Maternity or Not Frock : Ruffles

After seeing lots of ruffles on Anthropologie models I decided to add some to my frock to dress it up a bit.

You can do it too, and here is how:

1- I wanted the ruffles to have diagonal plaid just to add a bit of interest, but it is not necessary to cut this on the bias as I did.


Cut multiple strips of fabric 4 inches wide (two inches if you fold it like I did here) and at different lengths. I made my lengths 20", 15" 10" and 6" (i later added one more at 3").


2- Take one strip and fold right sides together. Stitch a 1/2" seam allowance along the top edge.

3- Turn right side out.


4- Tuck in both outer edges by 1/2". Press whole strip. Edge stitch two short sides.


5- Change stitch length to a long basting stitch. Starting at one end on the top edge stitch the length of the strip at 1/2". Do not back stitch. Leave strings long on both ends.

Put a straight pin in both ends.

6- Wrap the long strings from the basting stitch on one end in a figure eight pattern around straight pin to secure.


On other end hold top string and then push the fabric towards the other end (the figure eight wont allow it to run off the edge) to gather the ruffle.

7- Once it is the length you want the ruffle to be secure the open end by doing a figure eight around the other pin.
8- Return stitch length to normal and stitch on top of basting stitch, backstitching at both ends, to secure the ruffle.

Repeat for all ruffles.

9- Now that you have all of your ruffles ready to go start pinning them on the front of your frock starting with the longest one right along the neckline. Make sure that it is centered.


Topstitch ruffle onto garment about 1/4" from neck edge.


10- Repeat with shorter and shorter ruffles. Each lower ruffle should tuck up underneith the top ruffle by about 1/4".




Once all of your ruffles are sewn on, press and clip strings. It should look something like this.

Now try it on, upload a pic to our flickr page and wear it out somewhere fun!