Sewing ribbon or trim onto clothing is one of the easiest ways to refresh an old top, lengthen a child's dress or add a smart, uniform-style detail to a jacket. The result only looks professional, though, if the ribbon lies flat without ripples or puckers. In this guide you will learn how to prepare the ribbon and fabric, how to attach it by machine or by hand, and how to finish corners and ends neatly.
Which ribbon is suitable for sewing onto clothes
- Grosgrain ribbon – the easiest to work with: it does not slip or stretch and stays flat. Ideal for sleeve stripes, side stripes on trousers and jackets.
- Cotton herringbone tape – for a casual, sporty look on cotton and linen garments.
- Satin ribbon – for formal wear, tuxedo stripes and children's dresses; it is slippery, so use more pins.
Important: these ribbons do not stretch. Do not sew them onto knit areas that need to stretch, such as a T-shirt cuff or neckline, or the stitches will snap. There, elastic or a stretch trim is the better choice.
Preparation is half the job
- Pre-wash cotton tapes and the garment so they do not shrink differently later.
- Press the ribbon (polyester on low heat, cotton on high).
- Mark a line with tailor's chalk or a washable marker, at an even distance from the hem or seam.
- Secure the ribbon with pins every 5–8 cm, placed across the ribbon. Even better, use a thin double-sided fusible or wash-away tape that holds it in place without distortion.
- Choose thread that matches the ribbon, not the fabric. A polyester thread works well.
Sewing by machine
Set a straight stitch of 2.5–3 mm and use a 70/10–80/12 needle for fine fabrics or a 90/14 for denim and heavier materials.
- Stitch 1–2 mm from the ribbon edge.
- Sew both edges in the same direction. This is the golden rule: if you stitch one edge going up and the other going down, the ribbon will skew diagonally.
- If your machine has one, use a walking foot, or reduce the presser foot pressure so the top and bottom layers feed evenly.
- For ribbon wider than 3 cm, add a third line of stitching down the middle or a decorative stitch so it does not balloon in the wash.
- Do not pull the ribbon. It should lie relaxed on the fabric.
Corners, ends and curves
Mitred corner: stitch up to the corner, stop with the needle down, fold the ribbon back on itself and then at 90° in the new direction. This creates a neat diagonal fold. Secure the fold with a few invisible hand stitches.
Ends: the cleanest finish is to catch the end in a garment seam, such as a side seam. If that is not possible, fold the end under by 1 cm and stitch across it.
Curves: straight ribbons do not follow curves easily. Choose a narrower width (0.6–1 cm), which bends more readily, and shape the curve with steam before sewing.
Sewing by hand
For delicate fabrics, or when you do not want visible stitching, attach the ribbon with a slip stitch: the needle enters the fabric just under the ribbon edge and comes up through the edge itself, with stitches 4–6 mm apart. Work with a single strand of thread so it stays invisible.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my ribbon pucker after sewing?
The usual causes are stretching the ribbon while sewing, stitching the edges in opposite directions or too much presser foot pressure.
Can I glue ribbon instead of sewing it?
Fusible tape helps with positioning, but for garments that will be washed, stitching is always more durable.
What width is right for a trouser side stripe?
Usually 1.5–2.5 cm for everyday trousers and 3–4 cm for a bolder, sporty look.
Choose the right ribbon from our ribbon collection and pair it with thread in the same colour.
