Classification of Decorations and Trimmings

CLASSIFICATION OF DECORATIONS AND TRIMMINGS

Decoration and trimmings are classified based on the raw materials used and type of work done.

Fabric Decorations

Fabric decorations are items made out of textile materials and attached to the gar-ment. They are stitched at the edges or specific areas of the garments to enhance its look.

Some of the common fabric decora-tions are discussed below:

Ric Rac

It is a zig zag narrow trimming used for adornment. It is available in different colour and it is cost efficient. It can be used as a motif or can be sewn flat on a garment. They are made of different material like cotton, nylon and polyester (Figure 14.1).

Ruffles and Frills

Ruffles are a piece of fabric pleated or gathered at one edge to release fullness. It can be used for decoration as well as for finishing raw edges. Ruffles can beautify a plain garment and can also emphasize a section of a garment.

Frills can be added along the hem of a garment or inserted in seam or any section. The fineness of the fabric and the amount of drape are always related to ­create frills. If cut in circular fabric, frills, flares at hemline and smooth where it is attached. It can be used around the neck-line, collar and sleeve. It gives flowing movement to a garment. They are used in lingerie, children garment and nightwear (Figure 14.2).

Scallops

Scallops are one of the easiest ways to decorate a garment. They should be spaced evenly. These are mostly done on straight edge. They form rhythmi-cal edging on a plain garment. Scallops can be done on necklines and edges of a garment to add beauty to a garment. (Figure 14.3).

Patch Work

A piece of fabric with or without embel-lishment is attached on garment for dec-orative purposes are called as patches. These can be done by hand or machine. For hand patch work, loop stitch can be used. In machine patch work running or satin stitches are used. Normally soft and lustrous fabrics are used for patch work. This gives a rich look.

Patch work is used in clothes, table cover, sofa cover and in children garments. Patch used should be of same weight of fab-ric on to which it is done. If the patch used is heavy the garment will lose it shapes. They can be used to mend hole. Closely woven fabric cannot be used for patch as it will be difficult to sew (Figure 14.4).

Appliqué

Appliqué is the method of attaching a con-trasting material on a large back ground. Appliqué can be trimmed after stitching. Appliqué may vary in pattern, colour and texture. It can be done by hand or machine. Now-a-days sew on or stitch on appliqués are readily available.

In beach wear, simple and bold designs are used. The material used for appliqué can be leather, felt fabric, lace and net. Many other techniques such as quilting, beading and machine embroi-dery can be combined to create variety (Figure 14.5).

Quilting

Quilting is technique of giving a textured look to the garment. It adds weight and warmth. Generally geometrically designs like circles, diamond shapes and square are done in quilting. Quilting is done on running fabric before cutting the patterns.

Foam is placed in between the gar-ment fabric and the lining fabric. Lines are stitched to create the required effect. Later patterns are placed on this fabric and cut and used for the garment making. Quilting can be done for specific areas like yokes. Contrast colour threads or embroidery threads can be used in the bobbin to cre-ate interest in quilting work (Figure 14.6).

Belts

Belt is an important fashion accessory. It can be used as a design feature or it can act as a main focal point in a design. It can give the whole design a delicate effect.

The different types of fasten-ers used with belts are hooks, buckles, claps, ties, studs. We can create variety by using different materials, fasteners, leather or a combination of above mate-rial (Figure 14.7).

Bows

Bows are used as fasteners or it can also be used as decorative feature in a garment. Bows made from taffeta, cotton, linen pro-duce a sharp and crisp look. Soft bows can be made from soft fabric that drapes well. A bow can be stitched at neckline, waist line or it can be tied at the back to give an interesting effect. When bows are cut in bias, they drape well (Figure 14.8).

Smocking

Smocking is a trim in which embroidery is done over a gathered edge for both func-tional and decorative purpose. It is used in children garment, yokes, sleeves, waist-line and neckline of a garment. We can create variety in smocking. Smocking can be done on light weight fabric. Smocking gives textured effect (Figure 14.9).

Laces

Laces can be used at edge, to increase length or to decorate a garment. Decorative lace can be made by hand, machine, cro-chet needle and tatting. Laces made from crochet needle can be attached on the edge of the garments. Decorative laces are used in frocks, hoods, saris, shawls and skirts. They are available in many colours, size and shape. These are readily available in markets (Figure 14.10).

