easy-to-sew wedding garter

Be careful what you wish for. I only have sons but have never cared whether my home was filled with sons or daughters. I embraced all the action figures and flashing laser guns and muddy tennis shoes. And I even kept my cool when they used their mattresses for snow sledding. But now they’re grown. And they’re planning weddings. And I harbor a colossal secret. I want to be the MOB. The controlling, zealous, money-spending, bridezilla mother-of-the-bride. I want to put my artistic skills to the ultimate test in designing the most original wedding ever known to mankind. With a macrame backdrop, exotic paper flowers, and a handmade wedding garter. But wait – I don’t have any daughters… until recently. Because of Covid-19, my sons have postponed their formal weddings until 2021. However, in two weeks, one of them and his fiancee have decided to exchange vows in an intimate ceremony at my house. AT MY HOUSE. Then it evolved into a double ceremony with his best friend. AT MY HOUSE. And his friend’s bride is a Brazilian au pair who has asked me to be her official American mother. As in MOTHER OF THE BRIDE… in two weeks. Be careful what you wish for.

My first task is a simple one. Wedding garters. With a little lace, ribbon, elastic, and about 10 minutes, you end up with a beautiful handmade wedding garter. 

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supplies needed:

• 25″ piece of lace
• 25″ piece of narrow satin ribbon
• 12″ piece of narrow elastic

step 1 – attach ribbon

Center the ribbon on top of the strip of lace and pin in place. Stitch along the two edges of the ribbon.

step 2 – stitch back seam

Once the ribbon is stitched in place, fold the garter in half with right sides together. Stitch the back seam, careful not to stitch across the ribbon. Leave that area unstitched for now.

step 3 – insert elastic

Using a safety pin attached to one end of the strip of elastic, insert it into the casing (between the ribbon and the lace). The lace will begin to gather as you guide the elastic through.

When done, stitch over the back seam to keep the elastic secure. Then stitch again for extra security. Trim away any loose threads and extra ribbon ends. Turn the garter right side out.

Actually, I made two garters. Antique lace with a pink ribbon for Daiane, my “adopted” Brazilian daughter, and white cotton lace with a teal ribbon for my beautiful bohemian future daughter-in-law Lilly. And the garters are beautiful. Because for this fete, I’m the mother of the bride.  

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