Are You Interested In Bringing A Feeling Of
Romance Into Your Life? Then Learn All About Sewing Ruffles,
Gathers and Shirring!
Soft
fabrics are particularly suited for gathering. The
fullness of the fabric is taken up into a small space,
which gives a nice decorative effect. Heavier fabrics are
more difficult to gather in stead pleats and tucks are
used to get different effects. Gathers and ruffles are
best done on bias and crosswise threads.
 Hand gathers
- use double thread and start with a knot. Make a row of small
running stitches; pull them up to fit, and wind the thread
around a pin till stitched.
Machine gathers
- are done like hand gathers, but with longest machine stitch.
Tie threads at one end, and pull bobbin thread at other end, to
gather. Machine gathering foot will gather and stitch
fullness.
Shirring
- is gathering done with three or more parallel lines of
gathering. Elastic thread can be used in the bobbin for it
shirrs as it stitches.
Stroking gathers
- use needle or pin across folds to straighten material under
gathering, and to space gather evenly. Be careful with sharp
pin points on delicate
materials.
Spacing gathers
- divide gathering space into several equal portions and do the
same for material to which gathered part is to be attached.
Gathering stay
- is a facing piece used under many rows of gathers to hold
shirring in place. Cut out a piece wide enough for gathering
portion, turn under raw edges, and hem to wrong
side.
 Corded shirring
- stitch tucks wide enough to hold cord of desired size. Run in
cord with bodkin or safety pin, and pull up cord to fit, when
cord is pulled up, it gives shirred effect. Or, mark line for
corded shirring on fabric, and fold fabric over cord on
marking. Stitch with cording foot and pull up cord to
size.
Tucked shirring
- baste tucks and gather
through two thicknesses.
Ruffles
- are gathered strips of varying widths used as trimming.
Fullness is most often 1½ times space into which ruffle is to
be sewn. Cut out strips and seam short ends together to get
piece of desired size. Finish lower edge of ruffle with narrow
hand roll hem, lace, binding etc. With a little practice,
marvelous results can be achieved with a machine ruffle, which
ruffles and stitches the ruffle to the garment at the same
time.
Double ruffle
- Both ends are finished and the ruffle is gathered through the
center sometimes with ribbon stitched on over
gathering.
Circular ruffle
- cut out ruffle in shape of s semi-circle. Hem longer edge or
 finish in desired way. Baste ruffle to garment,
right sides together, with ruffle held straight. Clip edge
of ruffle to prevent pulling. (A circular flounce is
similar but usually has less fullness.) Sew with a plain
seam or top stitch on the right side.
Applying ruffles
-
Bias binding. Baste ruffle to garment, wrong
side of ruffle to right side of garment, ruffle facing
down. Baste binding on seam line, right sides of binding
and ruffle together, stitch all three thicknesses at one
time. Turn binding up over seam and hem to position. Used
to accent joining.
-
Felled seam. Sew ruffle to fabric, wrong sides
together, with plain material ¼ inch beyond ruffles (1).
Turn ruffles down, press seam down, turn in edge of garment
over seam, baste and stitch (2). Used for curtains,
children’s clothes, etc.
-
French seam. The seam is stitched on the right
side and the allowance is cut to ½ inch. Turn to wrong side
and stitch again. Good for applying ruffles to curtains or
collars and cuffs that are not faced and are of single
thickness.
-
Tuck. Stitch a tuck ¾ inch from the edge of
the garment. Attach ruffle ¼ inch from edge, wrong side of
ruffle to right side of garment, press seam down. Bring
tuck over to cover stitching and stitch close to the fold.
-
Self-finish. Crease garment ¾ inch from edge,
fold to right side. Attach ruffle ¼ inch and baste over
stitching. Stitch or hand hem. Use for faced collar,
etc.
Go to town and bring the romance into your surroundings with
ruffles, gathers and/or shirring on your home sewing
projects.
Print Page
Add To Favorites
| 