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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Legitimate and necessary concern for current realities in the concrete lives of people cannot make us forget the true nature of the liturgical actions. It is clear that the Mass is not the time to “celebrate” human dignity or purely terrestrial claims or hopes. It is rather the sacrifice which renders Christ really present in the sacrament.

— Pope Saint John Paul II (20 March 1990)

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  • Re: Ancient Sequence (Thursday after Pentecost)
  • PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”

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