Exclusive Double Ribbon Stitch Techniques on the PFAFF creative icon 2

If you enjoyed exploring the possibilities of single ribbon stitches yesterday, you’re about to step into a whole new world of texture and design with double ribbon stitches on the PFAFF creative icon 2. Think of it as going from a solo performance to a graceful duet, two ribbons dancing together across your fabric, crossing, folding, and layering to create a beautifully intertwined effect.

Single ribbon stitches are all about flow and rhythm following the stitch path with one ribbon, folding it back and forth to form elegant loops or zigzags. It’s perfect when you want a clean, structured look, or when working with a standout ribbon that deserves the spotlight.

Double ribbon stitching, on the other hand, brings in a second ribbon, and with it, a whole new layer of creativity. The second ribbon is placed over the first and then both are manipulated in an alternating pattern as the stitch repeats. The result? A braided or woven illusion, often resembling lace or trim that looks far more intricate than it is to create.

How to set up for Double Ribbon Stitches

The machine settings stay the same as we did yesterday, so no extra setup is needed to move from single to double ribbon stitches. From the Welcome Screen, go to Sewing Mode, tap the Load Stitch icon, and scroll to Category 8, Techniques. Select 8.2, Double Ribbon Stitches, then double-tap the stitch you want to use. For this project, I chose Stitch #10.

Attach the 2A Fancy Stitch Foot, make sure the IDT system is disengaged, and activate the Needle Down feature. You can always confirm which features are currently active and what’s recommended for your stitch by checking the top left corner of the screen.

And here’s what makes this technique so user-friendly: the PFAFF creative icon 2 pauses automatically at just the right points so you can position and fold your ribbons with confidence, no guessing required. Simply press the Start/Stop button and follow the rhythm of the stitch as the machine does the guiding.

What You’ll Need

• Foot: 2A Fancy Stitch Foot
• Fabric: One 10” x 2½” strip of stabilized cotton or denim, with a guideline drawn using chalk or a water-soluble marker.
• 2 Ribbons: 3/16” x 16” each, same or contrasting, depending on your design

TIP For double ribbon stitches, it’s a good idea to add about 6” more than your fabric length for each ribbon. That gives you more flexibility and comfort while folding the ribbons into place.

Just like yesterday, let’s take a quick look at what our stitch settings show us for Double Ribbon. Tap on the stitch number, then hit the question mark (?) at the top right corner. Tap the stitch again, and up comes the same handy pop-up with all the details, ribbon width, placement notes, and step by step suggestions. It’s the same simple check-in, but now tailored to our new technique.

We’re ready to go, and yes, we’re still enjoying the luxury of stitching without the foot pedal! Just press the Start/Stop button and follow the on-screen pauses.

The machine will sew the first section and pause. That’s your cue to place the first ribbon in front of the needle, aligned at the same angle as the initial part of the stitch. Press Start to continue.

When the machine stops again, place the second ribbon in front of the needle, crossing it over the first. Press the Start button again.

Next pause: fold the second ribbon over itself so it lies in front of the needle. Keep going by pressing Start.

From here on, the machine will continue to alternate pauses for ribbon placement. Each time it stops, fold the back ribbon over to the opposite side so it lies in front of the needle and press Start to sew. The ribbons take turns crossing over, forming a mirrored, dimensional pattern, one fold at a time. Repeat this process, folding and stitching as prompted, until your design is complete.

The 2A Fancy Stitch Foot offers a clear view of every step. And as you can see from the photo taken from behind the foot, you get a perfect look at how beautifully the ribbons are shaped with each repeat.

That brings us to the end of today’s double ribbon stitch demo!
You’ve just added another layer of dimension to your sewing, using the Exclusive Double Ribbon Stitch and you did it all without touching the foot pedal! The PFAFF creative icon 2 handled the stitch path while you simply guided the ribbons, one fold at a time.

It’s a great moment to check out a few more stitches in this category. Each one has its own rhythm and motion. For the more ornamental movement stitches like Stitch #5 or #6, try using two ribbons in the same color and contrast thread to highlight the stitch path. If you’re leaning toward using fancy laces instead, keep them under 6 mm wide and try Stitch #8 or #11. This way, you let the lace complement, not cover, the curves and twists of the stitch design.

Tomorrow, we’ll explore Triple Ribbon Stitches, where three ribbons come together in a beautifully braided effect. I can’t wait to show you several tips on how it works!

Happy stitching,
Olesya

This is part 3 of 5 in this series

Go back to to part 2: Exclusive SINGLE Ribbon Stitch Techniques on the PFAFF creative icon 2

Go to part 4: Exclusive Triple Ribbon Stitch Techniques on the PFAFF creative icon 2