Sewing a ribbon patch: How it works (for ribbon scraps)

Sewing Ribbon Patches: Did you know that you can conjure up some really great things from ribbon scraps? With my instructions, you can assemble the colorful strips into a newly designed fabric - for truly individual sewing ideas! :)

The most important things at a glance

• In this post, I will show you a sewing technique with which you can assemble a colorful new base fabric from scraps of ribbons, trims, and bias tape
• Ribbons or trims that cannot withstand ironing heat are simply stitched on with a straight stitch and covered with a dish towel during further ironing
• You can then process your new fabric however you like
• In this tutorial, I sewed a brightly colored Dillie cosmetic bag from my patched fabric

Do you know this feeling? 1000 scraps of ribbons, trims, and bias tape.

And all of them too small to do anything useful with?

That ends now!

Here comes the Ribbon Patch technique for ribbon scraps

With this sewing technique, scraps of ribbons, trims, and bias tape can be assembled into a colorful new base fabric. Which you can then process to your heart's content.

You can use the new fabric to sew fun bags, mug rugs, or pencil cases and much more.

These materials are required for the Ribbon Patch technique

• Ribbons^*, trims^* or bias tape^*
• Vlieseline H250^*
• Iron (my DIY mini ironing board is great for such projects - it's quick to build and super practical!)
• Sewing thread (I find variegated thread to be brilliant for this!)
• Scissors^* (do you know everything about scissors?)

In this sewing tutorial, I sewed a brightly colored Dillie cosmetic bag in size 2 from my patched fabric.

Pattern and instructions for the cosmetic bag can be found in my shop.

Instructions: Sewing Ribbon Patch

Gather some nice ribbon, trim, and bias tape scraps.

Cut a piece of Vlieseline H250 to the size of your planned project.

Position the ribbons edge-to-edge as you like on the shiny side of the fusible interfacing and iron them on.

Make sure that the soleplate of the iron does not come into contact with the plastic side of the fusible interfacing. :)

Ribbons or trims that cannot withstand ironing heat are simply stitched on with a straight stitch and covered with a dish towel during further ironing.

Finally, your nearly finished new fabric might look something like this:

Your fabric is surely even cooler - ;)

I found a few more embroidered trims and incorporated them too.

Now the ribbons and trims are stitched into place. I find variegated thread ideal for this.

Choose your favorite decorative stitches on your sewing machine. Finally, you can actually use them!

The stitches should begin in the gap between the ribbons and secure both edges of the ribbons.

Finally, trim off the excess ribbon scraps and continue processing.

I sewed a squeaky-colorful Dillie. :)

By the way, I found these cool metallic zippers^* on Amazon.

Have fun trying it out!

Happy simple sewing,

yours, Sabine

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