Gransnet forums

Arts & crafts

What to do with ribbons?!

(27 Posts)
eddiecat78 Tue 19-May-26 11:02:07

I have a bagful of ribbons saved for years "in case I needed one". I have far too many!
Any ideas for anything I could make with them? They are all different widths, textures and colours and most are not particularly long.

Moth62 Tue 19-May-26 11:04:58

I also have a large collection. I wondered about laying them (glueing?) on a board or canvas in a sort of colourful patchwork effect. I can see in my mind’s eye what I mean, but it’s hard to describe.

Esmay Tue 19-May-26 11:05:57

Have a look on YouTube.

You could make ribbon flowers or even incorporate them into an embroidery.
Have a you a dress or a cardigan which could do with embellishing ?
I've disguised some stains and holes in favourite clothes .

Graphite Tue 19-May-26 11:09:30

Pinterest is your friend here. Search on ribbon craft.

How about log cabin or scrappy cushions? You could blend ribbons with fabric scraps.

Graphite Tue 19-May-26 11:11:27

How about this? A ribbon covered lampshade.

Namsnanny Tue 19-May-26 11:15:39

Graphite

Pinterest is your friend here. Search on ribbon craft.

How about log cabin or scrappy cushions? You could blend ribbons with fabric scraps.

I like this idea. Hope you find a project for the ribbons eddiecat

Autumncolours Tue 19-May-26 11:31:42

Your local Rainbows/Brownies/ Girlguides might like to have your ribbons for crafts. They are not so craft-focused as they were but the groups in the village happily accepted my donation of craft materials recently.

Oreo Tue 19-May-26 12:44:31

You can make a door wreath with ribbons.

eddiecat78 Tue 19-May-26 13:29:26

Thanks. I was wondering about weaving them somehow to make small panels to go on greetings cards.
Will have to experiment!

Graphite Tue 19-May-26 13:35:15

That sounds good.

Again, lots of ideas on Pinterest.

Janash Sun 24-May-26 14:38:20

Can you knit or crochet? They make really good additions to twiddle muffs and items for people with dementia.

Primrose53 Sun 24-May-26 16:33:28

I tie a few on my cooling desk fans and they almost hypnotise me wiggling in the breeze.

CV2020 Sun 24-May-26 16:43:15

You could tie them on a tree in the garden or a large plant indoors. This is called Cloutie Tree in Scotland. It’s supposed to bring good luck. I do this indoors and outdoors.

Dearknees1 Sun 24-May-26 17:11:33

I once collected all the ribbons I’d cut out of the shoulders of clothes I’d bought. I’d seen a pattern for a cushion cover with the ribbons sewn on in loops. Eventually I realised I was never going to make the cushion cover so I got rid of them.

Nicksmrs46 Sun 24-May-26 18:20:36

Your local junior school or nursery may like them for craft work etc .

melp1 Sun 24-May-26 19:04:26

Collected ribbons cut out of shoulders of clothes (which are quite short and thin) but perfect for fastening labels to presents.
The labels I make out of old Birthday/Christmas cards.

Polwal Sun 24-May-26 19:43:29

I put them around presents for birthdays and Xmas, red/ green/gold etc . for Xmas though.

pen50 Sun 24-May-26 20:23:29

My sister has a log cabin quilt made by our great grandmother (granny preferred sis; I got a rather rubbish brooch) in the 1890s. The logs are all made from ribbons stitched to a cotton twill backing (she drew the pattern and then stitched by hand along each line).

FranP Sun 24-May-26 22:01:48

Lots of lovely ideas here, but have you thought of embellishing a plain t-shirt. I had one with a Shoulder seam tear and used ribbon to cover and create an over the shoulder set of stripes

albertina Mon 25-May-26 09:19:26

Last time I came home from a family holiday I spotted a woman walking off with my suitcase. An innocent mistake on her part. They were identical cases. This time I am going to use some of my saved ribbons to make bows round the handle.

Astitchintime Mon 25-May-26 09:26:31

I use them to making hanging loops at the waist bands of skirts and trousers when I’m sewing. Also useful for hanging loops on tea towels etc.

eddiecat78 Mon 25-May-26 09:44:43

Lots of good ideas, thankyou

jakuss Mon 25-May-26 09:48:13

Put them in the bin

Witzend Mon 25-May-26 10:25:43

albertina

Last time I came home from a family holiday I spotted a woman walking off with my suitcase. An innocent mistake on her part. They were identical cases. This time I am going to use some of my saved ribbons to make bows round the handle.

Ever since it happened to a relative (someone walking off with an identical case, no end of hassle) dh and I have tied ribbons to our suitcase handles. Mine is tartan, his is bright pink!

Astitchintime Mon 25-May-26 12:09:51

Witzend

albertina

Last time I came home from a family holiday I spotted a woman walking off with my suitcase. An innocent mistake on her part. They were identical cases. This time I am going to use some of my saved ribbons to make bows round the handle.

Ever since it happened to a relative (someone walking off with an identical case, no end of hassle) dh and I have tied ribbons to our suitcase handles. Mine is tartan, his is bright pink!

Haven’t the airports outlawed the attaching of ribbon, tape etc? I’m sure I read an article about this just last year.