Guest Post: All Things Luci Rae

Hello! I am thrilled to be guest posting over here at Keeping it Simple. My name is Traci, from All Things Luci Rae, and I have an addiction to DIYing! Today I would love to share with you all a very simple… in keeping with the theme of this blog… tutorial on how to sew a ruffle and table runner. For Christmas this year I decided I would do all handmade gifts. Ok, maybe not ALL handmade but at least the majority. I wanted to make table runners for all the ladies in my life. When I looked up tutorials on how to make a ruffle I was surprised at how complicated most people made it. I knew there had to be an easier way. I called up my good friend Rachelle and she explained it so well, and so simply, I knew I had to pass it on to the rest of the bloggy world. So here it is:

I started by sewing my table runner. All I did was cut out my fabric using an old table runner to measure. Then I just hemmed the edges so it wouldn’t fray when washed. Next came the ruffle. Cut your fabric for the ruffle about 4 inches wide and twice the length of the end of your runner. You can do it with less but the ruffle won’t be as full.

Next, you can hem all 4 edges of the ruffle if you want a finished look, or you can fray the edges for a shabby look.  If you are planning on washing this in a machine I would recommend hemming the edges.  Now you are ready to make your ruffle.

Set your sewing machine at the longest stitch you have.  The higher the number the longer the stitch.  Mine is a 4.

Start on one side and pull the top thread.  Scrunch your fabric down on the thread and it will start to ruffle.  Don’t pull too hard though, it will break your thread and you will have to start all over… and then you will be sad.  I speak from experience.

(Excuse the dark pictures, I tend to do my crafts after the little one goes to bed.  A 1 year old doesn’t understand why she can’t play with mommies scissors)

When you have scrunched all of your fabric line it up on your runner and spread out the ruffle to your liking.  Pin the ruffle in place and sew straight over the line you just sewed, only this time using back stitching.

Repeat this process with your second ruffle on the other side of your runner and you are done.  It is so simple and looks so pretty!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.  Cheers!