Natalie Dupuis BeRibboned course Material pack

Ribbons have been awarded for centuries to recognise national service, individual accomplishment, and acts of bravery or sacrifice. Celebrated musicians, sporting heroes, fashion houses, peacekeepers, charities, and members of the armed forces are among those who have received ribbons of recognition. Ribbons and associated colours have also been used to recognise those who excel in daily life.

In this 4-week online course, students will be asked to design and stitch a set of miniature ribbons that represent the life accomplishments and milestones of a special person, a historic figure, or fictional character. Students are also invited to reflect on their own lives and wonder which colours they would combine, and in what ratio, to create a coherent and meaningful representation. Students will imagine how a life could be represented in simple bars of colour.

The humble couching stitch is used to create a miniature ribbon set that could represent something significant such as volunteer work, cancer survival, professional loyalty, familial achievements, special talents, and personality traits.

With shining metal threads as a couched base, students will use goldwork embroidery to mimic traditional grosgrain ribbon texture. This basic stitch is taken to new heights when skilfully combined with colour and precise stitch placement, along with thoughtful spacing to allow glints of metal to shine through.

The course will focus on the meaning of colours in the Western world. Each individually selected colour will have a symbolic meaning understood by the creator of the design as well as to the individual to whom the piece is dedicated. This symbolism will be discovered as the student engages in independent research during the initial week of the course.

The number of ribbons designed will be up to the student. Students may mimic the traditional size and shape of small undress ribbons, make an abstract representation of a ribbon, or create a larger undulating ribbon – the possibilities are only limited by one’s creative boundaries and imagination.