Ribbon Stitching in the Hoop on the PFAFF creative icon 2

Welcome back, dear creative souls of needle and thread! Today’s post brings a little twist to our ribbon stitch journey. So far, the folded ribbon textures we’ve explored were created by gently guiding the fabric by hand in Sewing Mode, one careful move at a time. But what if I told you that with the PFAFF creative icon 2, you can let the machine take care of the stitching path and spacing, while you focus fully on folding the ribbon?

That’s the beauty of stitching in the hoop.

Manual guiding often introduces small shifts; even the steadiest hands can produce a wobbly line when trying to stitch long borders. By hooping the fabric and programming the stitch sequence in Embroidery Mode, the fabric stays in place, and the embroidery unit stitches a perfectly straight row. Fold the ribbon into place when prompted. No more dancing stitch lines, just consistent spacing and smooth flow from start to finish.

In this post, we’ll explore how to turn a single ribbon stitch motif into a full decorative row using the Sequence Creator on the PFAFF creative icon 2.

What You’ll Need

Foot 6D The Dynamic Spring Foot
Stabilizer 12” x 17½” PFAFF Cut-A-Way Light soft and comfortable to leave inside the garment
Hoop Elite Hoop 260 x 200 mm
Fabric One 12” x 2½” strip of pre-stabilized cotton or denim
Ribbon 3/16” wide and about 18″ long
Pins or Adhesive spray To secure the fabric strip to the stabilizer, use pins or Odif 505 Temporary Adhesive Spray for a smooth, no-shift hold

Let’s begin by attaching the embroidery unit and switching on the PFAFF creative icon 2. On the welcome screen, click Embroidery Mode.

Once the machine recognizes the embroidery unit, a message will appear prompting you to clear the embroidery arm and, if the hoop is already attached, remove it. Click OK, and the machine will calibrate itself, gently moving the arm into position.

Next, attach the 6D The Dynamic Spring Foot.

Just a gentle reminder—it’s recommended to use the straight stitch plate for embroidery. But if it slips your mind, no worries. The machine will quietly guide you with helpful prompts before stitching begins.

For our demo, I’m using the  Elite Hoop 260 x 200 mm. Take a piece of stabilizer measuring 12″ x 17½” and hoop it securely. Place the denim strip in the middle and secure it with pins.

Click to select the needed hoop size 260 x 200 mm. Then click Start Hoop Scan. You’ll see a pop-up message asking you to attach the hoop. To do that, slide the hoop connector into the hoop attachment from front to back until it clicks into place. Click OK on the screen.

The hoop scan won’t take long, and you’ll be ready to move on to stitching.

We’re all set to begin programming our ribbon stitch right in the hoop.

Tap the Sequence Creator icon. Next, click the Load Stitch icon. Scroll to Category #8 Techniques, and select 8.1 – Single Ribbon Stitches. To load a stitch, simply double-tap on the one you’d like to use. For today’s demo, I picked Stitch #6.

Duplicate your selected stitch multiple times. The PFAFF creative icon 2 makes this easy by automatically snapping the motifs together into a straight row.

Use the length information displayed in the upper-left corner of the screen to check the total size of your sequence. Make sure it fits within your hoop’s stitching area—for example, stay under 260mm when using the 260×200 hoop. In today’s setup, my row with the selected stitch is 240mm long. Each stitch unit measures 24mm, so I’ve duplicated it ten times to create the full line.

I usually check before stitching if my design is in the correct position. For today, it’s easy—I just need to check that the stitch row is centered. To check, tap the Edit Design icon and tap the Center icon if needed.

We’re all set. Now tap the Go icon and let the PFAFF creative icon 2 work its magic! One of the best parts? There’s no need to touch the foot pedal at all.

The machine will start by stitching a short section, then pause automatically twice at the beginning: first, to cut the thread, and second, to let you place the ribbon. Each pause will be followed by a pop-up window with the notification “Stop command in design.” When the second pause happens, that’s your cue to place the ribbon in front of the needle, matching the same angle as the first part of the stitch.

Press the Start button, cut the thread, then press Start again to continue. The machine will now sew a straight placement guide followed by the first part of the stitch motif, then stop once more. Lay the ribbon over the guideline, making sure it’s straight and fully covers the line. Press Start again to continue stitching.

Here’s one more fabulous feature of Embroidery Mode: tap the Stitch-Out Progress icon to see exactly where you are in the design. It’s easy to track the process, and if anything goes wrong—such as a thread break—you can return to the required spot and make any necessary changes.

When it stops next time, fold the ribbon over the previous stitching, firmly but gently, making sure it lays over the line between the motifs. Press Start and continue.

Repeat this process, folding the ribbon each time the machine pauses, until your full decorative row is complete.

The embroidery arm keeps everything perfectly straight, so your stitches land exactly where they should. All you need to do is follow the rhythm: stop, fold, start again. It’s precise, satisfying, and just a little bit magical.

Today’s adventure with in-the-hoop ribbon stitching and the Sequence Creator really shows how the PFAFF creative icon 2 turns thoughtful details into beautiful results without the guesswork. This isn’t just about perfect lines; it’s about unlocking new ways to play with texture, shape, and detail.

This technique opens up a wide range of creative ideas:

• Add decorative borders to hems and sleeves
• Frame quilt blocks or highlight centerpieces with texture
• Create playful or elegant accents on totes and pillows
• Incorporate lace, velvet, or sheer ribbons in mixed-media art
• Experiment with double or triple ribbon stitches for extra depth

And just like that, our ribbon journey doesn’t end but it opens the door to even more creative paths. I can’t wait to keep exploring and sharing how this incredible machine adds both joy and flexibility to every technique.

Sincerely,
Olesya

This is part 5 of 5 in this series

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