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The latest issue of Threads mentioned an online tutorial of pleated ribbon trim. I see this type of trim all over the Victorian fashion plates. Click for ribbon-y fun!

Thank you so much for the link! It's so nice to see what it really looks like, rather than how it looks in the illustrations. I feel so inspired by this.

Me too! I tried some of the illustrations from my 1840-60s Godeys book, and got hopelessly lost. I'm hoping experience with this particular design will translate to others as well.

More thanks. The illustrations look hopelessly complicated and this is really straightforward. Because I did a lot of Civil War-era, I skipped a lot of trim on the grounds that a woman sewing for herself wouldn't have bothered. This could make later eras much more trimmy. (OK, that's not a word. When I'm working, I use real words.)

Great now I have to start a new project, just so I can do this trim.

Survey question: What's everyone's favorite trim how-to book?

My favorite is Candace Kling's ribbon flowers book.

[Heather]

I just found this dress on ebay that has a shell ruched fabric strip around the hem. I have seen several dresses with these patterns in fabric, so you can think beyond ribbon for shell ruchings.

My favorite book: Ribbon Trims (Embellishment Idea Books) By Nancy Nehring Has several shell ruche styles in the book.