How to make Ruffles: 6 Gathering Techniques (tutorial)

Is your next cosplay or costume needing some ruffles? To be honest, there are so many different ways I've seen to make ruffles and gathers that I wanted to compile them into one video - to give a few options depending on your project, sewing skills and machinery.
Ruffles and gathers are wonderful to add volume to skirts, sleeves... anything really (plus it is awesome as a trim too!).
I hope it can help you with your next project!
Time stamp:
Hand Baste: 0:17
Machine Baste: 0:52
Gather as you sew: 1:36
Elastic: 2:13
Zigzag & Pullstring: 2:47
Gathering Foot: 3:18
Website: www.kirileecosplay.com/
Patreon: / kirileecosplay
Social media:
Facebook page: / kirileecosplay
Instagram: @kirileecosplay

[@kristinakelsey8783]

This is BY FAR the best tutorial I’ve seen. Your instructions are both, precise and succinct. I can’t thank you enough for skipping a autobiographical diatribe before getting down to business. You are a wonderful woman.

[@KirileeCosplay]

Glad it helped!

[@ElliMauve]

I couldn’t agree more!!

[@biancakealoha2226]

You’re so thorough and make it easy for viewers to see what exactly you’re doing. Thank you!

[@KirileeCosplay]

Thank you so for that feedback. I’m glad that it helps.

[@yasminec2144]

@Bianca Kealoha you're so right , Kirilee is a godsend for that ( its why I come here)

[@thecookie-eatingunicornang642]

Thank you for making it so easy! I love this ruffle: 2:14

[@masteregle]

Amazing and what a coincidence cause right now I am working on project that requires gathering. Thank You!!!!

[@KirileeCosplay]

My pleasure! I’m glad it could help!

[@kakuli2989]

Thanks for the wonderful tutorial...you made ruffle making seem so simple ..one just has to pick the tecnique most convenient ..

[@KirileeCosplay]

My pleasure! Glad it helped

[@LR-hu2pj]

The elastic one was exactly what i was looking for!

[@KirileeCosplay]

I'm so glad I could help!

[@sophierose8940]

great video! very clear instructions and comparision. thanks a lot

[@KirileeCosplay]

Thanks so much!

[@SaberStarr]

Thank you for this tutorial! It is so very helpful to see all the different techniques, so I am more educated and able to tackle my current & future projects with more confidence. I'm off to watch the pleats one next. ;-)

[@KirileeCosplay]

Thank you so much for watching both. I wanted to separate the two as although they are similar they are different techniques :)

[@darlingdarylann3453]

I’m making a 50s inspired dress for my homecoming and your videos have been a life saver thank you!!

[@KirileeCosplay]

Oh how exciting! Good luck

[@baharpiena9246]

Aaaaah, just I was looking for.😃❤ Thank you very much

[@KirileeCosplay]

Glad I could help!

[@faithitafajita]

This is so helpful!! Thank you so much!

[@KirileeCosplay]

My pleasure!

[@marielisortiz8594]

love your videos ❤️

[@KirileeCosplay]

Thanks

[@jenyurikouth4984]

Wow! Nice. Thanks.

[@KirileeCosplay]

My pleasure!

[@alexsond3015]

Eyy! This is great for when I try my hand at Kurumi Tokisaki one day!

[@KirileeCosplay]

Awesome!

[@kylier404]

Thanks for the great tutorial! I'm new to costuming, and I'm going to attempt my first piece modification for a pirate costume by adding ruffles to a skirt!

[@KirileeCosplay]

Oh wonderful! Good luck with it. No doubt it will be great!

[@TheJudeJane]

Get a serger!! My tip here in comments.💖👍🏼😉😍

[@Retrolovegamer]

So helpful for my peach cosplay!

[@KirileeCosplay]

Oh awesome! Good luck with that! ^_^

[@graceandersen1394]

You don't even need the gathering foot. Another way is by using the longest straight stick on your machiene, and making the tension number the highest, then straight stiching across. After your fabric passes through the food, it becomes naturally gathered nice and even!

[@KirileeCosplay]

That is certainly another way! But I find it is a very loose ruffle - I love mine big and fluffy. It is also to calculate how much fabric you need to cut as it can be a bit un predicable

[@rebeccachambers4701]

For hand gathering I just got a foot long upholstery needle and that works pretty well

[@KirileeCosplay]

Cool

[@someone3011]

I like the hand basted one the best! Now I have to sew literally everything by hand I guess.

[@KirileeCosplay]

If that is what you like, go for it! ^_^

[@someone3011]

@@KirileeCosplay thank you! :D I will try my best! Your videos have helped me a lot recently~

[@kiyahl.5543]

i’m wanting to gather some sheer curtains to hang on the walls around my bed without a curtain rode. i’m not sure which method i’ll use but i’m sure one of them will work great for me!!!

[@KirileeCosplay]

Good luck!

[@sarahgattis3964]

my sewing machine isn’t letting me sew on the longest setting so this video really helps!

[@KirileeCosplay]

I’m so glad it could help! Good luck with your project!

[@nataliedawn9067]

If I wanted my ruffles to be stretchy could I do the zig zag stitch over a string of elastic thread?

[@KirileeCosplay]

You would need to experiment. Easiest way would be to sew the ruffles to a piece of elastic, stretching the elastic whilst you sew

[@MylkT1023]

Heres an even lazier gathering technique: crank the thread tension as high as you need (it does require some experimenting) and that's it! Instant gathering!

[@KirileeCosplay]

Yes you can do that :) I sometimes find that that can mean that your machine eats the fabric at times.

[@shaunimcgarva329]

Can you do these on a circular piece of fabric?

[@KirileeCosplay]

Sure

[@user-bz9lx6em9c]

hi，I’m wandering is it possible if i just use the elastic sewing thread?🤨🤨🤨

[@KirileeCosplay]

Yes it is!

[@bad_kamyah1832]

How to make the bottom look neat

[@KirileeCosplay]

Like how to do seams?

[@shortyylu]

What about a ruffle foot? The presser foot that does ruffles and pleats it’s like a big bulky presser foot that’s bigger than a walking foot lol

[@KirileeCosplay]

That is certainly an option. I did show such a foot :)

[@TheJudeJane]

Have a serger, Miss? See my tip here in comments on how to make a TON of ruffles in SECONDS with no guesswork, no pulling, etc. 😉😊🧵👍🏼

[@erinbathie-moore8478]

Running the gathering threads isn't my problem... it's how to get the gathers to stay once I've pinned them, and how to make the job less tedious. Help?

[@KirileeCosplay]

Lots of pins and guiding the machine over the gathers is the only way I’m afraid

[@Romina_Das_Fischstaebchen]

I'm using the hand stitch method for my tulle. Machine gathering wastes too much thread.

[@KirileeCosplay]

Cool

[@TheJudeJane]

Use a serger!!! Fast and no “pulling” required. Makes a ton in seconds flat!!!

[@boring_cringename]

So my problem now is that I have a 13m long stripe of fabric that I wanna ruffle for a cute skirts edge 😂

[@boring_cringename]

I guess I’ll try the second method. Wish me luck 😅

[@KirileeCosplay]

Have fun with it!

[@Thespiansewist]

Just cutting my first history costume patten Butterick 3071 I will swim in a sea of gathering

[@KirileeCosplay]

Good luck