Tag Archives: Sewing

A Touch of Gray (DIY Bridal Shoe Clip)

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by Bridal • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Kristin

The hottest trend it seems lately is that brides are heading towards shades of gray for the new accent color.  They are incorporating into everything ranging from the invites to the wedding dress itself!  I decided to create a simple pair of shoe clips done in this hot new shade to show how versatile it can be. 

 Shoe clips were at their most popular during the Victorian era, they were used to dress up your shoes, but could also be clipped to hats, scarves, and bags.  I’m a huge fan of shoe clips, I usually make my own using mostly buttons and ribbons, but I do have a few vintage pairs too.  Why not try to make a pair today, you’ll quickly see how addictive it is to own a ‘new’ pair of shoes!

 

 

Materials Used:

 

Instructions:

  1. You will need 2 pieces of ribbon measuring 8 inches and two measuring 3 inches.
  2. Fold the ends of the 8″ ribbon towards the middle and glue in place with Unique Stitch Glue, then take the 3″ piece and fold over the ends about ¼” and glue in place.  Wrap the small 3″ piece around the center of the long folded piece to cover the seam, glue in place.
  3. Take your needle and thread and sew the shoe clip to the back of the ribbon.  You can use E6000 as well, but I find that the thread holds up better over time.
  4. Take your rhinestone button and clip off the shank back (the small metal loop on the back).  Clip it as close to the back of the button as you can, a little extra remaining is okay, so long as the button lays flat.
  5. Glue your button to the middle of the front of the ribbon.
  6. Let everything dry overnight. 
  7. Clip on and look gorgeous!

Velvet Ribbon Striped Pillow

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by Home Decor • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Eleah

This week I wanted to make an accent pillow with stripes but didn’t have any striped material on hand. What better solution than to make my own stripes! With the cool weather rolling in, I wanted it to be extra soft. I selected some leftover high-pile apoulstery fabric for the body of the pillow. For the stripes I used 22mm velvet ribbon that complimented the color of the fabric. Since I used two different fabrics for each side, I wanted something to break between them with out clashing with the ribbon so I picked out velvet cordedge in a neutral color so the stripes would not disappear.

Materials:

  • Two 13×13 inch squares of fabric
  • 51 inches of 22mm (style# 00856) cordedge
  • 3 ¼ yards of 22mm velvet ribbon in 1 color, or 1.6 yards of 2 different colors.
  • Sewing Machine, needle, thread to match ribbon
  • Stuffing

Instructions:

  1. Pin down ribbon evenly spaced on 1 of your 13×13” squares of fabric
  2. Remove pins as you hem down the ribbon. Try to keep the stitch as close to the edge of the ribbon so as not to interrupt the pile of the velvet.
  3. Refer to one of my earlier blogs for instructions on the rest of the pillow. Begin with step 8 from my textile transformation blog. FYI-you will probably want to pin the cordedge to the side of the fabric that has the ribbon sewn to it. Since that will be the front, you will want more control of a perfect hem.
  4. And you’re done!

How To Use Swarovski Flatback Rhinestones

by About Us • Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

If you’d like to embellish some of your accessories with rhinestones, but you’re not sure where to start, then you can try the “Rhinestone Starter Kit“.  The kit includes all the items that will assist you in sparking up your cell phones, ipods, glasses and more.  We’ve added a video online that will help guide you in using the kit. 

Crochet Appliques

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by Arts & Crafts • Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

By Dara

Let’s admit it, the popularity of crochet has been around for decades and it’s only growing everyday.  Since Fall is just around the corner, I’ve been seeing more and more women doing some crochet work on the bus, subway and even during their lunch break.  I do a little crochet work also.  Mostly baby blankets  and  scarves as gifts for friends and family.  It beats laying around doing nothing when I’m at home.

Anyways, I wrote a blog a few months back called “Creativity Mixed In A Blender“.  In that blog, I had a few pictures of some crochet appliques that M&J Trimming does not have online.  So for this blog, I wanted to show everyone a few more crochet appliques that are not listed online.  However, you can order them by calling customer service at 1.800.9.MJTRIM.  Keep in mind that customer service is only available from 9am to 6pm EST and that’s from Monday to Friday.

NYC’s Fashion Week Spring ’09

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by Fashion • Tags: , , , , , , , ,

By Milton

If you love fashion, then you’re going to love these highlights from the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week SP09.  Fashion week started on September 5th and ended on the 12th.  Enjoy!

Calvin Klein

 

Diane von Furstenberg

 

Donna Karan

 

Marchesa

Narciso Rodiguez

 

 Oscar de la Renta

Gossip Girl (Serena’s Ribbon Headband)

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by Fashion • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Milton

In Gossip Girl’s ”Summer, Kind of WOnderful” episode for the second season, Serena van der Woodsen wore a silver ribbon as a headband to the white party.  One option to get this look is by using a metallic silver mesh ribbon.  I used about 5 yards and just wrapped multiple layers and then tied a knot in the back.  You can call 1.800.9.MJTRIM and ask for item number 36876.  It comes in 18 different colors.  I used the size 6mm in white.