Applied Trimmings

Applied trimming is a decoration in which the garment fabric is modified or used as a base to work the required decoration. Some of the common types of applied trimmings are explained below:

Felting

Felt is a non woven fabric. It is made by com-pressing fibres together by application of heat till they form a solid fabric. Wool, synthetic and cotton fibre can be compressed to form felt fibre. Special kind of needles is used for felting. Felt can be shaped in any form. They are available in variety of colours and fibres. This looks like an extra layer of material on the garment (Figure 14.11).

Satin Ribbon

Satin ribbons are long thin strips of woven fabrics. It is used to develop beautiful motifs. It gives a classic look when used for special events. They are available in single sided and double sided styles. They are available in bright colours which gives the designer an opportunity to use his cre-ativeness. They can be used for wedding gowns as well as for craft work. When used with other decorative items such as beads, sequins, fasteners they give a rich look (Figure 14.12).

Ari and Zardosi Work

Ari work or ari embroidery is embroi-dery done along with the help of a hook. Generally chain stitches are made along with beads and muthia. Silk thread and metal wires are used. Zardosi embroidery is a decorative metallic embroidery work done by using thin wire threads with circular and spiral shaped metallic pieces. Gold and silver colours threads are used (Figure 14.13).

3D Foam

3D foam embroidery is a special tech-nique, with digitalizing process. Foam is introduced in specific areas. Example a letter or flower motif in a design. It is then stitched by machine. The stitches enter the foam and lock the foam into the required fabric (Example: Logo designs).

Decorative Trimmings

Decorative trimmings are small items which are placed on the garment and stitched. They include the following:

Sequins and Beads

Sequins are flat circular objects made to reflect light and can be arranged in dif-ferent ways depending upon the effect desired. These can be used in borders or can be scattered all over the garment. For rich effect sequins are over lapped with each other. They can be combined with other decoration also. Sequins and beads can be stitched or glued to fabric.

Beads are used to add beauty to a fabric. Beads are made of metal, plastic or wood. They are available in different shapes and sizes. They have a hole in the centre to sew it to the garment (Figure 14.14).

Mirrors

Mirrors are available as small metals, similar to real looking glasses. The metal mirrors have small holes at the edges which enable them to stitch to the gar-ment. Whereas the glass mirrors are first fixed using long stitches to hold them to the fabric. Then it is finished with blanket stitches. Mirrors vary in shape and size.

Rhinestones

Rhinestones are flat diamond like spar-kling beads from rock crystal found on the river side. They come in different shapes, colour and size. They can be easily sewed or glued to the fabric. They can enhance the appearance of a plain outfit (Figure 14.15).

Heat Transfers (Stickers)

Heat transfers are commonly known as stickers. To prepare heat transfers, the design to be added as decoration is first created on a special paper. This paper is placed on the garment, where the decora-tion is needed and pressed with hot iron. The heat from the iron box transfers the design to the garment. The most common heat transfer designs are numbers and names. Cartoon motifs are also used for children’s wear.

Decorative Fasteners

Decorative fasteners increase the look, convenience and comfort of a garment when selected properly. There are a large variety of decorative fasteners to select from press buttons to zip. They can be used for decorative purpose as well for func-tional purpose. They are made with metal, wood, plain fabric or leather. Decorative fasteners enhance the appearance of any garment. They can be placed in vertical or horizontal lines or it is grouped. Buttons, stud, snaps, hook and eye, zippers, buck-les, velcro, frogging, grommets, magnet brooches are the common type of deco-rative fasteners used. Some of decorative fasteners are described below.

Bias Binding

Bias bindings are strips cut on bias in con-trasting materials or any material to fin-ish raw edge in any garment. These can be used in place of bias facing while making decorative edges.

Fabric Loops

Fabric loops are cylindrical strips of fab-ric. Generally they are stitched to match the garment. These are used as straps for shoulder and can also be used as loops for fastening button in a garment instead of zip opening. They give a fashionable finish.

Decorative Buttons

The market is filled with various types of decorative buttons. They vary in size, shape, colour and raw materials used. Depending upon the type of garments they should be selected. They are mainly used as decoration and do not have the common function of fastening the garment (Figure 14.16).

Macrame

Macramé is a method of tying cords into knots to form different shapes. It produces a textured effect. It is used as tassels and fringes. Beads can be added at the end. The thickness of cord can be varied to create embossed effect. Variations can be created by using different colour. They can be eas-ily made and are affordable. Half knot and square knot are the common knots used for macramé. They are mainly attached at the edges of the garment to hold them together. Belts and garment strips are made in this method. (Figure 14.17).