How to Add Ruffles the Quick and Easy Way!

If you are short on time or patience and need a faster way to add ruffles to your items this may be JUST what you are looking for. I’ve been sewing for years and with a child in the house any short cut you can find is deeply appreciated. So forge ahead and find out how quick and simple it can be to add ruffles of any size to anything you want!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Straight Pins
• Sewing Machine

1. Determine the depth you want your ruffle to be. Then add 1-1/2 inch to the length; ½ an inch for seam allowance and 1 inch for hemming allowance. To determine the width, simply measure the width of the item it will be attached to and double it; plus 2 inches; 1 inch hem on either side.

2. 

   Hem both sides and bottom of ruffle.

3. 

   Take the item you will be sewing your ruffle to (the base) and divide it in half lengthwise and mark with a pin. Do the same to your ruffle.

4. 

   Fold again at pinned location and mark edges with a pin. Continue to do this until you have pins about every 3-4 inches. Repeat with your ruffle; only make sure you use the same amount of pins in the ruffle you did in the base.

5. 

   Match up pin areas.

6. 

   Manually push fabric in a gathered fashion underneath the foot of your machine. Be sure to check as you are going along to make sure you will have enough room to reach your next pin. If you are a little short, just stretch out the ruffle further with the next section to make it end evenly.

Tips & Warnings

• Find other great tips and time saving advice at http://www.makethemyourself.com.

[taffy341]

on 1/11/2008 Very interesting... I'll try it ... Thanks