Projects

Quick and Easy Bridal Garter

Created By:

Milinda Stephenson of Milinda Sews

Skill Level: Beginner

"I love combing through old heirloom sewing magazines for inspiration for new projects with Cluny Lace. I admit, I am obsessed with Cluny Lace and order it directly from the English factory. The same machines that have created lace for royal weddings from the 19th century are still in operation - most recently for The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton's wedding gown. Think Downtown Abbey and all of those lovely lace Edwardian gowns.

My youngest daughter's upcoming wedding called for a new bridal garter and I was thrilled to find instructions in a 1998, Sew Beautiful magazine. I've modified Tonya Jensen's instructions for the Janome Skyline S7 with really easy and fun results. Enjoy creating your own one-of-a-kind heirloom garter." - Milinda Stephenson

Janome Supplies Required
  • Two 1" satin ribbon, 30" long
  • One 1" flat lace (the lace can be narrower or wider depending on the look you prefer)
  • One 13" length of 3/4 or 1/2" elastic
  • Ribbon and lace (adding charm for adornment)

Instructions

Create Casing:

  • To create casing for the elastic, join the two 30" ribbon lengths.
  • Place them side-by-side and join them with a narrow zig-zag stitch.

Press:

  • Using low heat and steam, iron the joined ribbons open.
  • Fold the ribbons at the seam line and press again.

Attach Flat Lace to Casing:

  • Open out the ribbon casing.
  • Sew the lace top to the bottom inside of the casing using a narrow zig-zag stitch.

Stitch Casing Closed:

  • Fold the satin ribbon in half at the seam line.
  • Stitch casing closed using a straight stitch along the bottom edge of the ribbon.

Thread Elastic Through Casing:

  • Attach a safety pin to the end of the 13" elastic piece.

Secure Elastic Tail:

  • When the elastic is 13" into the casing and lying flat, sew down the casing opening, being certain to catch the end of the elastic in order to secure it for gathering the casing.

Thread Elastic Completely through Casing and Secure:

  • Once the safety pin emerges from the opposite end of the casing, use a straight stitch to sew down the elastic inside the casing and remove the pin.
  • You should now have a gathered casing with the elastic inside, secured on either end with straight stitching.

Join Gathered Casing:

  • After trimming off the excess elastic and casing, use fray check to be certain your garter ends don't fray.
  • Now, join the casing to end beneath your presser foot.
  • Beginning with the lace, join the raw edges with a zig-zag stitch.

Join Elastic Casing:

  • You may need to change your thread color before joining the elastic casing ends together. 
  • Because there will be a good deal of stress on the elastic from putting on and taking off, be certain to join the elastic with a secure zig-zag by sewing backwards and forwards a few times.

The fun begins:

  • Determine what you wish to use to adorn your garter.
  • Milinda used lace, narrow ribbon and an earring.
  • For the lace, Milinda trimmed out a pretty flower from Cluny Lace, attached the lace, hand sewed the bow atop the lace and embellished with the earring using pliers to secure the earring to the garter.
Everyone is Talking about Quick and Easy Bridal Garter
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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