M&J Trimming is a world of colors, textures, and materials. We understand how important it is to find the right product, so to help our online shoppers we've put together a product glossary for our trimmings and accessories, along with some ideas on how to use them.

 

A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H     I     J     K     L     M     N     O     P     R    S   T   U     V     W    Y

 

A

AB: Aurora Borealis. Iridescent or rainbow like appearance on crystal color rhinestones or jewels.

Acetate: A man-made plastic material used in certain products like chainette fringes, as well as crafts supplies.

Acetate Ribbon: A stiffer satin ribbon used often for floral arrangements, inexpensive pew bows, and other bridal work.

Appliqué: A sew-on or iron-on novelty that can be embroidered, beaded, or crocheted. Appliqués are also known as “patches” and are typically used for embellishing a garment, hat, or bag.

B

Beads: Different kinds of material molded into a shape with a hole through the middle for sewing or attaching purposes. Beads come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and materials, and are used mainly for jewelry but also for clothing, accessories, interiors, and numerous other projects as well.

Beaded Trim: Ribbon trim decorated with beadwork and sometimes embroidery. Beaded Trim is usually very fancy and more expensive than plain ribbons. Beaded Trim is used mainly for eveningwear, bridal and fine costumes.

Bengaline Moire: A type of ribbon that has ridges (like grosgrain) and a watermark on it like Moire ribbon. (Ask to see a moiré from a fellow employee)

Brisk Set: Used to apply rhinestones with settings or nailheads. You need an adapter for the nailheads and rim settings.

Brooch: Decorative piece with a pin-back. It usually is made with rhinestones or pearls.

Buckles: Closure device of usually two pieces that connect to one another to secure an opening or material. Used for belts, shoes, bags, and clothing. It can also have a central prong for adjustable belts.

Bugle and Seed Beads: Long, narrow (bugle) and small, round (seed) beads usually made of glass, and come in many colors and finishes. Used for jewelry and any kind of beading on a garment or crafts.

Bullion: Metallic treads wound into a coil. Used on trims & crests.

Bullion Fringe: Not made from bullion, but from twisted cords.

Buttons: Available on four holes, two holes, or shank opening for attachment and sewing. Comes in all kinds of shapes, materials, and colors. Comes in standard sizes for proper application of fit to buttonhole size. Used as a closing device for garments, accessories, and interiors and also used as embellishments on clothing, interiors, and crafting. It can be made of natural materials, glass, metal, plastic or rhinestones.

Button Gauge: Used for accurate measurement of buttons.

C

Chains: Come in a bunch of different sizes and shapes. They are made out of aluminum. Available in silver, gold, gunmetal, black, colors and plastic. Used for jewelry, purses and clothing.

Charms: Metal or plastic symbols or characters with attachment for hanging. Used for jewelry, zipper pulls, and accessories.

Chenille: A fuzzy thread that can be woven into trims, appliqués or fringes.

Closures: Serves the same purpose as a buckle securing and opening or material with two connecting pieces. Used for clothing and accessories.

Cords: Twisted or braided pieces of material making a tubular shape, also known as rope. Used for belts, handbags, jewelry and tiebacks. Comes in both leather and vinyl.

Cord Adjuster: A piece used to slide up and down a cord. It has one or two side that squeezes in.

Cord Cap: Used to finish the end of a cord also known as cord tip.

Cut Edge Ribbon: A bolt of fabric is sliced into ribbon widths. The ribbon can be fed to a sewing machine to add wire edge to each side by wrapping it with thread to hold the wire. The ribbon can be left unwired. Acetate satin, craft moirés and cotton prints are made this way.

D

DF: Stands for “Double face”. Which means pattern or texture is on both sides of the ribbon.

D and O Rings: Rings in the shape of the letter D and O that come in many different sizes and materials. Used mainly for belts and other accessories such as bags and jewelry.

E

E-6000: Used for gluing things like rhinestones, metal, plastic, leather and wood to non-porous surfaces like plastic, glass, rubber, metal, etc. Very strong glue when dried.

Elastics: Knit material with stretch to allow movement and give. Used for give in knit fabrics mainly in clothing, headbands, belts, and some jewelry. Also made in stretch cording, plastic and lace.

F

Faceted: The face or surface of an item; meaning a cut surface of a stone. Ex. Rhinestones are faceted.

Flatback: The flat surface located on the back of a rhinestone or jewel. Glue is used to attach the flatbacks to the desired area and can also be used with rim or tiffany settings.

