Do you have a fear of sewing those tiny trims on your doll clothes projects? Don't fret, many of us do too! In this post, I'm excited to share with you several tips to sewing narrow laces and trims with no stress at all! The secret is the use of double sided basting tape - seriously, it works like magic! After trying this, I'm pretty sure you'll never go back to your old method and you will have the confidence to sew tiny trims without fear!
These sewing tips are shared with from the Sewing Tiny Trims course. This offers so many great tutorials, if you haven't already checked it out I encourage you to take a peek and if you're interested in downloading the videos, pick up a copy of the course today, or join the Sewing With Cinnamon community for more sewing tips, tricks, and community interaction.
We've got a fun Bonus Giveaway going on this week! Scroll down to the bottom of the post to find the entry widget and follow the prompts to gain the maximum amount of entries. The prize is a bundle of trims, 9 trims in total, each one is 3 yards!
We have a collection of trims available exclusively to Sewing With Cinnamon members, you can find them in the Pixie Cuts collection.
We also have a variety of full kits that include fabric and notions for specified pattern designs available to everyone, you can find those in the Pixie Packs Fabric Kits collection.
Don't forget, Sewing With Cinnamon Members can quality for free shipping too! Read the details on the sign up page.
Now onto the tutorials... Follow along in this video series to learn my favorite tips for choosing trim, storing trims, and sewing trims with different doll clothes patterns. The first video is below, the rest of the series can be viewed on the full Sewing Tiny Trims Playlist.
The course videos are free to view at any time - Happy Sewing!
Watch the full Sewing Tiny Trims video series on our YouTube Playlist!
Contest Details: You enter through the entry form that is embedded on this page and appears just below this paragraph, if you don't see it, be sure to visit the page from your desktop or an alternate browser such as Google Chrome. It may not appear on all mobile devices. The complete rules and entry details appear on the entry form. This is not a comment contest - in other words, leaving a comment on the bottom of this page is not an official entry method. The only required entry method is to leave a comment under this post and then confirm that you did it in the contest widget. One person will receive the Pixie Faire Trims Bundle Set. You can enter once, or gain multiple entries by completing the other entry methods and increase your chances of winning. Please review all Terms and Conditions on the giveaway page before entering. While we wish we could run this contest everywhere, for legal reasons it is only open to eligible residents of the U.S. and Canada, not including Rhode Island. This contest is exclusively endorsed by Pixie Faire.
Okay, good luck, and if we’ve forgotten anything we will modify and/or update this post as needed.
Cinnamon & Team Pixie Faire
PS. Please leave a comment and let us know what tutorial about trims you'd like to see “My challenge when sewing trims is______” Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the comments to leave your comment under the post.
100 Comments
Craig R Thurgood
August 24, 2024
I love using trims on my projects. They make the projects look finished and add to the design.
Donna Landreth
March 19, 2024
My Challenge when sewing trims is when so use small trims to put on a seam. Did not know to use the basing tap in the eighth inch size to hold the trim. It is a wonderful idea. That way it is not crooked after sewing. Thank you Cinnamon for the awesome giveaway.😘❤️💋
LM
February 20, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding trims that are small enough scale.
Jane Parks
February 20, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding small trims in different colors like I did years ago especially soutache and middy braids.
Barb
February 20, 2024
My biggest challenge with tiny trims is finding the right size, color, and style for my projects.
Pam
February 20, 2024
My biggest challenge in sewing tiny trims is getting them placed just right when I can’t see the edge underneath my fabric.
Rebecca
February 19, 2024
My biggest challenge when sewing trims is keeping them from shifting while sewing them down. Also, I’d love to know the best way to connect the ends.
Sheila
February 19, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is keeping them straight. Also in selecting the “best” one for the outfit.
Lisa A.
February 19, 2024
Remembering to use them! Sometimes I get so hung up on following a pattern as it’s written that I forget to think about where I could add some trim to dress it up.
bn100
February 19, 2024
adding lace
Dorothy
February 19, 2024
Hard to find the correct size lace or trim to fit the doll clothes. If the lace or trim is to big it does not look look appropriate on the pattern. When you have an outfit in mind and can’t find the correct embellishment it just makes everything so much harder. Sewing should be fun and exciting for the seamstress no matter what age. I lucked out on checked Paper Mart ribbon and trim clearance finding small scale laces on sale with great prices.. Sometimes you just need to look in unusual places to find a treasure. Thank you for all the great patterns.
Brenda R.
February 19, 2024
I would love to know where to the smaller trims, and what the best way to embellish the doll outfit’s with trims.
JoAnn
February 19, 2024
finding small trim
Heather Haw
February 19, 2024
What a wonderful give away, it’s somtimes difficult to find trims narrow enough for doll’s clothes
Leona Foster
February 19, 2024
Finding the right scale or just finding trims appropriate for doll clothes.
Doris
February 19, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is finding the right scale.
Leslie Loren
February 19, 2024
Finding trim is the biggest challenge for me. All the fabric stores on our island have closed and purchasing online sources is difficult to judge the actual size.
