Trim – Flat Ribbon

Grosgrain ribbon. Source: containerstore.com

Flat ribbon trim is just what it sounds like. It looks a lot like a fancy gift wrap and it’s, well, flat.

Or mostly flat. If you see a ribbon with ribs running perpendicular to the long edges, it’s called grosgrain ribbon. The word is French, so don’t pronounce the ‘s’ when shopping. 

Ribbon trim can come in all kinds of widths, from tiny to many inches – four or five usually being the widest. It can be made from polyester – often called satin ribbon – from cotton, from silk or other fibers.

Unless it’s got some seriously springy body to it, you can pleat ribbon in a number of ways to create three-dimensional trim. See our resources page to learn more about making your own ribbon trim. Or you can save your fingers and eyesight and buy pre-made pleated ribbon trim.

Flat ribbon can be as cheap as ten yards for a dollar at the discount sellers, to five or six dollars a yard for the fancier varieties. Washability depends on what it’s made from, so be sure to pay attention to that when shopping.

Satin ribbon. Source: cheeptrims.com