Beaded Sequin Fringe Table Cloth

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by Home Decor • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Eleah

 

Table looking a little drab?  Fancy it up with a tablecloth!  This week I wanted to spruce up a little a night stand with a tablecloth and fringe.  It’s a quick project and requires no sewing!

 Supplies:

  • Measure the surface of the table you would like to cover and add 5 inches to the length and width. So…if your table surface is 35″ x 30″ then you would need a piece of fabric that is 40″ x 35″. HINT: most fabric stores sell fabric that is between 44″ to 54″ wide, so for a small table you might only need 1 yard (FYI: 36″ in a yard) I picked medium weight cotton in mint green to match the ball fringe from my lampshade project.
  • Add the width and the length of your fabric measurement and multiply that number by two. Add a couple inches for good measure (Pun fully intended) and now you have the measurement for your fringe. I decided on 4.25″ Beaded Bone Sequin Fringe in black…. mostly because in combination with the mint green fabric, it reminds me of mind chocolate chip ice cream and that is my favorite.
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Unique Stitch Glue

 

Making The Table Cloth:

  1.  Once you have cut out the fabric, all you have left to do is glue the fringe to the edge. No need to hem it since the glue will prevent any fraying. You can sew this project if you like, but today I was feeling especially lethargic and sometimes there is nothing wrong with cutting corners.
  2.  Apply glue to the backside of the ribbon that the fringe hangs from. I would suggest adding it in about 5 inch sections at a time to ensure a straight application. Press the glued-up side of the ribbon to the edge of your fabric. Remember to let the dangly part of the fringe point away from the fabric.
  3. When you get to the end fold over a piece of the ribbon and secure the fold with some fabric glue. Pinch it together for a moment until the glue begins to dry. Let this finished end overlap slightly over the raw edge of where you started. Cut off access fringe.
  4. You’re done!

Mother’s Velvet Ribbon Wedding Corsage

by Bridal • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Kristin

 

 

 

The mothers of the bride and groom are just as important as the couple, if it wasn’t for them, you probably wouldn’t be the person you are today.  Why not give your mom something she will be able to use again?  Corsages are a great way to get crafty.  I made one from 50mm Velvet ribbon in Scarlet with Moss leaves.  This was very easy to make and only took about 20 minutes.  I then sewed on a pin back (item #32247) to anchor it to a 16mm velvet ribbon wrist tie.  This way, after the wedding, the rose can be worn on a jacket, pinned to a pillow, or added to a purse!

                       

Materials

·      1 yd of 50mm Velvet Ribbon - Scarlet (flower)

·      Two 6” pieces of  50 Velvet Ribbon – Moss (leaves)

·      1 Pin Back #32247 – 1 ¼” Nickel

·      ½ yard 16mm Velvet Ribbon – Scarlet (wrist tie)

·      Needle

·      Matching threads for ribbon colors

 

Instructions

  1. Start by threading your needle with the flower colored thread.  Make a knot on the end.  Start threading through the bottom edge of the length of the ribbon until you reach the end – about 1 stitch every ¼’.  Pull the ribbon down the thread until it is scrunched up all the way, knot the thread securely.
  2. Simply roll the ribbon into a flower shape and sew the bottom together to keep it’s shape (from the underside).
  3. The leaves are a little trickier.  Start by threading your needle with the leaf color thread.  You have to take the ribbon in the middle top edge and pinch it to a point, sew the point down.  Now you have to gather the ends and shape them with your fingers to create the leaf shape.  Sew the ends to secure.You are ready to sew the leaves onto the bottom of the flower.  Sew the ends of the leaves to the middle of the flower.
  4. Sew the pin back to the middle of the flower.
  5. Pin the flower to the wrist ribbon.  You can pick a pretty keepsake box to present it to her   in so she has somewhere to store it for years to come.

Ribbon Beaded Necklace

by Fashion • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Milton

Fall is around the corner and with a new season, some changes in our wardrobe are required. As I said before, sometimes spending money in a new wardrobe is not necessary. With some creativity you can transform pieces you already own or create new ones and accessories are one of the easiest. An outfit can go from boring to breathtaking just by selecting the right accessories. This time I’ll show you how to make a necklace that you will often see in magazines and stores a lot this season.  Why buy it when you can make your own unique version of it?

 

Materials:

 

How to:

  1. First fold the ribbon in half and pin it along the edge.
  2. Sew the two edges together which will create a tube.
  3. Turn it inside out. You need to be patient in this step, since turning the tube inside out may take you a few minutes. You can use a chopstick to push the ribbon thru. You can also use a safety pin or a paper clip.
  4. Now you can start putting the pearls inside the tube, make knots on the sides of it to make it stay in place.

I used about 9 pearls for this necklace, but you can do as many as you wish. Just make sure that if you do more pearls you have some extra ribbon, so you still have enough at the end to tie a knot. You can also do different variations of this necklace, by using more than one size of pearls or leaving more space in between.  Use your creativity and specially have lots of fun!

Braided Trim & Grosgrain Ribbon in Country Living Magazine

by About Us • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

M&J Trimming was featured in the September issue of Country Living magazine.  You can find us on page 22.  Our braided trim and chromspun grosgrain ribbon was used to embellish a decorative pillow.  You can also accessorize your pillows just by adding ribbons and trims.