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Views from the Choir Loft

Towards a Standard Protocol for Frayed Ribbons

Veronica Brandt · February 17, 2018

Frayed ribbons braided APERBACK MISSALS are not the ideal. The paper is fairly easy to tear and they don’t lay flat, but they were cheap and simpler to have produced than, say, the Campion Missal. Also, producing our own books meant the freedom to customize for our particular congregation. Overall it was good.

The ribbons were added last. The best part was finding someone else enthusiastic enough to take on the job. Seeing the fiddliness of the work I was all for using the plethora of holy cards that tends to accumulate in Catholic places. A great way to keep your place with bonus artwork and prayers. But the ribbons won out and it wasn’t too long before they started to fray.

To deal with frayed ribbons:

  • Replace ribbons
  • Remove ribbons and use bookmarks
  • Knot small frayed ends
  • Braid longer frayed ends and then knot

Prevention

  • Various clear drying varnishes or glues
  • Trimming ends diagonally
  • Cutting with a hot knife to melt the ends slightly
  • Sewing ends into a mitred point or curl

I am interested to see if trimming the surviving ribbons diagonally is feasible. In the meantime I will continue to tie knots in frays as I see them.

Soldering iron Here is a soldering iron with a chisel tip. It does indeed cut polyester ribbon and seal the edge. The edge of the ribbon can blacken if you hold the iron there too long, but with practice you could minimize that.

Imagine me setting this up by the organ at the back of the church, trimming all the ribbon ends. Just keep the little children away for a while – that soldering iron is hot!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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An Indult of the “Commission for Russia” (25 November 1929) authorizes Bishops and Administrators Apostolic in Russia to permit the celebration of Mass and the reception of Holy Communion in the afternoon or evening, on condition that a Eucharistic fast of four hours from noon be observed.

— Sacred Congregation of Rites, 25 nov 1929

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