Does any one know how to finish a quilt with a ruffle. I have made a shabby chic type quilt and want to finish it with a ruffle or pleats. I know how to finish with binding but not with ruffles. Thank you

have you looked on youtube

No, I haven;t. I'll try it. Thank you!

you cut your ruffle fabric the length you need, piecing as needed (i have one pattern that says twice as long as the item you are putting the ruffle around) that would depend on how *ruffled* you want it i would think. cut the fabric twice the width of the finished ruffle (+ seam allowance) so if you want a 4" ruffle around your quilt i would cut the fabric 9" --fold in half wrong sides together---so it measures 4 1/2" x length...run 2 or 3 basting lines along the raw edge. you will use one of these to (draw-up) your ruffle. when you have the ruffle--ruffled then you need to find the center...choose a place on the quilt to start-such as the center of one side. place the ruffle (raw-edges together around the quilt with the folded (finished edge) toward the center of the quilt. when you have it all distributed evenly (lots of pins) then i would baste it around the quilt...make sure your pleats are even --go slow--then you can add your binding as usual, over top of the whole shebang--when you turn the binding to the back of the quilt the ruffle will (fold-out) and be around the outside....the binding is kind of like a facing doing it this way....i've put plenty of ruffles on pillows and skirts...but haven't tackled such a big ruffle--you may want to make a little one (maybe a doll quilt or something) to practice, try it out before tackling the quilt-good luck :thumbup:

i would pin the ruffle or pleated strip to the completed front, all the way around, raw edge to raw edge. lay it on the floor, face up. lay backing face down on top matching sides and corners, then batting. trim the batting close. sew all around, at least 1/4" but up to 1/2" being careful not to lose any points on the quilt top. leave an opening on one side of the quilt large enough to reach in and pull the quilt rightside-out. this is called birthing. when the quilt comes through the ruffles will be placed correctly. using an invisible stitch of your choice, close off the opening. i would then topstitch through all the layers 1/4" from the outside edges. using this method, tying off is the safest way to put all the layers together, but you can 'tie off' with machine embroidery or machine Xs. tying off with buttons is also used.

My grandma put ruffles on quilts, especially baby quilts. They look so cute that way.

I used to make all my curtains/drapes and I have a ruffler attachment for my old singer machine. They aren't very expensive and it sure does make the job easier and the ruffles even.

If your top is already quilted, you will not be able to pull it inside out as butterflywing instructed.

You would have to sew the ruffle to the the top, and then add a facing on the back. It's not hard

Ruffle:
To determine the width:if you want it 2" wide, cut it 5" wide and fold it in half, matching raw edges, wrong sides together, and you will have a 1/2" seam allowance.

To determine the length with double fullness, measure all 4 sides of your quilt and cut your ruffle twice that length, plus 1", sew the ends together to make a circle. Fold the width in half, wrong sides together, and press raw edges together.

Using strong thread, sew two basting stitches along the raw edge fo your ruffle, one 3/8" fron the edge, the second one 5/8" from the edge, to not back stitch. Leave at least a 6" tail of thread on each end. You will use these tails to pull and create gathers. You can break this up and stitch one side at a time. Be sure to leave the basting tails long enough to pull, for each side of the quilt.

Tie the two basting threads together at both ends on the front and back. A double basting is good for 2 reasons. 1. if one breaks you still have one to pull. 2. Sewing between the basting stitches insures that proper alignment of the ruffle.

Mark the quilt every 3" and mark the ruffle every 6" Pin the ruffle to the quilt, matching marks. Then carefully pull the double basting threads to gather the ruffle evenly, all raw edges together and sew through all layers using a scant 1/2" seam allowance.

Facing: Cut a bias strip the length of all 4 sides of your quilt plus a couple of inches to join or overlap where the ends meet.
If you are using a half inch seam allowance cut your bias strip 2.25" wide. Fold it in half, and press lengthwise. Note: bias is not necessary, but preferable. Be careful not to stretch the bias as you press and attach it.

Then attach the (right sides together) folded facing, raw edges together. Use a full 1/2" seam allowance or a hair bigger, to completely hide the ruffle stitches.

Flip back the folded edge of your facing and hand stitch it. Miter the corners by tucking the extra fabric at a 45 degree angle inside as you sew the corners down. Be sure to knot your hand stitches often :)

Remove all basting stitches... and you are done. Now take a picture and share it with your friends.

THank you all for the lessons on how to ruffle a quilt. I think I have a better idea now due to your directions. Before, I just couldn't wrap my brain around putting a ruffle on. Thanks again hugs lizzie

Thank you for asking the question about ruffling the quilt. I have been working on that all morning and found lots of good info on this blog. I just found this blog so I am excited - will try and get it together later this afternoon. Thanks to all the answers to your question. There are some smart people out there.