Ruffles without a ruffler

16 years ago

I bought a Ruffler a number of years ago, and just cannot wrap my brain around how to use it. Have read instructions on the internet, and I still can't. I have to find someone that knows how to use it, and have them demonstrate it's use to me, or I might just as well pretend I don't have it.

Have tried making the ruffles by using a long stitch and pulling up the threads. It works, but it is a lot of work!!! haha

I was going to use the tip of laying a 'string' and zig zagging over it when I remembered something that I had read 'somewhere', don't know if it was on here or somewhere else.

Anyway, the idea was to use your longest stitch, tighten the tension, and holding your finger behind the presser foot to make it crumple up. I did that, and it was so easy and made beautiful ruffles.

I am sure that you all know how to do this, but in case there are any newbies on here, they might learn from this.

dody

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

noinwi
16 years ago
That's a great tip! I've always done it the "lot of work" way, LOL. I'll have to try this next time(doll clothes seem to need a lot of ruffles).
dody40
Original Author
16 years ago
If my tip will help just one person, I am so glad I posted it. I tighten the tension all the up.

dody
Related Professionals
Sarasota Furniture & Accessories · St. Louis Furniture & Accessories · Monroe Furniture & Accessories · Glenwood Springs Furniture & Accessories · La Grande Furniture & Accessories · Macon Interior Designers & Decorators · Mount Vernon Interior Designers & Decorators · Spartanburg Interior Designers & Decorators · Hempstead Interior Designers & Decorators · Victorville Interior Designers & Decorators · Great Bend Furniture & Accessories · McComb Furniture & Accessories · Burlington Furniture & Accessories · Rutland Furniture & Accessories · Lake Havasu City Furniture & Accessories
gram999
16 years ago
Thanks, Dody. I just tried to make ruffles in duck canvas & my gathering threads broke, so I used the string method. I'll have to try tightening the tension next.

If you can get "Martha's Sewing Room", I highly recommend everyone watch it. They use the ruffler a lot & always explain & show how to use it. Not only does how you set the ruffler affect the ruffles, but the stitch length you use does also.

They recommended taking a pc. of fabric & marking 10" in the center of it. Of course, this strip is a little longer & wider than that. Then set your ruffler for 1 of the ruffler settings & keep track of that & also the stitch length. Just ruffle between that 10" mark. Document your settings. You could even write it on the pc. of fabric. Then mark another pc. & change the ruffler setting & document that. Do that for all the settings & different stitch lengths. That way you'll know how much fabric to use for how many inches of ruffles you need & what settings you need for the look you want.

I've put a ruffler on my must have list. Oh & they also make ruffles by changing the differential feed on the serger. You would have to experiment. Different types of fabrics would ruffle differently.

I record Martha's shows & when I have time, I record the portions of her show I want on a DVD. I watch/listen to these while sewing. I've learned a LOT from her show.

Happy ruffling.
kathi_mdgd
16 years ago
I have a ruffler and do use it as i make all my own dust ruffles for my bed among other things.I've also done it the way Dody does for small projects,saw it on "sewing with nancy " years ago.That method also works wonders for the fullness in sleeves.

gram999,what part of the country do you live in?? I never heard of "Martha's sewing room".here in S.Calif we don't have any sewing shows that i'm aware of anymore.
Kathi
gram999
16 years ago
Hi Kathi,

We're in MO & watch Martha's Sewing Room on Dish Network, BYUTV 9403.

I've attached her website for you to the forums.

Here is a link that might be useful: Martha's Sewing Room forum
kathi_mdgd
16 years ago
Thanks Gram999,added it to my favorites.
kathi
dody40
Original Author
16 years ago
WOW! Thanks, Gram999. I went to the site you gave and only have had a few minutes to check it out and had to tear myself away.

Thanks again.

dody
gram999
16 years ago
You're very welcome.

I have some great news!!! I bought a ruffler yesterday. I was told a generic ruffler wouldn't work on my Janome 6600. So I had to buy theirs for the accu-feed foot. It was $80. Yikes!

Like everyone else, there are not a lot of instructions with it. All I was getting was pleats when adjusting the stitch length & ruffler settings. I searched Google & found this fantastic website where you can download for free a 30 pg. E-book on how to use it. When I learned to adjust the screw, I got the most beautiful ruffles. There are lots of pictures & you shouldn't have any questions after reading it. My life would have been a lot easier if I had bought a ruffler many, many years ago.

Our first great-granddaughter is expected in 2 weeks, so I'll probably get $80 worth of use out of it. She'll have ruffles on everything.

I gave a website for the "free" instructions you can download. The ruffler is towards the bottom.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ruffler Unruffled E-Book
dody40
Original Author
16 years ago
I do want to thank you, Gram999, for taking the trouble to direct me to the Ruffler E-Book. It make it so easy to use my ruffler, I have been playing with it all morning.

I have just now had the time to check out the site you directed me too, and again, Thank you so much.

dody
dody40
Original Author
16 years ago
I do want to thank you, Gram999, for taking the trouble to direct me to the Ruffler E-Book. It make it so easy to use my ruffler, I have been playing with it all morning.

I have just now had the time to check out the site you directed me too, and again, Thank you so much.

dody