Introduction to Hot Ribbon Art
 

What is Hot Ribbon?

Hot Ribbon is a new fusible ribbon imported by Imagination International in Eugene, Oregon. It was developed by Junko Morofuschi of Japan, who uses it to embellish clothing or make art to frame. Quilters enjoy using the ribbon to embellish quilts. It is a creative way to add details to patchwork and appliqué, giving a wonderful dimension and glow.

Hot Ribbon is 1/8" wide and sold in packets containing almost 2 yards (4 strands almost 18" long). It comes in 20 colors plus metallic silver and gold. (Some colors probably won't be too accurate on your computer, but you get the idea of the range of colors.)
 


The basic idea

Ribbon is bonded to the fabric with a Clover Mini-Iron.
 

When the design is complete, it is bonded at high heat (with a pressing sheet) so it is permanent and machine washable.

Direct application:

Sometimes the ribbon is applied directly to the design, to add a stem to a patchwork leaf, outline a simple appliqué shape, or enhance the fabric with glowing, dimensional details.

Here is a student at our last retreat outlining a design made with my new Potluck Appliqué technique. This is the first time she had tried the ribbon --it's easy to use!


 

Tracing through glass or a pressing sheet, then transferring:

For more complicated designs or tighter curves, place glass or a translucent pressing sheet (such as the one by Bear Thread Designs) over the design. Mold the ribbon to shape, pulling it up and repositioning it as needed until you get it just right. Then transfer it to the fabric and press it in place.

For example, if you want to add words to a design, make each letter on glass or the pressing sheet first. Discard the ones which don't turn out well and try them again. Lift off the final letters and arrange them just right on the fabric and press them in position.
 
 

Some favorite uses of Hot Ribbon:

Add details to children's quilts

The ribbon works great for adding words and details on the books and toys. (These are Playroom blocks from my Fast Patch Kids Quilts book.)

Make stems and other details for patchwork flowers, etc.:
 


 

Embellish appliqué projects

Shapes are fused in place, with edges finished with Hot Ribbon.


 
 


 
 

Here are some of the designs by Lennie Honcoop of Elk Grove, California.
 


 


 

Here's my retreat partner, Nancy Foisy, with some of her Hot Ribbon projects.

Sandy Kintz of Florence, Oregon, designs patterns for Oregon Coast lighthouses under the name of Centuries of Light. Go to www.lighthousequilts.com. Now she's embellishing some of the lighthouses with ribbon. She's also branching out to designs of the California missions, like this one.

Copy your favorite artwork

Dover books are great for designs you can freely copy for your own use. This Hot Ribbon fish is copied from Dover's Seashore Life Coloring Book.


 
 

Make architectural details for scenic quilts:


 

Make stained glass designs

This design is Glory Circle from the "Introduction to Hot Ribbon Art" book described below.


 

Hot Ribbon and fusible web are natural partners:

You can often bond a commercial fusible material, such as Steam-a-Seam2, to the fabric pieces, place the Teflon sheet over the paper design, bond the fabric pieces temporarily to the Teflon, outline them in Hot Ribbon, then lift off the entire design.

Place the design over several pieces of fabric to see which is prettiest and see exactly where the design should go, then bond it in place permanently.


 

Here's another example of making a design you can pick up and transfer. The trees, branches, and limbs on the ground are constructed on the teflon sheet, connected to each other so they can be lifted up and applied to a variety of backgrounds.
 


 
 

Get started with "An Introduction to Hot Ribbon Art"

I wrote this 36-page book in the spring of 2003 to help you get started. It includes:


To order this book (about $16.00) and Hot Ribbon, call Imagination International at 541-684-0013. They are also U.S. distributors of Copic Markers.
Their web page is www.imagineinternational.com and they will soon have a web page especially for Hot Ribbon, www.hotribbon.com
 

Classes in Hot Ribbon Art

I'm excited now about my new Potluck Appliqué technique. Any group which does a workshop with this technique this year will probably see some of their projects in my next book.

For examples of other classes your quilt guild might sponsor, go to Workshops and  Williston projects.

For a three day Retreat exploring Hot Ribbon, go to Retreats. Our next retreat is June 24-26, 2004. We'll explore more Hot Ribbon possibilities at Driftwood Shores resort on the Oregon Coast.
 
 

Return to Anita Hallock's Home Page.                                 Page copyright by Anita Hallock.      Updated July 2003