How to Add a Ruffle to a Lined Dress
A ruffle is a piece of fabric that has been gathered with thread so it is smaller on the top than it is on the bottom. Ruffles add a feminine flare to any plain dress. If you want to add ruffles to a dress that is lined, you do not have to add the ruffle to the lining of the dress. You just have to add the ruffle to the dress's hem.
Things You'll Need
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Tape measure or ruler
- Scissors
- Pins
- Iron and ironing board
- Fabric
Instructions
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1
Measure the circumference of the dress at the hem with the tape measure or ruler. Double this number and that will be the length of the material for your ruffle.
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2
Decide how much length you want the ruffle to add to the dress and add 1 inch for seam allowance to that amount, ½ inch for the ruffled edge and ½ inch for the hem.
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3
Cut out a ruffle that fits the measurements you determined.
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4
Hem one side of the ruffle. Fold the edge of the fabric over on itself twice making each fold about 1/4 inch and iron it flat. The hem should be no longer than 1/2 inch. Run it through the sewing machine using a straight stitch, with mid-range tension and stitch length settings, as close to the inner folded edge of the fabric as possible.
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5
Run the side of the fabric that is not hemmed through your sewing machine. Use a straight stitch in the longest stitch length and the loosest tension. Do not back stitch.
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6
Pull one end of the thread carefully until the fabric begins to form ruffles. Keep ruffling the fabric until it is the same circumference as the dress's hem.
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7
Add a hem to the ruffled edge of the fabric. Run the ruffled edge through your sewing machine using a zigzag stitch.
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8
Turn the dress inside out and pin the ruffle in place. Be sure the ruffle's hem is inside out with the rest of the dress. The hem should be folded side up, so you can see the folded edge.
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9
Sew the ruffles onto the hem of the dress using a straight stitch with a mid-range stitch length and tension setting.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not attach the ruffle to the lining of the dress.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit smiling girl in dress image by Alexander Zhiltsov from Fotolia.com
