What you need for silk ribbon embroidery

Silk ribbon, chenille needles, a hoop and some floss.

• 100% silk ribbon, which Threads says beats rayon or polyester for drape and colour range; 2, 4 and 7 mm are most used.
• Chenille needles (sharp, for woven fabric) or tapestry needles (rounded, for knits). Threads suggests size 18 or 22; Crewel Ghoul suggests 22 and 24; Heritage Embroidery uses 22 to 26 depending on ribbon and fabric.
• The needle eye should be just big enough for the ribbon, and the shaft big enough to make a hole the ribbon passes through.
• An embroidery needle and six-strand floss or No. 8 and No. 12 perle cotton for stems and securing.
• An embroidery hoop, fabric and embroidery scissors.

Sources

All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Threads: Basics of silk-ribbon embroidery
2. Crewel Ghoul: Silk ribbon embroidery techniques for beginners
3. Heritage Embroidery: Silk ribbon embroidery essentials