How to Make a Ruffle

There are many uses for a fabric ruffle. A ruffle can be used to embellish clothing, in particular girls' shirts and dresses. Ruffles can also be used to embellish home decor items such as curtains, cushions and pillows. Once the basic technique is learned for making ruffles, it can be a simple task to create the perfect ruffle for whatever need you have.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric (sheer fabric or a heavier fabric)
• Tape Measure
• Iron
• Sewing Machine (with zigzag stitch)
• Sewing Notions (thread, scissors, pins)
• Plain White Dental Floss

Instructions

1. Determine the fullness desired for your ruffle. In general, sheer fabrics require a length of fabric that is 3 times the length of the finished ruffle. Heavier fabrics only require a length of fabric that is 2.5 times the length of the finished ruffle.
   Determine how wide you want your ruffle, double this figure, and add one inch for seam allowance.
   Determine the length of finished ruffle that is required for your project.

2. Cut out the length of fabric for the ruffle according to the figures determined in step 1. If you need a ruffle that is longer than your fabric, cut lengths of fabric and join them together width-to-width to create a continuous length of fabric.

3. Fold the length of fabric in half width-wise and press this fold very well with the iron.

4. Set the sewing machine to a zigzag stitch that is wide and place the folded and pressed length of fabric into the sewing machine.

5. 

   Place the dental floss along the raw edges of the length of fabric. It should be placed approximately 1/2-inch away from the edges. Sew a zigzag stitch over the dental floss so that you are attaching the floss to the fabric, yet not catching any of the floss in the stitches. The zigzag stitches should cross over the dental floss to hold it in place. Sew this zigzag stitch over the dental floss along the entire length of the fabric.

6. Tie a large knot in the dental floss at one end of the length of fabric to prevent it from being pulled through the zigzag stitches. Carefully pull on the other end of the dental floss to gather the fabric into a ruffle. Pull to make the length of fabric the desired fullness and length for your ruffle.

7. Adjust the gathers along the ruffle to make them even. When the ruffle is the length desired and the gathers are even, sew over the zigzag stitch to secure the gathers.