Ties for smocks/chemises/partlets?

[gem]

What does everyone like to use? So far I haven't made a smock/chemise that needed any kind of closure at the neck/cuffs, and I used buttons and loops on my partlet collar.

But for my upcoming high-necked smock (from the embroidered muslin), I'd like the neck and sleeves to tie closed. Baroness Doune has a really pretty men's smock on her site with long ties that I really like. It looks like it might be teeny tiny bias tubes--and I can tell you for certain I won't be doing that! LOL

Any other suggestions? Twill tape--even the narrow 3/8" stuff--seems like it would be too wide.

EDITED to correct link to the Baroness's smock.

[Rani Zemirah]

1/8" ribbon, maybe, if you're wanting something that thin?  Satin would be slippery, though, and might not stay tied very well.  Or cording?  Maybe some finger-woven cording made with silk thread, so it would turn out extremely fine?  Just an idea or two... probably not what you had in mind, though. 

[Kate XXXXXX]

Silk ribbon:

[Butch]

I've used satin ribbon; don't use it.  It is indeed too slippery.  I've heard people have used candle wicks successfully.  The last several shirts I have made, I sewed ties from the shirting material; kinda like the double twill tape, but much smaller.  And I sew a single seam along the open edge.  Good luck!

[Rani Zemirah]

Oooh... I have a whole roll of 1/16" flat braided cotton candle wicking, and I think it would be wonderful to use as ties! 

[CenturiesSewing]

Basic 3 loop fingerloop braid videos

part 1
http://youtu.be/G4k5c3OlHyM

part 2
http://youtu.be/vPXirnUoaWc

[Sev]

In the past I've used 1/8" grosgrain ribbon which seems to grip a little better than the satin...

[Wickedvox]

They *all* took the ideas right out of my mouth!  Particularly the silk ribbon--Kate that chemise is *gorgeous!* Do you do your own cut embroidery?? It's beautiful!

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, Gem... your link to the men's smock leads to the image of your embroidered muslin.  You might not have gotten the proper link copied before you pasted it into the message, maybe?

[gem]

It should be fixed now, but here it is:
http://www.karen.htmlcreators.com/smpatshirtfront.jpg

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

gem,

Have you thought about using Soutache? I often use both white and black Soutache for ties or loops for Buttons on Shirts and Chemises. It can be well anchored down and tied off at the end.

[DonaCatalina]

coming late to the discussion...... but I use picot ribbon. The loops help keep the ties from coming undone.

[Rennigirl]

Adding my "thumbs up" to using the grosgrain ribbon.  Works very well and does not slip out.

[Kate XXXXXX]

They *all* took the ideas right out of my mouth!  Particularly the silk ribbon--Kate that chemise is *gorgeous!* Do you do your own cut embroidery?? It's beautiful!

Thank you.  No, it's inserted lace, like the original from the V&A.

Here's how I did it: 

http://dressdiaries.livejournal.com/537215.html

http://dressdiaries.livejournal.com/537988.html

http://dressdiaries.livejournal.com/545701.html

[gem]

Wow--this ended up being a great thread!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I went on a little shopping trip today, and I haven't found any of the recommendations... yet. I am hoping to find something to coordinate with the brown embroidery, like this extant smock at the V&A:



It turns out, it is way harder to match browns than you would think!   I would really prefer not to have to make something, because I know how I end up on projects like that! I did find some gimp-ish trim in the absolute perfect shade of brown; I think it wants to be used on the seams, but it's too thick to use for ties.  I really like the idea of the silk ribbon--it seems like the best option, color-wise, but our local stores seem to have eliminated their silk ribbon embroidery sections, and I'm not sure where else to look...?

Keep the ideas coming, all!

[Kate XXXXXX]

For the narrow silk ribbon, I used silk ribbon embroidery ribbon...

[gem]

Do you guys think narrow organza ribbon will work? (Seems like it might be scratchy.) It's literally the only thing I can find in the right size and color. Mystifyingly, every major craft store in the metro has eliminated its silk ribbon embroidery section! (It's all needle-felting now.)

Hmmm. I may be left with making something, after all.

[Margaret]

Of course it will *work*.  Any sort of ribbon or bias will *work*.  The main difference between material used is the annoyance factor.  Do you want it to stay tied - used something like the grosgrain that won't slip out.  Want a better look and maybe have to retie your stuff a bit more - go for the satin ribbons.

The organza will look pretty and depending on how you attatch it to your smock, it may not touch your skin at all.

[gem]

A quick bump to see if there's a rule of thumb for the *length* of the ties (collar & cuffs). Typically I would just cut a really long length and then cut off the excess afterward... but my ribbon is really pretty and I don't want to waste any.  (For some reason, my pattern doesn't say how long to make the ties!)

Gramercy!

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

A quick bump to see if there's a rule of thumb for the *length* of the ties (collar & cuffs). Typically I would just cut a really long length and then cut off the excess afterward... but my ribbon is really pretty and I don't want to waste any.  (For some reason, my pattern doesn't say how long to make the ties!)

Gramercy!

Do you have any string or regular ribbon you could cut and use as a tie?  Then, when you find the right length on the string, you can cut it and use it as a guide for cutting your nice ribbon.