do the ribbons really stay tied?

A few people have asked me lately whether the ribbons really stay tied. If you're anything like me, your tennis shoes come untied every 10 minutes unless you make a kindergarden double knot, so I understand the concern.

However, the ribbons really don't come untied on their own. Most of our ribbons have enough 'tooth', and the surface area of the knot is great enough, that it just does not happen. However, I do often tie a knot before I make a bow when using satin ribbons because they are a little slicker. So there you go.

what to do with scratches

Due to the natural properties of wood, solid wood Mohops will eventually get scratched as you wear them. You can minimize the appearance of any scrapes by applying a tiny dab (really, just a drop or two) of oil on the affected area with a paper towel or rag. Mineral oil, olive oil, or pretty much any oil you have around the house will do the trick.

how to keep your ribbons from fraying

If you trim your ribbons, they will most likely fray without using some method to seal the ends. Here are my favorite things to do with the ribbon ends:

• let them fray - this is great when you're going for more of a casual, bohemenian sort of look
• fray check, available at fabric and craft stores
• my favorite method: run the cut end of the ribbon quickly through a flame. Do this in a well-ventilated area!!! I'm serious! This only works on man-made materials that melt in heat, so it won't work for natural fibers such as cotton or linen.