Full size passementerie trimming pillows and curtain with regal style.
Plainly speaking, passementerie is an all inclusive term for the many and varied wonderful trims you see in the craft and fabric stores; ribbons, cording, fringe and even tassels are all included in the term. In even the largest cities and stores with extensive notions departments, it can be very hard to locate trims that are in the appropriate scale for miniature work. Imagine my pleasure then, when I found Bonni Backe offering a class at Guild School on making appropriate scaled trims.
1/12 scale fancy tape trim, obviously in need of more practice to keep those edges even!
We began with a small version of an inkle loom and working with thread to achieve the finest scale possible, we learned to weave very narrow tapes; plain tapes in a single color and tapes of multiple colors, tapes with fancy corded trim, and tapes with fringe. We learned how to twist cords, with and without the assistance of gadgets; cords in one or many colors; and we learned how to make tassels, a subject which could fill a whole course on its own…tassels on wooden head forms, tassels made entirely of thread, tassels with skirts, talk about going to bed with visions of sugarplums dancing through your head!
1/12 scale tassels, one incorporating a wooden head form and one with a ‘skirt’.
It was one of those classes that left you charged with excitement knowing you could use the knowledge and head off in many, many directions to create the necessary trims to perfectly finish any miniature project.
Anyone who is lucky enough to be contemplating attending the Kensington Dollshouse Festival in London this May has the opportunity to sign up for this marvelous class. Bonni has agreed to teach it again at the IGMA
Two color tape with woven in fringe trim in 1/12 scale.
classes being held in conjunction with the Kensington Dollshouse Festival this year. Visit the website for all the exciting details!
