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| Urban Outfitter’s Corner Ruffle Duvet Pure love at the low low price of $170. |
The first step is determining how many strips you will need. Because my math skills are (ahem) poor, I made sure I took notes to keep myself on track.
Then prepare to cut. Ask for assistance if necessary.
There are lots of options for finishing edges. If I owned a serger, I would have simply cut strips with my sewing shears, then serged the edges. I could also have sewn the edges with a fold-over and straight stitch, or quickly with a zig-zag stitch (no folding required). However, I really wanted a loose, shabby chic feel so I simply cut my strips with pinking shears.
For non-sewers, pinking shears will reduce fraying without requiring extra sewing.
Kiki and Company had wisely suggested making a variety of ruffle types to add volume and interest to the duvet.
Ruffle Type #1 – Single center ruffle.
This is what you think it is – sew down the middle of the strip and ruffle. To do this, you have some options.
- You can use a ruffling attachment to your sewing machine to quickly ruffle. I don’t have one, so that was out.
- You can sew a basting stitch (extra-long stitches) down the middle of the strip and hand-gather each. To quote Sweet Brown, Ain’t nobody got time for that.
- Or you can save a lot of time and scrunch the material as you’re sewing a standard straight stitch, essentially ruffling the material with a secure stitch as you go.
I didn’t take a picture of Ruffle Type #2 – Double stitched ruffle because it doesn’t look significantly different than type #1.
Imagine with me: Two rows of stitches, dividing the strip into thirds, instead of one center stitch. That’s all there is to it.
Ruffle Type #3 – Pleated tube.
Making this ruffle is a two-step process. First, sew your strip into a tube (place right sides together, stitch, turn inside out). Then hand-pleat the strip to make a ruffle. Sew down the center to secure.
Do I need to mention that it’s helpful to ask someone to check your work periodically?
Be aware: You will end up with more ruffles than you need. Better that than too few ruffles. That would be a sad day.
Once all of your ruffle strips are sewn, place your duvet cover on a large surface and begin laying out your ruffles.
Ask someone if it looks good to them, too.
Handy important frustration-reducing tip: If, like me, you use a premade duvet cover as your base, take time to rip out the side and bottom seams. This step will save a ton of time when you are in the midst of sewing on the ruffles because you’re working with a massive volume of material.
With seams ripped and ruffles placed, it’s time to begin pinning the ruffles in place for sewing. Again, make your life easy and pin the bottom edges of all strips to hold them in place as you’re working.
Next pin the first strip completely in place. This strip will serve as your guide for all consecutive strips.
Pin the remaining strips in place, then head to your sewing machine.
You may be freaking out because your strips aren’t long enough to go the length of the duvet. No worries! That’s why you made a ton of ruffles. As you get to the end of one ruffle while sewing, fold the edge of the new strip under and place on top of the sewn strip – about 1/2 inch before you get to the end of the old strip. That will both finish and hide that raw edge, making for a clean imperceptible full ruffle.
Take your time – and believe me, sewing on all of these ruffles takes some serious time.
As I said, you will have more ruffles than you need.
But that’s ok – you can find something fun to do with them. Like decorating the pillow shams that came with your duvet cover!
Isn’t it gorgeous?
Budget breakdown:
- $170 for Urban Outfitters (now out of stock)
- $25 for duvet cover at Ikea
- Sheets – had already (add in another $25 to buy, or purchase plain white fabric)
- One spool of thread $3 (I already had a partial spool)
Total cost: $28
Getting Bridget’s approval? Priceless.
