Ruffled Tank Top Tutorial

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• 

  Step 1

  gather your materials. you will need two contrasting fabrics and either some buttons, ribbon or other embellishments.

• 

  Step 2

  Measure your tank top

  First thing to do is to measure the length of the area you would like the ruffles to go. Mine will be covering up some buttons and is 5 inches long (12.5cm).

  Take this measurement and times by 2 to allow for the fabric to gather into a ruffle.
  My final measurement is therefore 10 inches (25cm).

• 

  Step 3

  Next we need to work out how wide we would like each ruffle to be. I measured from the middle of the buttons (as this is the centre of the singlet) and got 2.5 inches (6.25cm)
  Take this measurement and times by 2, then add seam allowance, (1/2 an inch/1cm or so) to your width.
  My width was therefore 5.5 inches in total (about 14cm)

• Step 4

  Next we need to work out a measurement for our middle panel, which will be hiding all the raw edges of the ruffles.

  The panel length will be the same as your original length (5inches/12.5cm) + seam allowance.
  The width is entirely up to you, it just needs to be wide enough to hide your raw ruffle edges. I measured my singlet and decided on a width of 2 inches + seam allowance. I don't have a photo for this step but you can work it out.

• 

  Step 5

  cut your fabric

  using these measurements cut out 2 ruffle pieces and 2 panel pieces.

• 

  Step 6

  prepare ruffle and panel

  Fold ruffle pieces lengthways right sides together. pin.
  place panel pieces right sides together and pin.

• 

  Step 7

  on the ruffle pieces, stitch the short ends of each piece ONLY. Turn the ruffle pieces the right way out and press the seams and the long folded edge.

  On the panel piece, stitch around all 4 sides leaving a GAP on one long side to turn it out the right way. (makes sure you backstitch at the start and finish of your gap to reinforce it.) Turn the panel piece the right way out and press the seams.

• 

  Step 8

  embellish your panel piece

  Stitch your buttons, ribbon or other chosen embellishment onto your fabric panel.

• 

  Step 9

  make your ruffles

  To make a ruffle, loosen the tension on your sewing machine to the loosest setting. Select your longest stitch. I also increase the stitch width as it helped it to gather better for me.

  Make sure you have a long tail of cotton coming out of your machine before you start sewing so you have something to pull on at the end.
  Stitch along the long, raw edge of one of your ruffle pieces. Leave a long tail at the other end so you can pull it.

  NB: don't backstitch at either end of your ruffle as you want to be able to pull the threads easily.

  Repeat with your other ruffle.
  You should now have two long ruffle pieces with long cotton tails. To really gather up your ruffle, find the top thread at each end and pull the fabric along the thread until it gathers to your desired length. Don't knot the cotton tails just yet.

• 

  Step 10

  line up and stitch your pieces

  Place your ruffle pieces alongside your panel piece and check the lengths. You want the raw edges of your ruffles to be completely hidden by the sides of your panel, so you may need to adjust the lengths by pulling the tails again.
  When you're happy with the lengths, tie a knot in each end of the ruffle piece to hold them in place.

• 

  Step 11

  Place your ruffles on your tank on either side of the centre. Don't pin yet.
  Place your fabric panel on top and pin around the outside, trapping the ruffles carefully underneath.

• 

  Step 12

  Top stitch around the edge of the fabric panel. (don't forget to put your tension and stitch length back to its normal position before you start).

  Give your panel and the ruffles a little press. Done!

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Posted by

Willow

Posted by

***laysea***

Comments

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Renee J. · Adelaide, South Australia, AU 21st September 2011

great tute, thanks!

Reply

Stacy P. · Ozark, Missouri, US · 2 projects 7th August 2011

I will totally be trying this one out!

Reply

Jamie N · Jackson, Mississippi, US · 2 projects 26th July 2011

Adorable!

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ElmoGeval · Nederland, Colorado, US · 1 project 12th July 2011

very nice I'm gonna make one lolita style

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LaLiLuLiny · Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, DE · 20 projects 25th April 2011

like it
das ist sooooooo süüüüüüß *_____*

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pinkkoala111 · 1 project 18th April 2011

soo cute! ^_^

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Willow · Independence, Missouri, US · 5 projects 14th March 2011

Thank you for sharing this tutorial. I'm new to sewing and have to do it all by hand since both of the sewing machines my grandma has are broken, but it's so worth the time and effort. I made my own ruffle rank and I love it. :]

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Sarah (= · Ustka, Pomeranian Voivodeship, PL · 1 project 7th March 2011

this is a super cute idea =D

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HollyPolly · Chesterfield, England, GB · 33 projects 6th March 2011

Very cute! I like it!

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