Flower pins: Flower pins made out of ribbon or material in the shape of a flower. Used as an accessory to a garment mainly on jackets, dresses, and hats.

Flower Trim: Flowers on a continuous trim. Used for headpieces, costumes, eveningwear, bridal, and packaging.

Fringe: Small pieces of cord/string/fabric/beads falling vertically from a strip of tape, braid, or ribbon. Used for accents on interiors such as furniture, curtains, and lampshades and accessorizing clothing such as scarves, sweaters, jackets, dresses, and costumes.

Frogs: Closure with two pieces attaching around each other made out of a cord design. Used for closures mainly on clothing such as jackets or sweaters and most widely known on traditional Chinese dresses.

Fur and Feathers: Trim made out of real or faux fur or feathers. Used for outerwear, headdresses, eveningwear, and shoe accents.

Faux: pronounced fo, not fox. It means fake or imitation.

G

Gem-Tac: Used for gluing embellishments to fabric, garment is washable after glue dries for 24 hours. It’s non-toxic, safe for children to use.

Guimp Braids: Flat braid of intertwining cords or threads to make a detailed design. Used for clothing and interiors such as jackets, shoes, handbags, pillows, furniture, and drapery.

H

Handles: A piece of material or hardware that is molded into a shape for carrying purposes when attached to a product. Used mainly for bags, purses, and some packaging. Handles can be made from materials such as plastic, wood, horn or metal.

Hook & Eye: Two part closure. There’s one hook piece and one loop piece which can be sewn on.

Hot-Fixer: A heat tool used for hot fix rhinestones.

Hot-Fix Rhinestone Appliqué: Crystal and metallic heat transfer motifs. Available in different sizes and designs. Used mostly for embellishment of clothing. Garments can be washed after applying the appliqué but must be line dry.

Hot-Fix Rhinestones: Have glue on the back already. Use by applying heat on the rhinestone using an iron on a heat tool.

I

Iron-on: Requires the heat and pressure from an iron to apply appliqués to garments.

J

Jacquard Ribbon: Fancy woven and intricate ribbon with an embroidered design on the front and the floating threads on the back. Known mostly for floral patterns. Used for clothing application such as eveningwear and some drapery embellishments such as bedding.

Jute: A natural material in a plain color. Has a very rough feeling and is good for country crafts and outdoor use.

K

Kilt Fin: A large decorative safety pin

L

Lace: Woven design of thread into an open shape or design. Used mainly for clothing and some drapery such as collars, dresses, blouses, bridal-wear, pillow cases, and tablecloths. Ask Autricia for examples like cluny, fine, Venice, heirloom etc.

Ligne: Standard button measurement

M

Magna-Tac: Similar to E-6000, but not as strong. It’s more of a craft glue.

Marabou: made from the fine feathers of an ostrich available in a 2yd boa or as a fringe.

Metallic Trims: Gold, silver, and copper flecked ribbon or braid having a shimmering affect. Has a fancy or expensive appeal like gold and silver jewelry. Used for adding vibrancy to a garment or interior piece such as eveningwear, costume, or furniture.

MM: Abbreviation for millimeters. 25mm = 1 inch.

Moiré: A type of satiny like ribbon that has a watermark look to it.

Monofilament Edge: A very thin “fish” line in the ribbon edge. It gives the ribbon body but it is not wire edge.

N

Nailheads: Metal embellishment that is flat or 3-D with four prongs to push into fabric then bent back to be secured. Used mainly for embellishments on denim, belts, and shoes. Also available in iron-on.

Narrow Ribbon and Cords: Flat ribbon or tubular cording in various materials such as silk, grosgrain, leather, suede, organza, satin, taffeta, and rayon. Used mainly for jewelry and accessories such as shoes, and handbags.

O

Organdy: Any sheer ribbon also called organza.

P

Pailletes: Large, flat sequin with hole at top for sewing purposes to give a hanging, fringe look. Used for sparkle or shine on mostly eveningwear and costumes.

Pearls: Available in plastic and glass. Can be natural or man-made. Comes in many sizes and colors. Used for jewelry and beadwork on garments and accessories.

Pendants: Object similar to a bead or charm with similar purposes coming in many shapes, sizes, and materials. Used for jewelry and some clothing applications.

Piping/ Cord-edge: A twisted, braided, or solid tube of material that is attached to a strip of tape for insertion into a seam. Used for a clean or decorative finish on furniture, pillows, chairs, sofas, and on clothing such as trousers, jackets, and coats.

