Vintage ruching           Diane Kovalcin - based on Candice Kling's talk  at CostumeCon14.                                             

RW=ribbon width

1. Box-pleat ruffle

            Use regular ribbon or remove the wire from wired ribbon.

            Each pleat is ¼ "RW". It takes 6 yards of ribbon to get 1 yard of ruffle.

            On 1 side of box pleat, sew running stitch and pull to gather.

2. Rickrack trim

            Cut out a piece of ribbon twice as long as you want the final product. Take the wires in the ribbon and anchor the wire by rolling the wire ends. Then take the other end of the ribbon and scrunch the fabric down the wire until you have a nice effect. Knot the wires on the end.

            Mark on your board where you want the ribbon to go up and down. Take pins and pin at the noted intervals. Push one side of the ribbon to tighten and ease the other side so that the ripples are even.

 3. Scrolling

            Remove wire on one side (side you are going to sew). However, you do not need wired ribbon.

           Mark your ribbon 7 "RW", then 3 "RW", then 7 "RW", then 3 "RW" and alternate until you reach the amount you want. The RW can vary depending on what your final look should be but don't use any smaller than 1 RW.

            Knot a stitch through the 1st 7"RW" and pass a running stitch through all of the first 7"RW". Pull tight so that the ribbon curls into a circle and stitch it tight. Do again for each 7"RW".

4. Alternate scrolling.

            Remove wires or use regular ribbon.

             Mark on your ribbon 7 RW, then 3 RW, then 7 RW, then 3 RW and alternate until you reach the amount you want. The RW can vary depending on what your final look should be but don't use any smaller than 1 RW.

            Knot a stitch through the 1st 7RW and pass a running stitch through all of the first

 5. Triple Ruche

            You need a piece of fabric 6 ½ inches wide by 18 inches long.  The width is 6 times the ruffle height plus ½ inch.

            a. Fold in half. Sew a running stitch through the fabric at the ruffle height (in this case, 1 inch from the fold). Leave the thread tail.

            b. Fold one of the remaining edges so that the edge is butted to the seam you have just sewn. Sew the ruffle height (1 inch) and leave a 1/8 inch seam. Leave the thread tail.

            c.  Fold the other edge so that the edge is butted to the first seam.  Sew the ruffle height (1 inch) and leave a 1/8 inch seam. Leave the thread tail.

d. Pull the threads until you get the desired effect. Sew the tails down.

e. Use lengthwise grain for a hard pressed ruffle edge.

                        Use crosswise grain for a puffy ruffle edge.

                        Use a bias for a crisp but rounded ruffle edge.

6. Zigzag ruche -Scalloped edges

            a. Use 6 inch by 18 inch fabric.

            b. Fold over 1 inch. Put a light pencil mark every 1 inch on the fold. Put a light pencil mark every 1 inch (moved over ½ inch to start) on the edge.
            c. Stitch from mark to mark in a zigzag stitch. Be sure and clear the stitch on the fold (bring stitch out beyond the fold before going back into the fabric). Pull thread.

7. Popcorn stitch

            a. Take a 1 ½ by 1 ½ square foot of fabric (will give a 1 square foot final product).
            b. Knot a thread on one edge and sew to the other edge of the fabric. Repeat for every 1 ½ inch. Be sure and leave the thread tails out. Then sew the perpendicular edge so that you have a crosshatch pattern of running stitches.  Do not sew onto the threads as you cross them.

            c. Pull evenly on the threads until you get a popcorn effect on the fabric. Tie off the thread tails. Be sure and tack down the fabric onto another piece of fabric.