FAQ: Silk Ribbon Embroidery

• What does SRE stand for? ~ Silk Ribbon Embroidery
  

• Do you have Tutorials for SRE? ~ Yes, here is the link: Silk Ribbon Embroidery Tutorial Archive

• Where can I find SRE patterns? ~ Honey Bee's Silk Ribbon Embroidery Patterns these are my very own creations for you to use. Please give me credit for the pattern and do not sell the pattern or use commercially, Thank You. You can also search online for SRE patterns or use vintage patterns by interpreting the pattern for SRE (example - flower circles could be spiderweb roses, small flowers could be sweetheart roses or knot flowers, leaves could be interpreted in lazy daisy stitch or ribbon stitch instead).
  

• What SRE books do you recommend? ~ Here is a link to some of my favorite embroidery books including SRE: My Favorite Embroidery Books

• Do you need special fabric for Silk Ribbon Embroidery? ~ No you don't need special fabric for silk ribbon embroidery. A good rule of thumb for choosing fabric to work on is any fabric that your needle (usually size 22 chenille for 4mm silk ribbon) can pass through you can use.

• I'm having trouble pulling my needle through the fabric, what's wrong? ~ Make sure you are using the correct size needle, size 22 chenille for 4mm silk ribbon and larger or smaller if using 7mm or 2mm silk ribbon. ~ If it's just being a little tough try using some little round rubber needle grabbers that you can get in the quilting section. ~ Another thing to check is sometimes when doing a knot you can tighten too much and it makes it hard to pull through, remember to loosely tighten so it's tightened just enough to look right but not too loose that it falls out. ~ One last thing is make sure you are using silk ribbon and not polyester ribbon it makes a huge difference, polyester is too heavy and thick.

• How do long or short do you leave your beginning and ending tails in the back and how to you secure them? ~ You only need to leave the tails long enough to secure it either with another needle and thread or by piercing it as you work. Here are some links that show those methods: Getting Started in Silk Ribbon Embroidery (Includes How to Iron, Thread Needle, Knot/No Knot) Straight Stitch/Padded Straight Stitch (Includes Piercing the Tail)

• Do I end off or drag the ribbon to the next working spot? Example - If making leaves on either side of a rose, do you tie off each separately or drag the ribbon across the back? ~ In this case the leaves are probably very close together and you can just drag the ribbon to the next leaf spot. Usually if the length between stitches is above an inch it's better to end it off and start fresh at the next spot and coming back later with another needle and thread to secure the tail. It also depends on the stitch if it's easily snagged as well, if it is then it's better to be safe and take another needle and thread and secure the tail in the back instead of dragging.

• Where can I find/buy Silk Ribbon? ~ Silk Ribbon can be hard to find you can look for it in any craft store but you may need to visit a specialty needlework store, or buy online. I usually find that the best prices and easiest access is Online. I have a few links to Online Shops that sell silk ribbon Here. Don't compromise and just get polyester ribbon it has a completely different thickness and feel to it. Once you use actual silk ribbon the difference between it and polyester ribbon is like night and day! Do some research and find a sale or good deal for silk ribbon online you'll have a much better time doing SRE if you have the right tools. Brands that I've used and consider good quality are: River Silks, YLI, RibbonSmyth, ThreadArt, Bucilla. (No affiliation, just have used their products for myself and liked them)
  

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***I'll update the FAQ's as I receive more questions, feel free to ask me and I'll do my best to answer.