Tuesday Tip: no-frustration ruffling!

As you can tell from my last couple of posts, I'm in a ruffly mood. And why not?  Ruffles are feminine, flirty, fashionable, and fun.  However, they can also be another "F" word - frustrating!  Here's a super simple technique to take the frustration out of making a ruffle. 

The classic technique has been to make two basting stitches, then pull the loose ends till you have made the ruffle the length and density you want - although I usually found that one or the other of my stitches would snap, and I would have to start over again.  Then Audrey, the brilliant and sweet manager of our Bremerton store, told me this simple technique, and I send her mental thank-yous every time I need to ruffle anything.  

You'll need a spool of strong thread - I like Coats and Clark upholstery thread for this. The color does not matter, as it will be hidden in the seam anyway. Tie it around a pin, then pin to one end of your piece to be ruffled.  Using a thread that matches your project, zig-zag stitch along the edge with the thicker thread in the center of the zig-zag,  being careful not to catch the thread in your stitching.

When you have reached the end of your piece for ruffling, cut off your zig-zag thread, and pull the loose end of the strong thread  till the ruffle is the desired length and density. When you have the right length, place a pin at the end, then wrap your strong thread around it in a figure-eight motion to hold it in place. Do a quick straight stitch over the ruffle, stitching it all in place. Now you have a nice ruffled length for your project, with no broken threads - and no frustration.

 - Anna-Beth