Plastic Jewels: Plastic, molded into the shapes of true gems and jewels ranging in many colors and shapes. Used for costumes, eveningwear, denim, and jewelry.

Poly: Polypropylene ribbon. This is a “plastic” ribbon that does not look like plastic but is excellent for outdoor use or for floral use.

Polyester: made from fabric and is very durable. (SF & DF satin ribbons)

Pom-pom: small ball of material (usually fur) that can be added to the end of a cord or used as an accent.

Put Up: The number of yards on the spool

R

Rayon: Natural material used in ribbons & cording

Reel: What the Trim yardage is packaged on

Rhinestone Trim: A continuous line of rhinestones in various widths, sizes, and colors. Used for high shine on garments and accessories giving the look of diamonds or gems. Most commonly seen on denim, eveningwear, and bridal. Works best when sewn on but can also be glued on using E-6000.

Ribbons: Flat piece of material in a variety of fabrics, sizes, patterns, and colors. Used for invitations, packaging, headwear, clothing, jewelry, and shoes.

Rim Setting: A metal rim that holds the rhinestones onto fabric.

Rococo: Novelty trim with a young, playful appeal using mainly 3-D images such as rosettes, fringe, bows, and flowers on a ribbon. Used for children wear, crafting, and packaging.

S

Sequins: Small flat or domed disc with hole in center for sewing purposes. Can be shinny or matte. Used for accentuating clothing, especially costumes or eveningwear, for adding shine or reflection to a garment. These are made from plastic or metal cups and has a simi-bowl shape.

Sequin Trim: Trim with continuous rows of sequins sewn together. Used for costumes, belts, garments and eveningwear.

Sew-on: Requires stitching with a needle and thread in order to apply onto garments. Can be gems, appliqués or trims.

SF: Stands for “Single Face”. It means pattern or texture is only on one side of the ribbon.

Shoe clip: small metal piece that clips onto the desired area and can be decorated with embellishments.

Snaps: Can be magnetic or push in. There are two pieces; a male & female. They are used for a secure closure on bags or garments.

Sobo Craft Glue: Used for gluing things like ribbons, beads and trims to paper, wood or other crafts. It is non-washable and for decorative uses only. Non-toxic.

SS: Sizing guide for rhinestones. Ex SS12 or SS16

Spool: What the Ribbon yardage is packaged on

Suede and Leather Trims: Flat ribbon or braid made out of real or faux leather or suede. Used for decoration on clothing, handbags, shoes, and jewelry.

Swarovski Rhinestone: Famous brand name of fine rhinestone or crystal gems. Created to give shine and luster like a true stone or diamond. Used for embellishing denim, cell phones, eveningwear, bridal, and jewelry. We also carry some non- Swarovski rhinestones as well.

T

Tassels: A gathering of small pieces of fabric (fringe) into one ornament. Used as an adornment or as a pull device mainly with interiors such as curtains, ceiling fans, furniture, and menus.

Tiffany Setting: Prongs that holds the rhinestones onto fabric.

Twill Tape: Woven ribbon usually in a herringbone pattern, which can easily fold over a seam. Also know as apron tape or fold-over tape. Used for covering unfinished seams on a garment or for a sturdy tie closure or backing on a garment.

U

Unique Stitch Glue: For gluing fabric to fabric and is washable. Ex. Ribbon on veil or fixing a hem.

V

Velcro: Two pieces of material, one soft and one coarse, that weaves, and sticks together to form a secure yet non-permanent attachment. Used for shoes, bags, interiors and some clothing. Available sew-on or sticky back, do NOT sew the sticky back. It will ruin the sewing machine’s needle.

Vintage Ribbon: Ribbon that is antique or printed to look antique usually made in a jacquard fashion. Used for clothing and is most popular for belts. Limited availability.

W

WE: Wire Edge - the ribbon has a wired edge

Wire Edge: Wire in the edge of the ribbon to allow the ribbon to be molded and hold its shape. Wires can be very thin and have the material folded over the wire or the wire can be thick wire covered with a thread to match the ribbon. Gold, Silver or iridescent thread is also used and that is when you see the words gold wire edge ribbon.

Webbing: Strong woven material made from cotton or poly. Used for belts, handles, and most commonly for totes and backpack straps.

Width: The size of ribbon or trim as measured across it.

Woven Ribbon: Looms are used to weave the ribbon from the center to the outside. In this process, and if the ribbon is wired, the wire is added as one of the last threads to finish the weave. Soft Satins and Grosgrains are made this way.

Y

YD or YRD: Abbreviation for Yard