What are Ruffles?
A ruffle, which is a decorative piece of gathered fabric that has been sewn onto an object with one stitch, is usually found on a garment, a quilt or a pillow. Ruffles add volume and flounce, especially when they are sewn to each other in tiers. There are two types of ruffles most commonly: single-edge ruffles, which have a gathered seam in the middle, and double-edge-ruffles, which are gathered only on one side of a piece of fabric.
Materials and tools required for sewing ruffles
To make your own DIY ruffles you only need to have a few materials, such as:
- Basic sewing tools: As with all sewing projects, you will need a new, sharp needle, thread, pins and fabric scissors. You should use a strong bobbin thread that won’t break during sewing.
- Fabric: Select a fabric that best suits your project. Although lightweight fabrics may not have a crisp ruffle shape but will make layers that are elegant and move well, they can hold crisp ruffles. Ruffles will hold their shape well if the fabric is thick or medium-weight. The gathering foot is only for lightweight materials.
- Gathering foot: A gathering foot attachment for your sewing machine creates a elegantly gathered finished rug and attaches it simultaneously to your item. You can also pull and stitch the ruffle manually. Another option is a ruffler feet, which makes evenly spaced pleats. A gathering foot works best on light fabrics. However, medium- or heavy-weight textiles might not be suitable.
- Sewing machine: A sewing machine makes ruffle sewing projects faster, more precise, and easier. It also produces the best finished product. You can also use a serger.
How to sew ruffles
Ruffles are a great beginner sewing project. They can be used to make clothing and home decor more interesting. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make your own double-edged, ruffles.
- Prepare your workspace. To prevent scratches from damaging your workspace, place a mat on it. Place your tools and materials on the designated workspace. To measure the fabric, lay it flat on your workspace.
- Pin your fabric. Measure, mark, and cut a piece of fabric about twice as wide as your ruffle. All sides should have a quarter inch seam allowance. If you are hand-gathering your fabric, use a few pins to make a ruffling guideline.
- The edge of the fabric should be hemmed. The long edge of your fabric you won’t attach to your item is the one you’ll hem. To give your pillow a polished look, you might hem the right-hand side of the fabric if you are going to attach it to the pillow. To hide the raw edges, fold the fabric’s hem once more. To secure the hem, use your sewing machine to sew a straight stitch.
- Prepare the sewing machine. Your sewing machine’s stitch length can be adjusted to a medium-long or long setting. Attach the gathering foot to your machine if you are sewing lightweight fabric.
- Make the ruffle. Use a gathering foot to gather the material, and then attach it to the item. You will need to hand-gather the material if you aren’t using a gathering foot. Use a single thread to sew loose gathering stitches through the fabric’s unhemmed side. To achieve the desired gather, pull both ends of thread. To hide the messy side of your ruffling, make sure you pull the thread from one side.
- Attach the ruffle on your item. After you have sewn the ruffle gather, it is time to attach the ruffle on your item. This can be done with the gathering foot of your sewing machine or by hand.