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shantell Dec 11, 2005

For the life of me I cannot figure out how to make a loopy ribbon ruffly collar.  I've tried several times and well...I haven't chopped the ribbon up YET...but I also don't have what I'm wanting either.

Can someone give me simple, clear, 6 year old instructions?

Thanks a million!!!

Acipenser Dec 11, 2005

Shantell, I am not exactly sure I understand what you mean, but to make a ruffled collar from ribbon such as you might see on e.g. a clown bear I use a ribbon of desired width and sew a simple running stitch along one edge, pull hard and - voila, I have a ruffle to be joined at the ends. Make the stitches longer for larger ruffles, shorter for small ruffles. Keep sewing and pulling until you get the length and density of ruffles you want to go around the neck of the bear.

Does this help at all?

Sabine

shantell Dec 11, 2005

No...I'm talking about taking thinner ribbon and making consecutive loops in order to create a loopy looking ruff.  I guess I'm unsure how you evenly spread the loops out and connect in all.  Kim of WildThyme uses them I've notice and I've seen them on bears of different sizes.  It seems like there were instructions here somewhere but I can't seem to find the right wording to locate them.

Winney Dec 11, 2005

Yes...and for really wide ribbon you can sew those stitches right down the middle instead of on the edge., that would give you two ruffled edges, is that what you want ?

It sounds like maybe ??? you are working with real narrow ribbon and you want loops?

Hmmmm...In that case I think I would measure around the bears neck ...lets say its 8 " so I would cut a piece of 1/4"  wide ribbon to go around the neck plus add a few inches for a velcro closing in the back or you can make it even  longer to tie in a bow  back .This is for a base to sew the loops to.

For the loops.. I would take your real narrow  ribbon and figure out how long you want the loops ...lets say  2" long...so using  a water pen and ruler make a mark every 4".

Thread a needle with matching thread and using a back stitch ... from the wrong side of the neck ribbon, stitch each mark to the neck ribbon .
I think you could use the sewing machine to do this ...just go slow and you can place each mark of ribbon flat onto the neck ribbon.

And I am sure you maybe could figure out how to actually knot  each mark to the base neck ribbon but it would be very tricky to try and explain this..... I will try ...I would make a loose knot every 4" then slide the neck ribbon thru each knot then  go back and tighten each knot closed.
Does this make any sense to you ? It may be easier to just do it ..........................Winney

shantell Dec 11, 2005

Thanks Winney...that is exactly what I have been doing.  I think I'm just too picky and then unhappy with the end results.   Just thought perhaps I was making it more difficult than it needs to be.

I'll work on it some more...

WildThyme Dec 11, 2005

Hi Shantell.... I think what you may be remembering is this ...... I gave some directions on how I did my collar for Ava.... That collar is a nice evenly looped ribbon collar and has a more tailored look to it.  It's made with satin ribbon.  On my miniatures, for those kinda crazy loopy collars that I do, my method is pretty much similar to what was already mentioned. I gather the silk ribbon every inch or so, for a 1/2 inch loop.  Do e Mail me if you have any questions.  I must say, I find making these collars seriously frutrating, and it doesn't really get any easier each time I do it.  By the time I really work out the technique, the darned thing is about done!

ellen wrote:
will you share how you made that collar?  please.

Sure.... I bet there is an easier way to do this.... I seem to have a knack for finding the most difficult, fiddly way to do things!  I took a whole spool of woven satin ribbon 3/8 inches wide and 18 ft. long..... cut off about a foot of it and set that aside.  Then I measured loosely around the neck of Ava (about 8 inches in circumference).... Next I cut a rectangle piece of cardboard (from a shoe box) to the length of 8 inches and a width of whatever I want the loop itself to be plus about 3/8 inches more.  For Ava that was about 3 inches.  Then I just started to wrap the ribbon around the rectangle, overlapping each successive wrap by about half..... all the way to the very end.  Then I sewed each of the overlapped ribbons to the next one with a tacking stitch all the way down the long side, then flipped it over and tacked all the way down the other side (about 3/8ths of an in from the long edge of the cardboard.)  Then I carefully slid the cardboard piece out.  I then sewed with the machine right over that line of tacking stitches.  Then I pulled the tacking stitches out.  Then I threaded the foot long leftover piece through the little loops that were made by the sewing line (kinda like a curtain rod going through the pocket.  Then I just tied it onto Miss Ava! 

I've also done them where I've taken a long strip of ribbon and make tiny marks about 6 inches apart all the way down the length of the ribbon......  Then take a little stitch at each of the marks... Then just pull up the thread to gather the ribbon into loops.  You kinda have to fluff it and play with it to get all the loops ti lie in the right direction.  Then you just tie the ends of the thread together around the neck of the bear.  It's a similar effect, but not quite as neat and tailored as Ava's collar, and it really isn't easily removable.  When possible, I think it's nice if you can remove the collar so that the collector can clean the bear easier if needed.... or change the collar out for a seasonal bow if they are the type that likes to do that kind of thing!

That was probably clear as mud, and I bet there is an easier way to do the same thing I've done.  I'm a glutton for punishment I guess!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

patsylakebears Dec 11, 2005

Great instuctions Kim ...... very similar to making a pom pom ...

WildThyme Dec 11, 2005

Hi Patsy!  Yes, it is similar to making a pom-pom!  VERY similar, with that winding on to the cardboard!  YES!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

shantell Dec 11, 2005

Yay...thanks Kim...that's what I was looking for and couldn't find.  However, I did run into a cute little ruff that I decided to use this time around.  I'll be posting her soon.      

