Watson

Sadly, my father in law is very ill with cancer. He has always been an avid runner and has tons of ribbons from his races.

I thought it would be nice to make a ribbon quilt (lap size) for my mother in law from some of them, to be gifted to her at a later date.

Does anyone know how these are constructed? I did a search here and didn't find anything and I've searched the 'net and haven't found much useful, practical information on how to actually do it.

Any help appreciated.

Watson

quiltingshorttimer

we had a young lady enter one in our local guild show a few years ago--she used a stablilizer to attach the ribbons to and then sewed blocks together. it was really cool, but because most ribbons are not quality fabric I would use it as a wall hanging and not a lap quilt.

OurWorkbench

I don't know what the ribbons look like and if they are all the same size, but perhaps some of these will give you some ideas.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/squarequilter/5231995820/
https://www.etsy.com/listing/6786420...ng_bot-4&frs=1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/2564804..._listing_bot-3
https://www.etsy.com/listing/2881732...QaAg3IEALw_wcB
https://www.etsy.com/listing/6833779...ng_top-2&frs=1

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

Tartan

I think you would need to get one to see what they are made from. If they can be ironed, a fusible interfacing could be added to make them strong enough to sew together.

Kitsie

Awesome pictures of thise quilts, OurWorkbench! Truly beautiful and amazing!

Krisb

Some help might be found here:

https://ourpastimes.com/how-to-make-...-12311593.html
https://www.ehow.com/how_6469894_use...on-quilts.html
https://www.ehow.com/way_5845015_sho...tructions.html
http://www.shemovedtotexas.com/how-t...-ribbon-quilt/

The basic construction seems to be to applique the ribbons onto a wholecloth muslin backing, then hot gluing on the rosettes and binding. I am sure that non-stabilizer would work also.

Iceblossom

I'm going to be making some kuspuks for me and have been collecting various ribbons at the thrift store and running various tests.
https://www.lapassionvoutee.com/what-is-a-kuspuk/

I'd just be using ribbons as embellishments/parts of fabric, not rosettes. That would be an art piece and I don't do art!

Ribbons are not all created equal! Some disintegrate when you do more than look at them, some run like your FiL in his prime, others turn out surprisingly well. Unfortunately, it is a destructive testing technique but it doesn't require a lot.

I take a piece of prewashed solid white and I sew 2-4" of ribbon on to it with a straight stitch noting how well does it sew -- is it hard/easy, does it fray/break, is zig zag better?

Then I throw the piece in the wash and see how it comes out. I'm watching for bleeding into the white, shrinkage, and how well it held up. I'm amazed at the ones that i think will pass that fail, and the other way around too. I'm careful when I try the iron test, that's the last one. For the last test with the iron hot (and steam -- you want to throw everything you can at it), I put down a spare piece of fabric on the ironing board and position the ribbon side down, pressing from the back and I give it a good blast of heat and steam.

One of the ones I was surprised by how well it held up was a roll of wide outdoor suitable trim from Costco, it was about 3" wide, with glitter, and had the wires in the edges. I cut off lengths, pulled out the wire, and did the test and other than glitter everywhere (and still sparkling on the ribbon) had no issues at all. Not with running or shrinking or shredding. I used it for lettering on my Granny Dragon sign. Rest in Peace, this version of the XFL -- it succumbed to the flu, but I was at every Seattle home game (2!).

Barb in Louisiana

First I want to say that you are a wonderful person to do this. Then....I have never made one of these and haven't looked at all the links. My thoughts are that they will not stand up as a lap quilt, but would do well as a wall hanging. I would not attach the ribbons permanently. I would just figure out how to make background squares or use a one piece solid background- for the ribbons and then use some type of pin, like a safety pin and place the ribbons on the background squares. This allows so much flexibility with taking them off and rotating them out. And you could wash the background quilt if it needs it and re-pin the ribbons back on.
Another thought would be to use the same technique and make a bed runner. Those almost never need to be washed.

Iceblossom

Probably further explanation would help explain my vision. I'd be looking at crazy quilts, t-shirt quilts, and string or quilts that use ties for inspiration.

I'm thinking these are mostly fairly simple ribbons, maybe with printing for the events, the sort that everyone gets. Not thinking of this so much for the top finisher fancy ribbons. So a lot of straight pieces, maybe 12" usable

You can make a border by stitching down those ribbons diagonally across a background (stitch both sides of the ribbon). You can take ribbons and overlay/weave them over the top of fabric. You can build blocks using them to frame the sides, or blocks framing the ribbons, whether on a foundation or not. Mostly I'd be looking at foundations techniques of some sort.

This is a crazy quilt I made using ugly ties I collected at the thrift stores. My son loved it and used it hard for 10 years or so. I put the ties on a foundation which was good because some did disintegrate over time. Again, I'm surprised at how well some lasted and frown at those that I trusted....

Jordan

This is such a wonderful idea for your MIL. I think you got some great ideas from "ourworkbench" and others. Good luck to you and she may want just a wall hanging so she can see it every day as a great memory item.