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How to Use an Adjustable Ruffler Foot

Each of the major sewing machine manufacturers offers a ruffle foot to fit their machines. The foot saves you a significant amount of time when creating ruffles and gathering fabrics. Rather than sew and then pull the strings to get the desired look, the foot is placed on the machine, and it does all the work for you. Some ruffler feet even enable you to ruffle or gather one layer of fabric while sewing it to another piece of fabric, saving you even more time while completing your project.

Instructions

- 1
  Attach the ruffler foot to the machine. Depending on the brand and model of your machine, the foot may snap into place or you may need to loosen a screw on the presser foot assembly and set it in place.
- 2
  Set the number of stitches you want sewn between each ruffle if your ruffler foot is adjustable. On some feet, you only need lift the arm on the top and snap it back down on the slot with the number of stitches you desire.
- 3
  Thread the machine as you normally would and install a full bobbin cartridge. Pull approximately 6 inches of thread from the spool and bobbin toward the back of the machine.
- 4
  Place a piece of test fabric underneath the presser foot and lower the assembly using the lever at the back of the machine. Sew a few stitches to make sure the foot is set the way you wanted it. Sewing on the test fabric also provides you the opportunity to gauge how the fabric is going to react to the sewing. Some delicate fabrics may be a bit more difficult to sew than others.
- 5
  Remove the test fabric after you are satisfied with the results. Cut the thread and allow approximately 6 inches of both the bobbin and spool thread to protrude from the back of the machine.
- 6
  Place the project underneath the needle housing. When sewing two pieces and only gathering one, place the fabric to be ruffled or gathered on the bottom and the fabric you do not want gathered on top. Only the bottom piece of fabric will be gathered.
- 7
  Lower the presser foot assembly again.
- 8
  Begin sewing slowly and increase your speed as you become comfortable with the operation of the machine. Continue sewing until your project is completed.

Sewing