PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,270 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,270 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
Member since 10/26/06
Posts: 241
Send Message
Posted on: 3/5/07 3:47 PM ET
I have never tried making a ruffle on my sewing machine and I don't know how, I know every machine is different but how do you do it,,, generally speaking.
------
My Blog: www.trinilove.typepad.com
  
Member since 8/29/02
Posts: 418
Send Message
Posted on: 3/5/07 4:32 PM ET
My favorite method is the "dental floss" method. It might be listed under tips. You zig zag over a length of heavy thread or dental floss (I use machine quilting thread), then gather evenly and attach the ruffle. For shorter lengths, you can make two parallel rows of stitching, then pull the bobbin threads on each side to gather.

Or you can tighten the stitch tension and use a gathering foot. This is easy to do, you just have to experiment to get the ratios right. HTH
  
Member since 6/21/05
Posts: 22
Send Message
Posted on: 3/5/07 4:32 PM ET
In reply to trinicity
Do you want to make a ruffle or a gather. I am certainly no expert, but to me they are different. Gathers and ruffles, while going for a similiar effect....gathers to me are less "precise" than ruffles which tend to be more evenly spaced, etc. Unless you are going to do a lot of precise pinning and hand basting, I think you probably need a ruffler attachment for your machine.

However, you can make gathers without any special feet. The way I do it is to make 2 lines of basting stitches within the seam allowance, being careful that they don't cross over each other. Then you can pull on the bobbin thread (I think )--one is definitely easier to pull than the other--and gather the fabric together to meet your specifications. I then like to baste the gather to the piece I am sewing it to, so that I can make sure that I caught all the edges appropriately and didn't get any odd gathers/puckers. If I like it, I sew with a regular stitch.

I am sure there are other, faster, more efficient ways of doing this, but this is how I do it.

Monica
  
Member since 10/26/06
Posts: 241
Send Message
Posted on: 3/5/07 5:52 PM ET
In reply to Monica G
I want to make ruffles,, I think,, you know the one that is at the bottom of little girls dresses.
------
My Blog: www.trinilove.typepad.com
  
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Elliott Berman Textiles
High-end Fashion Fabrics
Specials!
Nature's Fabrics
Natural & Organic Fabrics
Specials!