Marcy Mahle
February 19, 2024
I love sewing with trims on doll clothing. My biggest issue is finding time. Actually my Lenten challenge to myself is to do something creative every day.
Amy
February 19, 2024
Thanks for the giveaway
Marian
February 19, 2024
My greatest challenge is deciding which trim I prefer prior to construction. I often try multiple trims with a fabric before i can decide. It slows the process but is generally worth the time it takes.
Linda Norkowski
February 19, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding the right trim to go with the fabric. Also, when sewing trying to keep the trim straight.
Florence
February 19, 2024
My biggest challenge sewing tiny trims is finding them. I love your idea about dyeing them to match what you are making because you don’t need so many, just a few choices.
laurieu.net
February 19, 2024
my biggest challenge is keeping it straight on an outside surface.
Jeri
February 19, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding the right trim for the project.
Lauren
February 19, 2024
My biggest sewing challenge with trims is going around curves and keeping gathers even around curves.
S C
February 19, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding trim on the right scale.
Sandra Bond
February 19, 2024
My challenge with trims is finding the right color and size for the project.
shirley welch
February 19, 2024
my problem with the tiny trims is sewing them on neat and not to have the stitching be noticed. I like just the cute trim to be the main attraction.
Mary R.
February 19, 2024
My biggest challenge is trying to sew with arthritic hands. My hands tend to cramp when sewing small pieces of doll clothes.
Sara D.
February 19, 2024
My greatest challenge when sewing tiny trims is “fat” fingers, lol!
Frances
February 19, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is making the ends match up properly when joined.
Cassandra
February 19, 2024
My greatest challenge with sewing tiny trims is finding trims that are the correct scale for the outfit.
Cheryl R.
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge with trims is finding correct to scale trims for tiny dolls that are supple enough, so the trim doesn’t stiffen the garment.
Joanne
February 18, 2024
To lay perfeo
Olive
February 18, 2024
My biggest struggle is finding trims that match my ideal trim, and attaching the trim without either making the dress stiff because of the extra seams or having the extra line of stiching on the hem.
Carmelita
February 18, 2024
Finding the right size for project I’m working on.
Donna B
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is tying tiny bows. It’s so frustrating!
Barbara
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is sewing piping in a seam so that it looks even on the outside of the garment. I bought a piping foot, which I haven’t tried yet, so I’m hoping that will help.
Barb
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding trims that compliment my project. Ordering online is difficult because size is sometimes not noted. For the sewing part, I always struggle to make the end look nicely finished off when it is on a strait edge.
terry kuntz
February 18, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is finding the perfect one for the project being worked on or soon to be worked on
Ruth Ann
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding trim that is the right scale.
Susan Tyler
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is hanging onto them around curves
jeannette
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is keeping the small trims in place while Sewing.
Thresea
February 18, 2024
As always, the biggest challenge is finding time to sew.
June
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge sewing small trims is keeping it even all the way around on the bottom of a skirt, and around the waist.
Sandra Cox
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge when sewing tiny trims is keeping the trims in place to sew them on straight! So, placement while sewing.
Sandra Wellman
February 18, 2024
Hard to find the right size trim.
Carol Stephen
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge with sewing tiny trim on doll clothes is finding it making the trim.
Carol Stephen
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge with sewing tiny trim on doll clothes is finding it making the trim.
Kelly
February 18, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is making it neat in all situations.
BrendaK
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge with sewing trims is finding trims small enough for doll clothes!
Anne
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge when sewing trims is to get them to stay in place while I sew – they tend to move around.
Candyce L Johnson
February 18, 2024
I can not believe I can not find midi braid trim any more. It would be perfect for so many sewing projects.
Deb
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge when sewing trims is that we do not have a large choice of places to shop near by and most on line choices are very pricey when you add in custom duties from the states
Janet
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge in sewing tiny trims is finding the right size trim!
roxanne
February 18, 2024
Biggest challenge is keeping trim straight.
Brenda
February 18, 2024
My greatest challenge is finding the right tiny trim!
Ann
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge sewing trim on doll clothes is keeping the trim even and flat.
Sue D
February 18, 2024
Going around curves and corners is my biggest challenge with trims.
Katherine Palmer
February 18, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is making sure they all lay down flat, and don’t bunch up in some way. Even if I have everything pinned just right, something always doesn’t do what I need it to on the first or second try.
Patricia
February 18, 2024
Mu biggest challenge is sewing on tiny elastic
Paula
February 18, 2024
I can’t wait to start sewing doll clothes again. Right now I am watching as many videos as I can from sewing with cinnamon and I already learned alot
sue
February 18, 2024
My challenge with sewing trims is going around curves, on a rounded collar for example.
Sarah
February 18, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is deciding whether or not this was the right project to use the trim for! A lot of my trim is thrifted, so I can’t just go out and buy more if I find some fabric later that it would’ve been even more perfect for.
Jacquie Corrigan
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge with tiny trims is keeping them where I want them!
Linda M.
February 18, 2024
My challenge is trying to put lace on tiny collars.
