Thread: Ruching tutorial wanted!

As many of you saw in the WAYWO (,r:;) thread, I have a new costume in the works. I've cut out almost all of the pieces and now it is time to put together.



The pink parts are mystique spandex. I would like to ruching them along the hip and bra. Much like this Mumtaz costume (I want my hips to look just like that skirt part, only pink with a spandex skirt instead of chiffon):


How do I do that? The quick way in my mind was to do the old fashioned gathering technique where you sew two parallel lines with a base stitch and you pull the ends until you get it the way you like. Can you see anything wrong with doing it that way? Has anyone done this?

If this is not a fail-safe technique, what is the real way to achieve this look? I want this to be a quickie costume, so i don't want to spend a lot of time laboring over the folds! ..l;,

Tips appreciated. Thanks.

P.S. Tell your thoughts on fringe with this design.

Quick and dirty ruching can be done with your sewing machine set to the basting stitch. Simply baste up the fabric in two lines and give the loose end of the thread a little tug, then guiding the fabric bunch in into the amount of ruche you are going for and sew up on either side of the basting stitch to hold in place. With the fabric you are using I would apply the ruched material to a 2 or 4 way stretch fabric.

ETA fringe on the bottom or the top?

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Quick and dirty ruching can be done with your sewing machine set to the basting stitch. Simply baste up the fabric in two lines and give the loose end of the thread a little tug, then guiding the fabric bunch in into the amount of ruche you are going for and sew up on either side of the basting stitch to hold in place. With the fabric you are using I would apply the ruched material to a 2 or 4 way stretch fabric.

ETA fringe on the bottom or the top?

Thanks, that's the technique I know too.

As for fringe. I just don't know...

It looks like the costume is actually ruched to the appliques (which would be an interesting and maybe time saving way to go about both those processes.

I like the barebones look of the ruched fabric (expecially if it's lush fabric that deserves attention) and the appliques. Fringe might overwhelm the entire piece. However if you do decide to go with fringe, look toward the Bella designs over the egyptian swag and fringe, I think her fringe placement is almost always well thought out and intentional.

Another option is a product call curtain tape/blind tape/ruching tape. You sew it to the fabrice and then pull the strings to automatically ruche the fabric. There are multiple types of it available in the drapery section of most fabric stores.

I have another suggestion, although I see nothing wrong with the suggestions already provided. Take a narrow piece of elastic (1/4" wide) and anchor stitch it to the top of where you want your ruching line. The stretch both the fabric and the elastic and stitch down the middle of the elastic line. When you finish, you should have a ruched effect.

If you have some fabric scraps, it might be worth experimenting and see which method gives you the best effect.

Another option has to do with elastic. Basically, cut the amount of fabric you want and measure the elasatic to the length which you want the larger amount of fabric to cover. Pin the elastic to one edge and to the other then stretch and stitch. This makes the gathers more symmetrical. But, unless you have done it a few times, it can also be a little frustrating.

Ans I don;t have my notes handy - they are in storage - so I can;t give you the % of fabric break down although it naturally varies from fabric type to fabric type.

{{{HUGS}}}}

Depending on your fabric, shirring with elastic thread in the bobbin might work, too. Once you get the gathers the way you want them, you might want to go back over them with regular thread to reinforce them rather than leave it with just the elastic, though. This is the idea, but you'd want your rows much farther apart: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsSZTHyCLyU]YouTube - How-to Make a Summer Dress, Threadbanger[/ame]

Great tutorial! I have to laugh though... My duvet from Ikea is done in the same fabric as the dress. I can't imagine wearing my sheets!

When ruching, how do you determine how much fabric you will need? Is there some sort of formula?

If, say, you wanted a 3" wide band of ruching, how wide would your actual cut of fabric need to be before it is ruched? Is this more of a trial and error thing?

It depends on the fabric and the fullness you want. Thinner, drape-y fabrics can support more gathered fullness than thicker, stiff ones. The rule of thumb for curtains, valances, and standard ruffles is 2:1. If you want considerably more fullness at the bottom and can't get that much fabric to gather nicely, you can make the garment in two pieces and ruche the top piece separately.

Thanks!

I'm glad this thread got revived. I plan on ruching in the near future!