50 Ribbon Rosettes and Bows to Make: Review

50 Ribbon Rosettes and Bows to Make

For perfectly wrapped gifts, gorgeous hair slides, beautiful corsages and decorative fun

By Deanna Csomo McCool

Search Press 2014

Paperback, £10.99

ISBN 978-1-78221-200-3

Star rating: ****

The autumn craft-a-lanche of pre-Christmas craft titles has arrived. There’s so much quality stuff to choose from, it’s difficult to decide which title to feature...

Today’s spotlight is on a fun and useful ribboncraft title. My logic is that you can keep it in mind when visiting the autumn batch of consumer craft events – go shopping with particular projects in mind so you can selectively stock up on your ribbon stash.

This book is exclusively about textile ribbon techniques – no look-in for paper ribbons or giftwrap ribbons (such as curling ribbon). Having said that, textile bows make fabulous embellishments for papercraft projects, particularly giftwrap treatments –  the author is aware of this and gives it a mention, citing project suitability for papercraft designs where appropriate (example: #30 Round and Round Bow – a fan-shaped creation).

Clip-mounted hair bows and embellished hairbands are a particular strength of this book, not surprising, since the author’s ribboncraft credentials stem from her highly-successful hair bow business. There are good tips for attaching bows to clips and for customizing plastic hairbands. You will also find pew bows (if wedding decs are on your personal agenda), and stemmed flowers and leaves – great for home dec. One of my favourite bows is #12, The Two-Colour Twisted Boutique Bow, a nifty party trick – one bow, diff colour each side.

A pictorial gallery of bows is featured up front – your select-a-bow guide. Each bow is accompanied by clearly-drawn step-by-step illustrations and detailed how-tos. Required ribbon widths and quanities are provided for each bow design. Although this book is most suitable for bowcraft beginners, even those more experienced in ribboncraft are sure to pick up a few new tips and techniques. 

The bows featured in this book are ideal for production crafts, if you are thinking about making gifts- to-give or participating in a pre-Christmas craft fair. 

Since my blog is The Papercraft Post, here’s a list of bows in the book that could be adapted to papercraft versions (using paper ribbon or hand-cut paper strips) without too much tweaking (in no particular order): #44 Aster, #26 Straight Loop Bow, #35 Whimsy Flower, #1 Shoelace Bow, #4 Bow Tie, #33 Finnish Snowflake, #34 Latticed Snowflake.

Note: I was provided with a review copy of this title.

New Book: Ribbon Embellishments

How to Make 100

Ribbon Embellishments:

Trims, Rosettes, Sculptures, and Baubles for Fashion, Décor, and Crafts

By Elaine Schmidt

Creative Publishing International  2014

Paperback, £16.99 UK ($24.99 US)

ISBN 978-1-58923-790-2

Star rating: ****

Ribboncraft is very important to papercrafters. A ribbon embellishment on a card, gift, or scrapbook page often provides a show-stopping  finishing touch. Here’s an ace new ribboncraft book that is chock-full of inventive ideas. Lots of construction techniques are employed  –  there are stitched, woven, and cut-and-glued designs – so there’s something for everyone. This is a book of woven-textile ribbon techniques (lots of grosgrain) – but for crafters who think beyond the ribbon reel, many of the designs can be interpreted in paper. 

If you are a fan of fabric manipulation (Colette Wolff’s book on the subject is a perennial bestseller), then this book will tick all the boxes for you. I have several vintage ribboncraft  titles in my personal book stash – and there are tricks in Elaine Schmidt’s book that I’ve never seen.  

The book is divided into four sections: Trims and Braids, Rosettes and Leaves, Ribbon Sculptures, and Beads and Baubles.  

The Trims and Braids section is a masterclass  –  lots of fancy moves. Some sewing experience is recommended for many of  these designs – your  stitchery efforts will be rewarded. Some star turns: Wrapped Candy Ribbon Trim – a row of bonbons! Shell Smocking: undulating ripples. (Having said that, there are a few folded trimmings  –  such as Diamonds and Squares  –  that I am keen to try using strips of paper.)  There are also several woven designs that could be interpreted in paper using quilling strips: Woven Ribbon Band, for example. In this section, you will also find how-tos for woven lanyards (familiar from summer camp). These work a treat in ribbon (although too dimensional to adorn greetings cards, they could be used to decorate 3-D projects).

Paper flowers are mega-popular at the moment, so the Rosettes and Leaves section is right on trend – why not ribbon blooms?  Here, you will find medallions, cockades, and magnificent bows. Standout designs include The Ribbon Medallion (spiralling loops with a gathered rosette centre and notched ribbon tails), and the Fan Rosette. Some of non-gathered designs could be worked using strips of paper.

Like amigurumi? –  the Ribbon Sculptures section will appeal to you. Here, you will find a collection of ornaments created by “folding, looping, and gluing ribbons into shapes that represent objects, characters, and animals.”  Looking for an ornament for a kid’s card? – Your quest is over! Although many of the designs are too twee for my taste, there’s no denying that this is genius material. There’s a loopy Butterfly with a spiral-ribbon body, a fun goldfish, and a cute Beetle Bug (ladybird/ladybug).  The folded ribbon Strawberries are delightful. 

The Beads and Baubles section contains lots of fun material. Corkscrew curls in the Korker Pom-Pom, the origami-like Paddlewheels, tassels, Rolled Ribbon Beads, and a Knotted Ribbon Star. All of these ideas have legs!  If you are into beading, then there are several attractive methods for incorporating ribbon into the beaded construction of a strand. 

Lover of fabric manipulation that I am, I‘m surprised at myself for even thinking this – the book might have benefited from containing a few more conventional bows.  Most of the featured  bows are rosettes, so a few more linear designs would have provided variety. There’s another book there, perhaps.

The intros to each section are well-written, entertaining, and informative. The author is knowledgeable and has a good handle on her ribboncraft history.  Her great appreciation for the subject is clearly visible (bet she has a massive ribbon hoard in her sewing cupboard). The how-to photography is clear and to the point.

The book does seem a bit pricey for a paperback  –  but good things come in small packages. You get plenty of clever ideas for the money. 

Note:  I was provided with a review copy of this title.