How to Sew a Ruffle on a Pillow

A ruffled sham adds interest and texture to a pillow.

A pillow with a ruffled edge can add a decorator accent to a sofa, chair or bed. With basic sewing skills and a little fabric, you can cover a pillow form with fabric and sew a ruffle on a pillow. Within a short time, you can finish the pillow and use it for comfort or decor in a living room or bedroom.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards of cotton fabric
• 16-inch-square pillow form
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Hand-sewing needle

Instructions

1. Cut out two 17-inch squares of fabric. Cut three strips of fabric each 5 inches wide and 45 inches long (the standard width of cotton fabric).

2. Stitch the three strips of fabric together end to end, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance to make one continuous length of 5-inch-wide fabric.

3. Fold the strip of fabric in half lengthwise with the wrong side facing in and the right side facing out. Press the folded fabric well.

4. Sew a basting stitch along the raw edges of the folded fabric to gather it. Pull the stitches so the fabric strip is roughly 69 inches -- the distance around the four sides of the fabric squares plus 1 inch for seam allowance.

5. Match up the raw edges of the gathered strip to the right side of one of the fabric squares, pinning the gathered strip to the fabric square along the edges of the fabric. Fold under the fabric strip 1/2-inch at the beginning and end of the strip and overlap the ends of the strip by 1/2 inch. When you come to the corners, pin the strip around the corners carefully.

6. Stitch around the fabric square and the gathered strip using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins.

7. Place the second fabric square over the fabric square you just attached the ruffle to, placing right sides of fabric squares together and pinning them after matching edges and corners. The ruffle will be between the two fabric squares.

8. Stitch the fabric squares together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving a 10-inch gap along one edge for turning. Turn the pillow cover right side out using the gap you left for turning. Pull the ruffle gently after you turn the cover right side out.

9. Place the pillow form inside the pillow cover. Adjust the corners and edges so the pillow form fits correctly inside the cover. Hand stitch the gap closed to finish the pillow.

References

• Sewing: Ruffle Cording Pillow