Here comes the bride

A pretty bridal garter for the happy bride on her wedding day is a wonderful gift if you sew and have a few basic supplies.  I have made many of these garters over the years, firstly for friends who were getting married, then my own (almost 40 years ago!), my DIL, and now nieces and young friends of our family who are at the 'marriage' age.  They also make a lovely gift at a bridal shower.  I usually use blue ribbon somewhere on the garter because of the old saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."  If you and the bride like traditions like this, it's a good way of introducing the 'something blue' in a subtle way!

These are the supplies you will need (plus a heart charm and of course a sewing machine.  It can be made with hand sewing but is a bit trickier.):

White lace, ribbon and the gorgeous Sheer Woven Rosettes, all from the RRR shop, and a suitable width and length of elastic.

Sew the blue ribbon to the lace as close to the edge as you can get, both edges.  You now have a "tube".  Then lay the rosettes over the blue side of the tube and sew them onto the lace/ribbon tube, again right on the 2 edges so as not to block the tube.

Attach a safety pin to the end of the elastic and thread the pin/elastic through the tube between the lace and the ribbon.  Pull on the elastic until you get a suitable gathered garter/leg size and sew through all layers at both ends.  This is what is should look like now:

Trim the ends neatly and overlap the ends by approximately 1/2" and sew them together through all layers.  Make a small bow from thin blue ribbon and sew a small heart charm onto it, by hand, as shown.  

Lastly, sew the bow/charm onto the garter over the joint where you sewed the ends together.  And here you have it:

Isn't it pretty?  It really is a quick and easy project that any bride would be delighted to wear on her special day.