I’ve made several different things with that gorgeous pre-ruffled fabric….and I love it all! Well, I just happened to be snooping around their site the other day and noticed that the Ruffle Fabric Shop just got in some new ruffles. And it’s dang cool stuff.
It’s called ‘Ruffles and Ridges’ and it really gives the fabric a cool texture. Once I saw it, I knew I wanted a nice long A-line skirt made out of it. I already have a gathered ruffle fabric skirt that’s shorter and has lots of fullness and flouncy ruffles. But I wanted one that was more fitted around the waist and hip and then fell to the floor. But with a bit of an A-line to allow for movement.
 So here she is.Â
See that nice A-line? It keeps walking simple.Â
Instead of making a casing or waistband at the top, I just sewed the skirt to a band of wide elastic. And ahhhhh, the ‘ruffles and ridges’ are beautiful! :)
Now, let me show you why I normally use a mannequin to take pics of my-size clothing tutorials. My photographer (who is 5 years old. and goes by Elli. and works for lollipops.) doesn’t always get all of me into the picture. Or in focus. I have about 30 pictures that are similar to or worse than this. We have some training to do! :) Haha……so now you know!
If you don’t want to make a skirt for yourself, but would still like to use some of this Ruffles and Ridges fabric……here are a few ideas to use it with.
Ruffled Skirt, Ruffled Diaper Cover, Shirt into Ruffled Dress, Ruffled Dress
Okay, back to the A-line skirt.
Need a quick explanation on how to make your own??
First of all, a huge variety of Ruffle Fabric can be found here. Lots of colors, prints, sizes, etc.
However, this tutorial can be used to make an A-line skirt out of stretchy knit fabric too.
First of all, decide how long you want your skirt to be. I wanted mine all the way down to the ground. Well, like an inch above. So I needed about 2 1/4 yards of this fabric so that I would have enough length.Â
First, measure around your abdomen where you wear your skirts. I wear long flowy skirts right below my belly button so that’s actually larger than my “real” waist. But if you like yours higher, that’s fine too. Whatever that measurement is, divide that number by 2 (because there’s a front and back piece) but then add an inch to that number (for seam allowances). You’ll need this number in the next step. [If that was confusing……here’s an example. If your waist is 30 inches around, divide that number by 2 and then add an inch. So, 16. Make sense?]
***However, if you don’t want your skirt fitted/snug at the top, add a couple inches to your waist measurement.
Now, place 2 rectangle pieces of ruffle fabric (or knit) together, with right sides together, with the ruffles going horizontally. Make sure that your ruffles are matching up on both pieces and that they’re facing the same way. Mark the center of your fabric at the top of the 2 pieces of fabric. Now, the number that you got in the explanation above is the measurement of the top of your skirt, for both the front and the back pieces. So, if your number is 16, like the example above, 16 inches will be the measurement at the top. So measure out 8 inches (or whatever your number would be) from the center point to the left and to the right and place pins to mark it. That would make 16 inches across the top. Starting at the marking pin on the right, begin cutting out into a diagonal, down the side of the fabric. This will create your gradual A-line on one side.
To make both side angles the same, fold over your top piece of fabric right at the center point, and fold it over to the left side of the fabric. Use that as your guide to cut the angle on the left.
 ***If this helps you some, here is the difference in my top measurement and bottom measurement. The bottom of the skirt measurement is 1.7 times bigger than the top measurement. So, using the example of 18 again from up above…….18 times 1.7 equals 30.6. So if the top of the skirt measured 18, the bottom would be about 30 inches. Your ratio can be different, but that’s what worked for me.
Now pin the front and back skirt pieces together at the sides.
But be sure that all your ruffles are laying the same way.
Then sew your sides together, using a 1/2 inc seam allowance. Then zig-zag (or serge) your edges for reinforcement.
Now, cut a piece of wide elastic (this is 3 inch but I’ve used 2 inch before too) that fits nicely around your waist. Not too tight but also tight enough to keep your skirt up. Cut about an inch or two extra to be able to overlap the ends and sew in place with a zig-zag stitch.
Then place pins at the bottom edge of the elastic at the center front and the center back and each side. Do the same with the top edge of the skirt.
Then pin the elastic to the skirt in those 4 places, overlapping by about a 1/2 inch. There will most likely be a little gaping because the skirt is probably is a little wider than your elastic. But that’s okay.
Slide your skirt onto your sewing machine and begin at one of your pins, sewing about a 1/4 inch from the bottom edge of the elastic. Be sure to use a zig-zag stitch so that it will still stretch while you try to put it on.Â
When sewing between each of the pins……..your fabric will pucker a bit (shown on the left). Just pull the elastic until it’s as long as the fabric and then sew. You may need two hands for this. Continue all the way around the skirt, pulling the elastic just a bit as you you sew each one of the 4 sections at a time.
Once you let go, the elastic will pull the fabric back in a bit. (Yours may be more or less than mine, depending on your measurements and how tight/loose you wanted your elastic.)
Now, trim the bottom length of the skirt, if needed (no need to hem this ruffle fabric), and you’re done!
Now try one for yourself!
 Enjoy!
-Ashley
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