Learn to Sew Kids: Ruffles

This is probably my favorite in the Learn to Sew Series tutorials-it’s time for ruffles! Seriously-who doesn’t like ruffles? OK, maybe the little boys who are doing our series don’t like ruffles. Maybe they can take the week off and try a Crazy Little *Kids* Project instead? But let’s make some ruffles!

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Learn to Sew Kids: Ruffles:

Making ruffles is going to be slightly more difficult than the previous lessons. Please encourage your child to be patient with this and not to expect perfection right away. And to have fun with it!

Let’s make some ruffles!

Start out by preparing your fabric. You will need to cut it to the length indicated on whatever pattern you are using. Usually you are also probably going to be asked to hem your fabric before you create the ruffle. Get all of that done before you do the next steps.

With your fabric ready, run a long baste stitch along the top edge of your fabric. DO NOT back stitch to knot your thread. Leave the threads long and hanging on either end. Now run a second baste stitch (again, don’t knot) just below the first one you did. Again, leave your threads long.

Now, grab hold of the top two threads. Leave the back two threads hanging.

Now you will gently tug your threads and slide your fabric down them. Do this very gently-you don’t want to break your thread.

Keep doing this, sliding your fabric further down and evening it out as you go so that in the end it looks like this:

The more you slide the fabric the more ruffle you are going to have. Soon, you will have a cute little ruffle. Just even out the ruffling as needed and you are done.

Now, often your pattern is going to want you to form a loop with the ruffle you just made. To do this you will simply make sure that you have your ruffle at the length indicated on your pattern (to adjust just slide the fabric on the thread to make it longer or shorter) and then put the ends of your fabric together with right sides touching and sew along the edges (this time with a regular straight stitch.)

Now let’s add those ruffles to something shall we? I’ve got 2 project options this week. The apron is a little harder-so stick with the tote unless you are DYING to try the apron. Maybe start with the tote, then try the apron?

This Ruffle Tote Bag is one of my all time favorite projects. It’s pretty easy and turns out adorable!