I just love this place...everyone is so sweet and so open to sharing.

WildThyme Dec 12, 2005

Can't wait to see Shantell!  You've got my curiosity peaked!  Something that I have been doing since way back when I was making dolls.... I have a whole file box filled with manilla file folders.... and everytime I see something that strikes my fancy, whether it's a cool technique, or a picture with gorgeous colors, a cute little baby face.... I tear it out and stick it into this box.  Then when I am having a moment of "lost inspiration".... I go to the box and peek around.... see what I can find that might work...

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Deb Dec 12, 2005

I seem to have a knack for finding the most difficult, fiddly way to do things!

Ohhhhh Kim ... trust me ... you don't have the corner on the market for that.  Wouldn't it be fun to go head-to-head, a bunch of us sometime, and see who can absolutely come up with the most complicated way to get something done.  I might not win, but could give ya a good run!  I can complicate the crap out of things!

Daphne Dec 12, 2005

Deb, I want to play too!!!! HA!

Shantell, glad you brought this up as I missed it the first time around and would love to try something like that. Bows are great but I get bored easily yet don't want to dress my bears, except for a vest here and there!

Thanks for the advice Winney and Kim!

WildThyme Dec 12, 2005

Deb.. you make me LAUGH!      Yes, now that would be a good show, wouldn't it!  It just kills me when I finally do figure out the "best" way for me to do something like 40 minutes into the project and it's almost done at that point!  I tried to faux finish the walls in the bathroom at the old house... on the fourth wall, I finally figured out how to do it right!  I sometimes hesitate to post my solutions to bear related questions 'cause I figure the folks who really know how to do it simply will say, "Gosh, what is that girl DOING!"
I often fantasize that if I ever taught a class or seminar or something, I'd have all these frustrated people with cuts and bruises... swearing that they will never make another bear in their lives....

"Yes, that's it,  keep going... you are SUPPOSED to be bleeding!  Yes, you are supposed to hold the ribbon with your teeth, the wind it around your left big toe until it's just so.... Yes, that's exactly it!  Now, twirl around a couple of times, stick the needle into your thigh because you aren't supposed to have a free hand at this point... hold it there... YES!  You've done it! 

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

shantell Dec 12, 2005

Oh Kim...are you wearing your toe shoes while doing the bear ballet?

I make things so incredibly difficult for myself...and have to repeat my mistakes at least twice before I figure it out...that's how I ended up with THREE children at such a young age.      

I also have absolutely no original creativity in my bones...I can copy and tweek to my liking fine but originality seems to escape me.  I like your idea of tossing it all in a box...I'm borrowing that idea...okay outright stealing it...I can't give it back so borrowing isn't the right word.

Thanks!!!

WildThyme Dec 12, 2005

I couldn't live without my box!  Seriously, I love it!  Steal away Shantell!  You'll find it so helpful!  Mine is fairly well organized at this point... I am oh so proud of myself for having just a few organized things in my house!  My books and my box!  I have all kins of stuff in there, packed into manilla file folders... paint swatches, pictures of rooms that I really liked the color of, dolls, bridal boquet pictures, plus a lot of poems, stories, cool pictures of faeries that I've run across... just STUFF!  And, I find that if I haven't been inspired to do something from the box, at least i am in a much nicer and more inspired state of mind after rumaging through a bunch of lovely things!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Winney Dec 12, 2005

Kim, What a lovely bear...Winney

WildThyme Dec 12, 2005

Thanks Winney!  She actually from quite a while back... living in a happy home in New Jersey! 

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

matilda Dec 13, 2005

Kim, yes I love your wee bears. They are so perfect I sometimes for get they are not big bears.

I also have my 'stuff' file and that is what I call it as well STUFF. It gives me inspiration and allows me time to day dream without anyone noticing.      Matilda

jazzyrags Dec 26, 2005

I don't know if i am to late but what i do is make a wire frame out off anything you can get your hands on wrap ribbon around and around and sew down and back up and pull .and fold over and you have double the thickness

WildThyme Dec 26, 2005

That's a great method Fran!  I hadn't thought of stitching right down the middle and folding it in half to give a double layer of loops!  Thanks for that!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

psichick78 Dec 27, 2005

Wow Fran, that is a great way. Quick too.
Thanks for sharing. I just may have to ask you some questions when I start sewing teddy clothes. You would be the expert here!

jazzyrags Dec 27, 2005

Ha!Ha!!!!!!! beleave me i am no expert

fribblesltd May 5, 2006

..thank heavens for this thread.  I am off to make use of it!!

Amelia

Chowlea Bears May 5, 2006

I couldn't live without my box!  Seriously, I love it!  Steal away Shantell!  You'll find it so helpful!  Mine is fairly well organized at this point... I am oh so proud of myself for having just a few organized things in my house!  My books and my box!  I have all kins of stuff in there, packed into manilla file folders... paint swatches, pictures of rooms that I really liked the color of, dolls, bridal boquet pictures, plus a lot of poems, stories, cool pictures of faeries that I've run across... just STUFF!  And, I find that if I haven't been inspired to do something from the box, at least i am in a much nicer and more inspired state of mind after rumaging through a bunch of lovely things!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

Come on - where's this blinking time machine that you can do all this- make achingly beautiful bears, and all the other stuff ..............like showering, eating.................... :crackup:  :crackup:

Sandra  :redface:

Winney May 6, 2006

lol.....NOW  i REMEMBER...THAT'S HOW i USE TO MAKE RAGGETY ANNE DOLL HAIR ! ....Winney