Ruffles! Bah, Humbug!!

11 years ago

I am making a Christmas tree skirt for my step-daughter. The pattern is a spiral made of joined strips cut into wedges. I'm not very happy with my fabric choices, so I'm a little bummed to begin with. Then I came to the ruffle. The pattern calls for a ruffle made of eight WOF strips doubled over. Did you ever try to make a ruffle from a strip 336 inches long? To top it off, the fabric is very heavy and has metallic thread in it. After several aborted tries (thread breaking, thread so thick that it wouldn't pull through the fabric), I'm finally doing it in eight sections, gathering each WOF independently and sewing it in place on the skirt before I go to the next section. Two down and six to go. I wish I were more pleased with the fabrics. Oh, well, each project is a learning experience. I just had to vent. Thanks for listening. Lois

Featured Answer

glassquilt

11 years ago

Looks very nice and will compliment the wrapped gifts nicely.

Don't remember where I first read this method but this is now my favorite method of gathering fabric.

I do a wide zig-zag stitch over crochet thread. When I've finally reached the end I gently pull the crochet thread. When the gathers are even I baste them down in the seam allowance before sewing them to the garment, curtain, whatever.

No worry about the pulled thread breaking and I can use it over. Don't have to guess at the length needed - just pull it off the ball.

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Comments (17)

beth7happy
11 years ago
Bummer that you are so frustrated!! You'll get it...one seam at a time! What, no pictures???
msmeow
11 years ago
Ah, Lois, I was going to suggest gathering it in sections instead of all at once. :) Glad you got it done!

I made a tree skirt years ago and I was also disappointed with my fabric choices. I keep saying I'm going to make a new one...

Donna
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Nancy Morris
11 years ago
Lois, please post a pic when you are done. I am sure it will be beautiful!
loisflan
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Okay, Beth and Nancy, here it is. The shop didn't have all its Christmas fabric in yet. Of course, I couldn't wait. I had to buy right now, so I used some Asian prints too. Impetuous. I think it actually looks better in the photo than in real life.

Donna, do you think that ruffle is full enough? (Sarcasm, here.) When I cut the wedges, I realized if I cut carefully, I would have another wedge in between each of the ones I needed for the skirt. I could then get another skirt from the leftovers. So now I have wedges for a second one that I don't like as a UFO. And I need to buy more fabric for the second ruffle, but I think six WOF pieces would look better. And I will use one of the more solid looking fabrics instead of the big print. I think that might help.

Finishing something you don't like really tests your resolve, doesn't it?

Edit: The photo won't load. I'll try again. No luck. I wonder what's wrong.
loisflan
Original Author
11 years ago
Finally!
nannykins
11 years ago
A very modern tree skirt and yup! I 'd say full enough!

Theresa
geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
11 years ago
Nope, not full enough! (sarcastically said) lol I think using 6 strips instead of eight will be more manageable, too. I like it!
Nancy Morris
11 years ago
Wow, that is really pretty. Love the swirly squares.
littlehelen_gw
11 years ago
Lois...Thanks for the chuckle on the 336" ruffle...seriously... What were they thinking!?! Too funny...Anyway, I think it looks great! Good job

V.
toolgranny
11 years ago
Yes, I wouldn't have made it that full either. But, it does look very nice. Mine wouldn't have looked nearly that good.
beth7happy
11 years ago
it sure does look nice! I applaud your tenacity....whoa, whatta big job!!!!
grammyp
11 years ago
Well, I like it, but wouldn't want to make it.
loisflan
Original Author
11 years ago
Here's the second one finished. I like the green ruffle better - and only six WOF.
msmeow
11 years ago
I like the more solid ruffle fabric better, too! And it looks like plenty of ruffle (not to mention using a lot less fabric!).

Nice job on both!

Donna
nannykins
11 years ago
That is a lot of ruffle! Good job.

Looking for the opening. Is it at 11 o'clock? Hard to tell.

Theresa
ibquiltn4fun LindaH
11 years ago
I think they are both very eye appealing - but I agree that the green seems to offset the other colors better. What a nice job and I'm sure it will be a treasured gift.