ruffling

Ruffling is a garment and textile technique that creates decorative fullness by gathering or pleating fabric along an edge or across a panel. A ruffle is typically a strip of fabric attached to another fabric at one edge and eased to form a frill.

Methods vary. Gathering sews a long basting stitch and draws the thread to bunch the fabric, a process that can be done by hand or with a sewing machine. A ruffler or adjustable gathering foot on a machine can produce evenly spaced gathers or pleats. Elasticized ruffles use shirring to create stretch, while flat pleats produce a more controlled fullness.

Materials and styles: lightweight fabrics such as chiffon, georgette, or cotton are common for soft, delicate ruffles; sturdier fabrics form more structured ruffles. Ruffles can be self-fabric, using the same material, or made with lace, net, or contrasting trims. Widths range from narrow to wide.

Applications include fashion and home textiles. Ruffles appear on sleeves, necklines, skirts, and hems, as well as on curtains, valances, and other home fabrics. They are also used in costumes and decorative arts to add texture and movement.

History and terminology: ruffles rose to prominence in European fashion of the 17th and 18th centuries and remain a versatile decorative element. In sewing vocabulary, ruffles refer to the gathered form; related terms include frill (often broader) and flounce (a separate panel with fullness).

Care and finishing: handle delicately with appropriate seam allowances and finish edges to prevent fraying. Iron ruffles from the wrong side with low heat, and avoid stretching the fabric while attaching and pressing.