Add a Designer Touch with Sewing Trims

Add a Designer Touch
with Sewing Trims

Take your next project up a level by adding trim! Yes, YOU can do it. Sewing trims to your garments or home decor items is not hard to do. In fact, for most trims, it's easy as 1, 2, 3!

Below, I'll show you one method. However, first, let's take a look at trims in general.

The Scoop on Trims

People have been adding trims to their sewn projects since sewing was invented! Really! In caveman times they would add pieces of bone, shells and teeth to their skin coverings. Ok, maybe not that far back, but close.

As time went by, clothing and trims got a whole lot prettier and oftentimes extremely elaborate depending on the particular time in history and what someone's social status was. Want to see some elaborate trims? Pick up a history book or costume book and look at what the Europeans used to wear!

In a nutshell, trims are a form of social plummage which say a lot about our personalities and lifestyles.

Trims come in many forms: Lace, Ruffles, Cording, Fringe, and Binding. I have probably left a few out. They also come in a huge variety of styles, colors and sizes from plain to extravagant. You could spend hours in specialty stores or on the web looking at all the sewing trims available.

You can buy trims ready made (in all price ranges) or you can make your own.

You can sew them on by hand or by machine. The actual project you are making will determine the method.

Here's one technique to add trim for a professional edge, using simple rick rack.

Edging with Rick Rack Trim

For this example, I'm adding rick rack to a simple top and enclosing it between the fabric and the lining material. I have cut out my pattern pieces and have also cut lining fabric to match them.

Taking the fabric for the top, with the right side up, pin the trim so that the center of the trim is exactly 5/8ths from the cut edge. Attach by sewing down the center of the trim using a stitch length of about 3-1/2.

Once your trim is secured on your fabric, place the lining and the fabric right sides facing each other and sew them together using the stitching line from the previous step as your guide. (NOTE: We know it's already in the center of your trim. Try not to veer off to the right or left. If you do, trim the thread and restitch where needed.) Be sure to leave an opening somewhere on the side so you can later turn your piece right side out.

Trim your edges to 1/4 inch or so from the seamline.

Turn your fabric right side out and enjoy how good your finished edge looks!

When I was in the process of sewing the above top, I didn't like the basic stitch it on method suggested by the pattern maker, so I used this application technique instead. My point is, don't be afraid to experiment with various methods for different or unique looks when applying trims. Also, have fun looking for and using all the different trim types! Let your imagination go!

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