How To Add A Ruffle To The Edge Of A Quilt

 My friend Vickie recently shared with me

her technique for 

adding a ruffle to the edge of a quilt.

 Very simple to do

and another fun way to edge a quilt

rather than using the traditional binding method.

Pattern:

Charming Baby Log Cabin

by Threaded Pear

 First, determine the size of the ruffle.

Vickie's ruffle was about 3-inches wide.

She cut a 6-inch width and then folded in half.

For the length,

measure around the outside of the quilt and then

double, allowing for gathers.

Using a pearl cotton

zig zag the thread down using a large stitch

about 1/4th inch from the cut edge of the ruffle.

 A size 5 Pearl Cotton allows

enough strength without breakage for gathering 

a long length of ruffle.

 Once the thread is stitched down,

tug on the end

and gather evenly.

 With an erasable marker,

Vickie had previously drawn  a 

1/2-inch line around the edge of her quilt

as a guide 

so her quilter would not stitch completely to the edge.

Before sewing in the ruffle, 

trim the batting back to the 1/2-inch mark.

 Lay the ruffle around the outside of the quilt,

making sure the gathers are even.

 Once you are happy with the gathers,

flip the ruffle so the raw edges match evenly

against the edge of the top of the quilt.
Pin in place.

Sew down with a scant 1/2-inch seam allowance
to the top only.

Turn the quilt over

and iron the backing down 1/2- inch
to the inside of the quilt.

*Covering the seam line,

stitch down.

*you can either do this by machine or by hand.

Gently press the ruffle around the corners and 

edges and you are done!