How to Create a Ruffled Stitch

Ruffles with Parallel Seams

1). Cut the fabric you want to ruffle to the right length and hem one side (the side that will not be ruffled). It should be at least twice the length of the flat fabric to which the ruffle will attach. If your ruffle is very long, use three times as much fabric for the ruffle as the final length.
2). Sew a seam along the side that will be ruffled, about 1/2 inch from the end. Leave a 4-inch tail of the top and bottom threads before you cut them.
3). Sew a parallel seam to the first one that runs in the opposite direction. Leave a 4-inch tail of thread on this side as well.
4). Gently pull on the bobbin (bottom) threads of each tail. The fabric will gather up on the seams, creating a ruffle.
5). Adjust your ruffle until it is even and as full as you want it.
6). Tie and cut the threads on both ends of the ruffle.

1). Measure at least twice as much fabric for the ruffle as the length of the seam to which you will attach the ruffle. If you are attaching the ruffle to a 20-inch piece, measure and cut a 40 or 50-inch piece of the ruffle fabric.
2). Cut the ruffle fabric and hem the bottom.
3). Divide the seam to which you will attach the ruffle into at least 4 equal pieces and mark the sections with straight pins. Again, if you are adding the ruffle to a 20-inch piece of fabric, pin that fabric every 5 inches. For a longer piece, you can divide it into more sections.
4). Divide the ruffle fabric into 4 equal pieces as well, or as many sections as you marked on the flat fabric. If you have 40 inches of fabric to ruffle, mark it every 10 inches with a straight pin.
5). Line up the pins and pin the two pieces of fabric together.
6). Line up two pieces of fabric in the sewing machine, right sides together.
7). Fold the ruffle fabric into a small tuck, about 1/4 inch and sew the tuck in. Stop sewing, add, another tuck, and sew that into place. Continue to tuck the ruffle into the seam until you finish that section.
8). Take out the straight pins as you reach the end of each section. Sew through the seam, adding tucks throughout, until you reach the end. Make sure your tucks are even and that the sections you marked with the straight pins line up evenly throughout the seam.