This looped ribbon adds an interesting 3-D quality to any project and a distinguishing touch to your tabletop décor.
MATERIALS
1 yard of 1 3/8"-wide grosgrain ribbon (per napkin)
Two size 5/0 beads (per napkin)
On each ribbon end, fold under 1/4" and hand stitch in place. With wrong sides together, fold and crease the ribbon 1 3/4" from one end. Creating a pleat, fold the crease and position it 1/2" from the finished end; press in place.
Thread a needle with a doubled thread. From the ribbon wrong side, take a small stitch at the lengthwise center of the ribbon and at the innermost fold to secure the layers (1). After taking the stitch, allow the needle to hang free.
To create another pleat, measure 1 3/4" from the newly formed pleat; fold and crease the ribbon. Position the crease 1/2" from the previous fold; press the pleat (2). From the wrong side, take a small stitch through all layers to hold the pleat in place. On the ribbon wrong side, the thread will look like a long running stitch.
Repeat the sequence, layering each pleat 1/2" from the previous one, until you have five pleats. When stitching the fifth pleat in place, add a bead before pushing the needle back through to the wrong side, catching the folds (3). Knot the thread.
At the opposite end of the ribbon, repeat the pleating and stitching, ending with a beaded pleat.
With the ribbon face down on a flat surface, center a folded napkin and tie the two ends. Carefully adjust the looped ribbon ends to show right side up (see photo above).
