Hey, everyone! This is Shannon, from the CKC tester group. I’m here today to show you how to add ribbon or ric rac to the adorable Sybil Sailor Dress's collar. If you are anything like me, you love all things nautical. I had the privilege of testing the Sybil Sailor Dress for the amazing designer, Emily. My first thought was that it needed details along the collar because, really, you can’t have too many embellishments, right?
Let’s get started, shall we?
You will need:
Collar pieces printed out and shoulder seams sewn together
1.5 to 2 yards of 3/8" ribbon (grosgrain works best) or ¼" ric rac in the color of your choice
Thread to match your ribbon or ric rac
Scissors
Sewing machine
Disappearing ink pen, tailor's chalk, or something similar.
Ruler or measuring tape
Step 1: First, you are going to grab one of your front collar pieces (with the shoulder seams already sewn). With your measuring tape or ruler, you want to measure ½ inch from the outside edge. I find it’s easier to make small marks along the edge then “connect the dots” to make my line. You will follow the curve of the front collar piece, over the shoulder seam and down to the end of the back collar piece. Do the same for the other collar pieces.
Step 2: You are now going to take your grosgrain ribbon or ric rac and pin it to the collar. If using the grosgrain ribbon, you want to line up the outside edge of your ribbon piece to the line you just made. If you are using ric rac, you will center the ric rac over the line. Being careful to follow the curve of the line, pin the ribbon down. You cannot have too many pins because the ribbon and ric rac are going to want to wiggle all around while you are sewing. Do the same for the other front collar piece. When you get to the end of your collar, trim any overhanging ribbon.
Step 3: Next, you are going to take one of the collar pieces to your sewing machine. Beginning at the outside edge, you want to start sewing the ribbon to the collar piece. **Note: If you are using ric rac you will do a single stitch down the center of your ric rac.** You want to get as close to the outside edge as possible and go VERY SLOWLY around the curves, making sure your trim doesn’t move. Do the same with the other front collar piece.
*If using Ric Rac, skip to step 5*
Step 4: You will now stitch the other edge of our ribbon piece. Repeat step 3, sewing down the other edge of the ribbon, getting as close to the edge as possible and going very slowly around the curves. Do the same for the other front collar piece.
Step 5: Next, you are going to take your ruler or measuring tape and measure ¼ inch from the inside edge of your ribbon. This will be the placement for our next piece of trim. Again, I find it easier to make dots as I measure then “connect the dots” to form the line.
Step 6: Like you did in step 2 and 3, you will line up the outside edge of our ribbon directly on top of the line you just made. Pin well, trim any overhang, and sew the outside edge, going slowly. Once done, sew the inside edge of the ribbon. Repeat with the other front collar piece. ** Again, if you are using ric rac you will line the center of your ric rac directly over the line.**
Your collar pieces should now look like the photo above.
Step 7: You will now be adding the trim to the bottom portion of our pieces. Like the picture, make a horizontal line, ½ inch from the bottom edge of your collar piece. Do the same for your other collar piece.
Step 8: Much like you did with your other trim pieces, line the outside edge of your ribbon (or center it if using ric rac) with the line you just made. Pin and trim any overhang then, staying close to your ribbon edge, stitch your trim piece down. Repeat with the inside edge of your ribbon piece. Do this for the other collar piece, as well.
Step 9: Next you will make another line ¼ inch from the inside edge of the trim piece you just sewed down. Repeat with the other collar piece.
Step 10: You will now take your next trim piece and stitch it down, again lining up the outside edge of the ribbon (centered if using ric rac) with the trim line you just made. Repeat with your other collar piece.
You are now done adding trim to your collar pieces, in just 10 easy steps! You are ready to continue on with the steps in the Sybil's pattern.
Enjoy! ~ Shannon
