There is a subtle difference between ruffles and gathers. Ruffles are decorative frills made of fabric gathered or pleated and attached to another piece of fabric, while gathering is a sewing technique used to create ruffles. Therefore, gathers create ruffles.
Ruffles and gathers are decorative elements that make garments more attractive. They are usually used for cuffs, sleeves, and waistbands of garments. We also use these elements in other sewing projects like pillow covers, quilts, and curtains.
Key Areas Covered
1. What are Ruffles
– Definition, Features
2. What are Gathers
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities – Ruffles and Gathers
– Outline of Common Features
3. Difference Between Ruffles and Gathers
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Gathering, Gathers, Ruffles, Sewing
What are Ruffles
Ruffles are decorative frills made of fabric gathered or pleated and attached to another piece of fabric. We mainly use ruffles in sewing to add more decoration and embellishment to garments. In garments, ruffles are usually added to the neck, wrist, or waist. We can also use ruffles for other decorative sewing projects for home decors – pillows, curtains, potholders, bedsheets, etc. Ruffles have a long history. In fact, they were an essential item in Victorian fashion. Today, many high-fashion garments have ruffles.
To create ruffles, you only have to gather or pleat a strip of fabric, which will result in a frill you can attach to the edge of a garment. You can make them by hand or by machine. Depending on their use, you either gather the ruffles along one edge or in the center. There are two main types of ruffles as straight ruffles and circular ruffles. The former is cut in the shape of a strip, so it needs to be gathered to attain fullness. Circular ruffles, on the other hand, are made with a circular shaped fabric, and they give fullness once the inner edge is straightened and sewn into a seam.
What are Gathers
Gathers create basic ruffles. Gathering is the sewing technique we use to create gathers and ruffles. Gathering decreases the length of a piece of fabric. Therefore, we can use gathering to attach a longer piece of fabric to a shorter one. It can create a source of fullness. We usually use gathering for cuffs, sleeves, and waistbands of garments. For example, when we attach a full sleeve to an armscye or when we attach a skirt to a bodice.
We can do gathering either by hand or machine. Generally, this sewing technique only requires a basic stitch. We usually make parallel rows of running stitches along one edge of the fabric. Then we have to pull these stitching threads so that small folds are created in the fabric along the threads. The following video explains how to create gathers.
Similarities Between Ruffles and Gathers
- Ruffles and gathers are decorative elements that make garments more attractive.
- Moreover, we usually use them for cuffs, sleeves, and waistbands of garments.
Difference Between Ruffles and Gathers
Definition
Ruffles are decorative frills made of fabric gathered or pleated and attached to another piece of fabric while gathering is the sewing technique used to create ruffles.
Elements
The gathering is a sewing technique, while ruffles are decorative elements created with this technique.
Conclusion
Ruffles are decorative frills made of fabric gathered or pleated and attached to another piece of fabric while gathering is the sewing technique used to create ruffles. Therefore, gathers create ruffles. Therefore, there is only a subtle difference between ruffles and gathers.
Reference:
1. “Basic Ruffles and How to Sew Them.” Doina Alexei.
2. “Create Perfect Gathers.” Seamwork.
3. “What Are Ruffles?” The Quilt Show.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Clothes Fashion Dress Summer Style Design Genre” (CC0) via Max Pixel
2. “Gathering Technique” By Love to Sew Studio – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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