Sunday, October 26, 2014

Stretch Ribbon

I like using stretch ribbon on my pointe shoes. Forget like, I was instructed to use it by the woman who fit me for the shoes. I have a terrible tendency toward tendonitis (thank you, rheumatism) and the stretchy ribbons take a lot of the pressure off your achilles. The kind I got at the time was great, but the kind you can buy from Discount Dance, frankly, sucks. It pulls and shreds and looks like an utter disaster after being tied once or twice. It's also too flimsy to offer even the slightest support. It's like wearing ribbons strictly for looks. Anyway. So I've been doing a few searches online to see what I can find.
You see this stuff?
This stuff that is sold as "stretch ribbon" basically everywhere right now? This stuff that you can buy little headbands and hair ties made out of for several bucks a pop*? This is not stretch ribbon. This is "fold-over" elastic. It's made for lingerie. You fold it over the edge of a piece of fabric to finish it. It can be found gracing bras, slips, and underpants, but you don't recognize it because it's folded over. Please, people. PLEASE stop calling this stretch ribbon. It's making the quest for the right pointe shoe accessory down right interminable. 

*also, it's super cheap. Like, really really cheap. Stop paying so much for it made in to hair ties! It's ridiculous!

4 comments:

  1. Agreed!!! Not only on it being called the wrong thing, but also people spending too much for it :)
    PRIMA SOFT EXTRA SUPPORT EXTENSION STRETCH RIBBON Is that what you are looking for?

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    1. Those are the ones that DDS carries that sort of suck! They are actually a lot like fold-over elastic without the groove down the middle.
      The good ones I have are more of a flat weave, very dense and matte so they don't snag all to hell. Possibly the body wrappers brand, though the color looks wrong.

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  2. I saw a bunch of this fold over elastic on etsy that's cool, but they utilize the whole width with images, like flamingos and the like. How are you supposed to intemperate that when it's folded over? Not cool after all fold over elastic. Also they made a giant section in the notions at my JoAnns for hand made baby diaper covers with all this fold over elastic and flim flam. Where was the love for ladies to just make underwear?

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    1. You never can tell what the next big trend in crafting/DIY is going to be. I guess making jewelry out of plastic zip ties is in this year? Who knew?

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