Tutorial: Ribbon-Wrapped Embroidery Hoop
25 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in tutorials
I’d made a similar tutorial in the past, but wasn’t happy with the photos. While making some ornaments recently, I snapped some better-quality photos for this tutorial.
Step 1:
Instead of white glue, hot glue, spray adhesive, or any other messy adhesive, I like to use the Scrapbook Adhesives brand of E-Z Runner 2-sided tape (which I find in the scrapbooking section of my local craft store).
I actually prefer to use the adhesive squares because they’re easier to manuever, but I’m out of those right now. One benefit to these little tiny adhesive strips is they are more transparent than the white squares (which are very opaque), and they don’t show through ribbons that are on the sheer side.
This is a 3″ embroidery hoop, and 63″ of ribbon. That’s enough ribbon to completely wrap the hoop and have about 16″ left over to make the hanger. The ribbon width is 3/8″, which is my preferred width.
Step 2:
I remove the screw from the hoop and then roll some of the adhesive strips onto the hoop, right where I want to begin wrapping my ribbon.
I put the adhesive strips on all 4 sides of the hoop, which is kinda tricky when using these little strips (but easier when using the adhesive squares). You can see that you don’t need a lot of adhesive, and it doesn’t have to be on there perfectly ;-). The wrapping of the ribbon will hold the ribbon onto the hoop — the adhesive strips are just to give the ribbon a little something to grab hold of.
Step 3:
I start wrapping from the underside and do one complete wrap straight-on, so that the ribbon is flush against the beginning of the hoop.
Then, starting with my next wrap, I begin wrapping the ribbon at an angle, just barely covering the edge of the prior wrap. This is strictly a personal preference; you could just as easily wrap the ribbon straight-on all the way around.
Hold the ribbon taut as you wrap, adjusting the angle as needed to keep the ribbon as flush against the prior wrap, and the hoop, as possible.
Step 4:
Okay, my hoop is almost totally wrapped at this point. I use a binder clip to hold my ribbon, so my hands are free to apply adhesive strips to the end of the hoop. (You can see the adhesive strips rolled on a lot better at the end than at the beginning!)
Step 5:
Once the adhesive strips have been applied to the end of the hoop, go ahead and finish wrapping the ribbon. I continue wrapping it at an angle until I’m nearly to the end of the hoop, at which point I wrap the last wrap straight-on, so that it’ll be flush against the end of the hoop.
To secure the ribbon, I apply a few strips of the adhesive to the underside of the hoop and adhere the end of the ribbon to it.
I’ve found that when you’re ready to insert the inner hoop + stitched project into the outer hoop, it’s helpful to slide the inner hoop WITH the direction of your ribbon wrapping. (This might make more sense when you are actually doing it!)
This helps apply tension on that last wrap of the ribbon and to keep it in place . . . whereas if you insert the inner hoop *against* the direction of the ribbon wrapping, you will likely un-adhere the end of the ribbon (because you will be pushing the inner hoop *against* the end of the ribbon wrapping). Hehe, that was one of those “duh” moments that I figured out the hard way ;-).
Done!
