Bright Ideas for Ribbons & Bedding

Upscale Bedding

• A simple ribbon trim can make for a stylish, memorable set of pillowcases and topsheets. Try a tone-on-tone silky ribbon draped in loops across the hem of a pillowcase, held down with two lines of machine straight-stitch, suggests Public Television home decorating mavens Matt and Shari. Alternatively, slice the top sheet and pillowcases at the hemline, and insert a strip of bright-colored or lacy ribbon by overlaying the ribbon on top of the cut fabric edge so that the cut edge is out of sight under the ribbon after you sew a straight seam.

Curtains

• Sheets trimmed with ribbon are easily turned into simple curtains or elegant draperies with just a little cutting and sewing or hot-glue. Sheets can be found in a plethora of prints to rival the finest decorator fabrics without the interior decorating fabric price. Simply cut evenly-spaced slits along the back only of the doubled-over top hem area of flat sheets, and string these onto your curtain rods for a drapery look. Sew or hot-glue contrasting or complementary ribbon along the edge for a finishing trim that makes the curtains look less like sheets. Since sheet fabric is relatively light, you can cut it and duct-tape it to cardboard forms held up by thumbtacks to create shaped valences without the heavy wooden forms and mounts necessary when using upholstery or decorator fabric.

Slipcovers

• Draping furniture with sheets makes for an easy slipcover to hide stains and wear or to lighten up dark upholstered furniture for the summer. With enough sheet sets for matching curtains, you can redecorate a whole room for very little money and effort. Remove your furniture cushions, and drape a large sheet over the couch or chair. Use a length of broom handle or heavy dowel pressed into the gap between the back and seat of the couch or chair to hold the sheet in. Sew just the ends of two lengths of ribbon about 2 feet apart, just under the height of the furniture arms at each corner, and tie them in bows to bunch up the extra fabric. Cover each cushion with a rectangle of sheet fabric, using a length of ribbon to tie the corners together under the cushion. Your sheet slipcover is easily removed for washing.

Costumes

• Ribbons and bedding combined with a dose of imagination are fodder for a whole host of Halloween, pageant and party costumes. A pillowcase with two holes in it is a standard child's ghost costume, but a trail of white and gray ribbons streaming off the top of it will make the costume seem to float in dim light to a much more dramatic effect. A patterned sheet, folded with a hole cut out of the top for the head, cut to floor length, then fastened with pairs of ribbons sewn or stapled to the sides and tied to fit, can be pressed into service for a medieval dress, a bridal gown or a fairy princess ensemble, depending on the sheet color and print.