Mary
February 18, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is two fold: Choosing flexible enough trim and going around curves and corners.
Heidi
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is keeping tiny trims straight.
sherry
February 18, 2024
My biggest challenge is keeping it in place and straight as I sew. I have found that sometimes a little bit of glue basting or hand sewn basting helps though.
Liana
February 18, 2024
Sometimes it’s challenging to get trim to go around curves.
Petra Appel
February 17, 2024
My challenge in working with trims for doll clothes is finding them and keeping them showing even as I sew. Getting somewhat better with practice (as evidenced by less taking off and restarting attempts.
Kimberly Chidsey
February 17, 2024
My greatest challenge is keeping the trim in place while sewing.
Sheri
February 17, 2024
My biggest challenge is choosing the correct trim and sewing small ric rac
Patricia
February 17, 2024
“My challenge when sewing trims is 3 dimensional trims. I have never mastered the different presser feet and I have trouble sewing on sequins trim, raised trims of all sorts. THANKS!
Lennice
February 17, 2024
Love trims, but how do I put them where there is elastic?
Lennice
February 17, 2024
Love trims, but how do I put them where there is elastic?
Deborah
February 17, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is… that the first half an inch gets drawn down into my machine. I’ve tried a lot of things to help: using forcepts or tweezers to hold the trim up, using a slimmer needle that won’t get caught in the fabric and trim, etc. But, it still happens.
Lisa
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge when sewing on tiny trims is sewing curves. I like to challenge myself with microscopic-sized doll clothes sewing :)
BJ
February 16, 2024
My biggest challenge is to have the energy to feel like sewing. My downfall is that I expect everything to be perfect. I am interested in sewing all trim: especially the laces & rick rack.
Judith Martinez
February 16, 2024
I have trouble choosing the right needle and stitch when adding trim.
Terry
February 16, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is making sure the right amount of trim shows consistently.
Beth P
February 16, 2024
My biggest challenge when sewing tiny trims is keeping them even while sewing them on.
Susan
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge with tiny trims is getting opposite sides to match. A hint from quilting—try using an Elmers glue stick. Glued trim down, let it dry and sewing machine needle will easily sew through trim and fabric..Glue easily washes out, if needed.
Julie Woodbury
February 16, 2024
It can be incredibly difficult to find tiny trims. I’ve put off finishing projects literally for years because the trims that were available didn’t fit what I wanted to use.
Linda D
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge when sewing tiny trims is finding them.
Julie
February 16, 2024
I love adding trims to doll clothes. Finding the color or size I want can be a challenge, especially since Covid19 and so much is imported.
Diana
February 16, 2024
My challenge when sewing tiny trims is keeping the trim in place and keeping it straight and aligned correctly.
Jackie
February 16, 2024
Finding tiny enough trims is a challenge. My many Sasha dolls are 16" tall and my Siblies and Kruslings are smaller still. My go-to is baby rickrack sewn on with embroidery thread. But some of my dolls have more modern tastes. And the boys of course abhor anything fussy. My Quilt Guild has the happy habit of sharing scraps and my dolls have often profited from this. Creative artists with a few inches left from a project donate their scraps and others take the scraps for their own use and leave a donation for the library. Everybody wins .But it’s still hard to find a small enough trim.
Cath
February 16, 2024
My biggest challenge when sewing tiny trims is controlling them so they stay where I want them before I stitch them down. Thanks for the opportunity. Happy stitching everyone.
Dorothy
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge when sewing tiny trims is keeping it straight while keeping my fingers out of the way. As I get older, it gets harder to see the trim under the presser foot also.I loved someone’s suggestion to use double sided tape – but where do you get such thin tape?
CdnCrafter
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge when sewing tiny trims is actually sewing them on!
Kris Valle
February 16, 2024
My biggest challenge is finding the trim that will look good with the garment I’m sewing once it is completed.
Judy
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge is finding tiny enough trims
Beth
February 16, 2024
My challenge when sewing trims is keeping them straight while sewing.
Mae Lynn Be k
February 16, 2024
My biggest challenge when sewing trim is making turn and corners and matching up the ends.
Elizabeth Murphy
February 16, 2024
My challenge with trims is finding the right color and size for the project.
Kris
February 16, 2024
@JoanneBeschell You can buy double-sided basting tape a lot of places like Joann’s, your local sewing/quilt shop, and online. Clover and Dritz carry it. I purchase mine from TheSewingCollection.com, called Dritz Wash-Away Wonder Tape, it’s under Shop All, and then the Notions tab. Have a terrific day!
Laurie Nation
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge is when I am sewing tiny trims onto slick stretchy fabric
Karen
February 16, 2024
My greatest challenge is sewing the tiny trims on straight and keeping the stitches on both the fabric and the trim. It can be pretty tricky! I shy away from projects that require too much lace/trims.
Karen
February 16, 2024
Never have enough SMALL trims for all of these collections
Craig R Thurgood
August 24, 2024
I love using trims on my projects. They make the projects look finished and add to the design.