How to Sew a Ruffle and Add a Ruffle to a Garment

How to sew a ruffle – a pretty detail to add to any garment

Hey y’all – today we’re going to talk about how to sew a ruffle so you can add ruffles to any garment. Ruffles are a fun, feminine detail you can add to pretty much any top or dress, and you can add them in different places. Above and below I have an Esma Top with a ruffle added instead of the sleeve band.

For a different look, I added a ruffled peplum to the Esma Top below.

I added one to the hem of my Auberley Dress, which is a good way to add some weight to a hem.

Adding a ruffle is super simple to do. I have a video below showing how I did it for the sleeves of my Esma Top, and the process is the same where ever you choose to add a ruffle. You can also watch the video on YouTube here.

First, you need to measure or decide on how tall your finished ruffle will be. Then subtract 1/2 inch (for a seam allowance) from that number, and then cut that amount off of the bottom of your dress or top.

If you’re making your own ruffle, add at least 1 inch to the finished measurement you want for a hem and a seam allowance. Depending on your fabric, you may want to add more than this; 1 inch gives you 1/2 inch on top for a seam allowance and 1/2 inch on bottom to make a narrow 1/4 inch hem.

Next, you need to decide just how gathered you want your ruffle to be. Measure around the circumference of your top or dress. 

Then, take that measurement and multiply it by the amount you want to ruffle. I suggest using numbers between 1.5 to 3. The more body you want the ruffle to have, the larger number you use, as in the examples below.

Cut a strip or strips of fabric to sew together to make the length you need for the desired amount of ruffle. Once you have a strip long enough, add 1 inch (for seam allowances), then cut the strip and sew it into a loop, right sides together, matching short ends.

I find it’s easier to hem your ruffle before ruffling it. Then I baste 2 lines around the top edge to gather my ruffle. I cover some other ways to gather fabric in this post; just know that if you use any of those you should probably have an extra long strip of fabric and cut it to size after you ruffle it. But with this method, you pull on the basting threads to gather your fabric to the exact width of the top or skirt you’re adding the ruffle to.

Finally, attach the ruffle. There are two ways to do this. The simplest is show below  – you match the ruffle to the raw edge, right sides together, and stitch, then finish the seam.

However, it can add another dimensional detail to finish the edge of your top or skirt first, then apply the ruffle on top of the finished edge and sew it in place with topstitching, as I did in this top. Just keep in mind that if you choose this method, you need to hem the top edge of the ruffle. I used a rolled hem on mine.

And that’s it – how to add a ruffle! As for that Blanc T-shirt I’m wearing above, see how to make it in this post.