How to Estimate Fabric for use with your Ruffler foot

by erika on June 25, 2011

ruffler_foot.jpg Have you seen our YouTube video on using the ruffler foot? In it, I reference the best book on pressor feet, "The Foot Book", available at your local Husqvarna Viking dealership. I can't think of a better way to say what they already have on the topic of estimating fabric for use with your ruffler, so what follows is a direct quote from their book:

Estimating Fabric
To determing the ratio of the fabric to the finished length of the ruffle, measure the ruffle strip before and then again after gathering.

Procedure
Cut a 20" test piece of fabric to be gathered. Cut it the same width the actual ruffle will be. Make a mark 5" in from each end. That leaves 10" in the middle which is the "test area". Gather the entire 20" length of fabric using the stitch length and tension that you want. Once it is gathered, make a note of the machine settings used and measure the gathered "test area". For example, if it is now 6", you'll end up with 6" of ruffle for every 10" of flat fabric that you start with. Divide the length of ruffle needed (let's say 300") by the length of the gathered "test area" (6" in this case) and multiply the result by 10. Example: 300" of ruffle is needed. 300 divided by 6 = 50. 50 x 10 = 500. So a 500" flat strip is needed in order to end up with a 300" gathered strip.

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Comments on this Post

Hello, I just purchased a ruffler foot, I am having problems with the thread bunching underneath the fabric when I sew, Although the top thread seems to be fine... What could be causing this ??
- dececo.km on October 11, 2011

I would rethread your machine, with the presser foot up to make sure the tension disks are open. It sounds like a tension issue - either the top thread is not in the upper tension, or the bobbin thread is not in its tension clip.
- erika on June 29, 2012

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