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May Arts Ribbon Glossary

• Argyle:

  A geometric pattern of diamonds with at least two different colors that is printed or woven in to a fabric. View Example

• Beads:

  A small round ball, resembling a pearl. Can be strung together with a wire or a nylon string. View Example

• Bias Cut:

  Ribbon that is cut against the grain of the fabric.  This gives the appearance of a diagonal weave. View Example

• Burlap:

  A coarse, woven fabric.  Can be made of jute, a natural fiber that comes from a specific variety of an Asian plant. View Example

• Check / Gingham:

  A pattern with squares either woven or printed on a fabric. View Example

• Chenille:

  A soft, fuzzy looking fabric.   Can be made of various materials, such as polyester.   Stems from the French word “caterpillar”. View Example

• Circle Print:

  Ribbon that has a circular shape printed on it. View Example

• Cording:

  Fabric that has several threads twisted together, resembling a rope. View Example

• Crochet:

  Needlework that has threads looped together to form a loose knit fabric. View Example

• Crush / Wrinkled:

  Any material that is treated to resemble a fabric that has been crumpled. View Example

• Dots:

  A dot that can be woven or printed in to a pattern.  The dots can vary in size and texture. View Example

• Embroidery / Jacquard:

  Any decorative design that is woven in to a fabric. View Example

• Eyelash:

  A string or wire that has threadlike fringes on the side of a ribbon.  The term “eyelash” became popular because these threads resemble lashes. View Example

• Felt:

  Fibers that are matted and pressed to make a soft, dense fabric.  Felt is known to have been used since before the invention of the loom.   View Example

• Flock:

  Velvety fibers used to create a pattern or design on a fabric.  View Example

• Grosgrain:

  A heavyweight, densely woven fabric that creates a ribbed texture.  Was customarily made of silk, but is now also manufactured with synthetic materials such as polyester. View Example

• Iridescent:

  Different color threads woven together to produce variation in color, depending on the angle or lighting in which it is viewed. View Example

• Lace:

  A delicate thread woven together to produce an ornamental pattern or design. View Example

• Looped Edge:

  A string that creates a circular pattern, trimming the edge of a ribbon. View Example

• Mesh:

  Thread that is woven together making an open, web-like design. View Example

• Metallic:

  Metal or metal-like threads used to make a heavy weight, shiny fabric. View Example

• Moiré:

  A treated fabric that has a wave-like pattern, giving the appearance of a watery finish. View Example

• Net:

  A mesh-like fabric that has the appearance of an open weave. View Example

• Nylon Edge /Monofilament Edge:

  A synthetic fiber sewn in to the edge of a ribbon. View Example

• Ombre:

  A fabric that gradually shades from a lighter color to a darker one, or between two different colors.  Comes from the French word for “to shade”. View Example

• Paper Raffia:

  A small, flat rope-like ribbon made of paper.   Originally, the fiber used in raffia came from the leaf of an African palm tree. View Example

• Picot Edge:

  Tiny loops decorating the edge of a ribbon.  Derived from the French verb for “to prick”. View Example

• Pinstripes:

  A very thin line on a fabric. View Example

• Plaid / Tartan Plaid:

  Pattern of lines and bands that are crossed at a right angle. View Example

• Pleats:

  A design made by making folds within a fabric. View Example

• Polka Dot / Swiss Dot:

  A pattern of evenly spaced dots. View Example

• Pom-Pom:

  A soft, fluffy tuft in the shape of a ball, used for decoration. View Example

• Reversible:

  Fabric, in which both sides are finished, so they are usable.  Can be matching, or have a different color or pattern on each side of the fabric. View Example

• Ric Rac:

  Ribbon that is woven in the form of a zigzag.  Generally used for trimming.   Also spelled as Rick Rack. View Example

• Ringlets:

  A string that is spiraled to look like small rings or circles. View Example

• Ruffle Edge:

  The edges of a ribbon are pleated or gathered together to resemble a ruffle. View Example

• Satin String / Rat-Tail:

  String manufactured with satin.  A thinner version is termed a mouse-tail ribbon. View Example

• Satin:

  A heavyweight fabric with a smooth, shiny surface.  Can be double or single faced. View Example

• Scalloped Edge:

  A border that is curved to resemble a continuous half circle. View Example

• Sequins:

  A shiny coin shaped embellishment, usually made of a metallic or plastic. View Example

• Sheer / Chiffon / Organza:

  A lightweight, see through fabric usually made of nylon. View Example

• Silk:

  Fabric made with a fine, natural fiber.  The fiber is produced from the cocoon of a silkworm larva. View Example

• Soft & Silky:

  A lightweight material, with a smooth texture.  Has the shine of a satin. View Example

• Solid:

  Any fabric or material that is densely woven so that it is not transparent. View Example

• Square Print:

  A pattern made with squares on a fabric, resembling that of a check. View Example

• Stitched Center / Top Stitch:

  A ribbon with a thread woven through the center. View Example

• Stitched Edge / Saddle Stitch:

  A ribbon that has a thread woven through each edge. View Example

• String:

  A long, thin fiber made of various materials.  Similar to a cord. View Example

• Stripes:

  A line or band running through a fabric.  They can vary in size & color. View Example

• Taffeta:

  A medium-weight fabric that has a crisp, shiny appearance.  It has a plain weave, with a slight ribbing effect. View Example

• Textured:

  A characteristic that describes the surface of a fabric. This may include qualities such a coarse or grainy. View Example

• Trimming:

  Any embellishment that can be applied for the use of decoration on a garment. View Example

• Twill / Herringbone Stitch:

  A heavyweight fabric with a diagonal ribbed weave. View Example

• Twinkle:

  A fabric that has a sparkle or shimmer to it.   More commonly offered with sheer ribbons. View Example

• Twisted Rope:

  Soft threads that are wound loosely together, to resemble a cording.  Can be done with different colors to give a 'candy cane' appearance. View Example

• Two Tone:

  Two colors that are woven in to the same fabric.  Also can be two shades of the same color. View Example

• Variegated Stripes:

  Stripes that are uneven in width, and varied in color. View Example

• Velvet:

  A fabric with soft, closely knit fibers that are woven to create a plush surface. View Example

• Velveteen:

  A fabric that is woven with the purpose of resembling velvet. View Example

• Wired / French Wire:

  A thin metallic thread that is woven in to the edges of a ribbon. View Example

• Woven:

  A fabric that is manufactured by the interlacing of threads.  Can be made of any natural or synthetic fiber. View Example

• Wrinkled Edge:

  The edge of a ribbon is crumpled or folded in a way to create an appearance similar to that of a ruffle. View Example

May Arts