember great designs are in the details. Handmade ribbon is unique and makes a great design detail. Not to mention most likely no one will have the ribbon you created.

So gather your fabric scraps and let your creativity soar as you embark on this crafting adventure!

So what do you think? Are you ready to give this simple and easy DIY fabric ribbon project a try? Share in the comment what project you are working on and what ribbons you are considering making.

Looking for more easy DIY ideas? Check out these posts:

• DIY Book Sleeve: Wrap Your Reads in Style & Protection
• Sentimental Glow: Birth Month Flower Candle Holder DIY
• Craft a Classic: Easy DIY Peg Shelf For Your Home

Happy Decorating!