DIY Kentucky Derby Fabric Ribbon

Place cards are some of the easiest DIY projects to tackle, and this one that Kathryn Godwin from Studio Cultivate created for us that Alicia White captured is no different. This one is fun, easy, and will be such an adorable fixture to your guests’ table place settings. Check back soon because we will be sharing two more DIYs inspired by Kentucky Derby’s race that happened last weekend!

Materials you need:
Scissors
Fabric
Fabric Dye
Hot Glue Gun
Needle
Thread
Chipboard
Table Decor
Horse figurines, large
(Second type of toy horse) and small horse figurines

1. If you’re working with white fabric, select dye colors you wish to use and follow packet instructions to dye fabric. Make sure to have a large prep area with lots of newspapers for easy clean up!

2. Once your fabric is dry, snip little cuts along the edge of fabric. Cut to 1/2 inch, 1-inch, 2-inch and 3-inch widths. This will allow variety in the ribbons.

Keep in mind that these cuts allow a starting point to tear the fabric into strips. Fabric weaves are two-directional. If there is resistance along one direction to tear and lots of shredded fabric, trying tearing the fabric perpendicular to your original tear.

3. Once all strips have been torn, pull away loose threads and trim ends of fabric.

4. To achieve pointed tails on the ribbons, fold the strip in half and cut at an angle. Cutting from the fold down and outward creates two tails, cutting upward and outward creates 1 point “V”.

5. For looped details around the ribbon head, cut 3-5 inch long strips. Fold in half, and pinch the cut end into a W fold. Stitch fold tight.

6. For a pinwheel, accordion fold a long strip. Folds should be about 1/2-inch thick, with a total of 12 creases on the top side. Trim extra fabric.

7. Using thread and needle, place a single stitch through end of folded fabric and create a loop to the original side to tie off.

8. Open folds and it will create a full circle along the looped thread.

9. For a pleated pinwheel, mark off increments of 1.25 inches. At each mark, pinch fabric over itself at a slight angle. Use a needle and thread to stitch through the base of each pleat.

10. Work your way along the fabric strip repeating this step until it comes to a full circle. Knot off and trim extra fabric and thread.

11. To create the center of the prize ribbons, trace circles onto chipboard and cut out. Working with various sizes will give variety to the ribbons.

12. Cut fabric slightly larger than the chipboard circle, and hot glue around the backside.

13. Layout ribbon designs, layering tails and pleated details, playing with different colors and sizes for variation, hot glue layers together.

14. Once the hot glue has set, take a marker and write each guest’s name. For added flair, choose a gold or silver-inked marker.