How to make a ruffle

We recently went to our niece's 3rd birthday party with the itty bitty ruffle apron in tow. 

Since I posted about it (and this one, too), I've gotten quite a few emails asking how to make ruffles.  Here's a quick how-to.

FYI:  Some people have a ruffle foot for their machines. I don't, so this is how you get by without one.


To make a decently "full" ruffle, you typically need 2 times the length of what you'll be attaching it to, although you can get away with 1.5 times. 

Take your strip of fabric, and sew along the top with your machine's longest stitch length. Don't backstitch and leave a long tail of thread at both ends.  (Of course, on your actual project you wouldn't be lazy like me...you would hem the edges of your fabric strip.)

Sew another line, parallel to the first. (I just line up my presser foot with the first line to make it easy.) Again, don't backstitch and leave a long tail of thread.

After your two lines are sewn, gently tug at the bottom (bobbin) thread in the tails, one at a time. Your fabric should start to gather, creating a ruffle.

Yes, my hands look like an 80 year old woman's...thanks for noticing.

Spread the gathering out evenly towards the center as you go. Be careful not to pull too hard, and make sure you spread out the gathered fabric, otherwise you may break your thread.

And there you go...a ruffle!