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How to Make Ruffles on a Sewing Machine

Pretty-up your cushions or clothes, drapes or linens by adding soft and feminine ruffles. Ruffles can also have a practical application when you use them to add length to a garment. For instance, add a few inches to a child's skirt that is a little too short by putting a ruffle around the hem, or add a ruffle to a too-low neckline to make it more discreet.

Things You'll Need

Fabric
Tape measure
Scissors
Sewing machine

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a strip of fabric that measures 2 1/2 times the length of the finished ruffle. Iron the fabric.
- 2
  Set your machine to the straight-stitch setting, on the longest stitch setting possible.
- 3
  Stitch straight along the edge of the fabric, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Do not back-stitch at either the beginning or the end of the line of stitching. Cut the threads leaving 5-inch tails at both the beginning and end of the stitching.
- 4
  Make a second line of stitching 1/4 inch from the first line, leaving long tails as before.
- 5
  Tie the bobbin and needle threads together on both lines of stitching at one end of the fabric.
- 6
  Identify the needle threads (not the bobbin threads) on both lines of stitching at the other end of the fabric. Pull gently on these two needle threads to gather the fabric into ruffles.
- 7
  Ease the fabric along the stitch lines as you pull on the end-needle threads, working on one section at a time if your ruffle is very long. When your ruffle is at the desired length, tie the threads you have just pulled in a knot to secure the ruffles in place.

Sewing