How to Sew a Ruffle Detail

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7 Responses to “How to Sew a Ruffle Detail”

1. Marcia June 16th, 2016

   Britta Erickson has the best method of making a ruffle that is easy to sew on: Make 2 lines of large length stitches about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. Pull on both bobbin threads together to gather the material to a flat, gathered area between the 2 stitches. You will now have a "highway" of gathered fabric which is very easy to stitch to another piece. While the single line of gathering is easy to do, it is quite difficult to attach to another piece without ending up with tucks, bunches, and an uneven length of the ruffle. Mainly because, as you can see in the video, the fabric is bunched and tucked on both sides of the gather with no flattish area on which to sew.

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2. Judy June 16th, 2016

   There is an easier way to gather the fabric. First increase your stitch length - I generally increase it to 4mm or 5mm.- Sew 2 lines of stitching (about 2mm apart) within the seam allowance on the "right" side of the fabric and when completed, pull the threads of both lines together from the wrong side of the fabric. Voila! You have gathers.

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3. Frances February 23rd, 2015

   Your ideas are great - I think after reading the comments, just adding a little bit more to the explanations would help beginners. Just a suggestion because I think its a great site and reasonable - keep up the good work. For example, talk a little bit about the crochet thread and where you can find it. I know because i'm almost 70 and been sewing for a long time, but I love to see younger women loving the needle crafts. Just wonderful.

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4. Britta Erickson November 11th, 2014

   Better, if you want the ruffled fabric to lie flat so it will be easy to sew onto something, is to sew two lines of stitches. So using this method I suppose you would sew two lines of zigzags over crochet thread.

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5. Cathy Sandell July 2nd, 2014

   I am thoroughly confused ,is thecrochet thread used as a top or bobbin thread and are you picking up the crochet thread top or bottom or the original thread?

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6. Penny LovesSewing July 2nd, 2014

   the crochet thread shown in this article is found in the craft dept. in most stores in the yarn area. It is a thinner yarn, almost like string. Aunt Lydias brand is very good. It is size 10. You'll find that on the package and it is on a cardboard spool as shown up above.

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7. Katherine Sparrow July 2nd, 2014

   What is crochet thread?

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