Are you even possibly ready for the cuteness that is about to be rained down on you?!
The answer is no. You are not ready.
Grab an umbrella because today’s post is all about RUFFLES!
(I don’t get to say that word very much with two little boys in the house so you have to indulge me….plus, I kinda am in charge of this blog sooooo……RUFFLES! RUFFLES! RUFFLES!)
Seriously though, my goal was to make this way back before Haven happened and give it to Clara when the Petersiks came to visit…but then I got pregnant and tired and lazy and found myself breastfeeding with one arm while shoving Cheez-It’s into my mouth with the other while laying on the floor. You’re welcome for that visual. So without delay, I’d love to show you what I sent much later on…after the cheesy baked snack coma was over….
Ruffles are the reason I need a girl in my life. Ruffles and bows and headbands and furry boots and glitter undergarments. Will only lets me put those things on him once in a blue moon 🙂
So the way I did was like this….first I grabbed my phone (because that is where my coupons are found) and then I went to Hobby Lobby. They have an entire section of premade aprons for children for about $3 a piece. With your coupon, it comes out to be about $1.50.
Then pick out your fabric. I got all these remnants at a local fabric store that carries scraps from other bigger stores (like Joann’s and such) and sells them really cheap ($1-$3 a yard) so these little bits of different fabrics cost me maybe three more bucks.
I picked out different fabrics and various designs based on what I thought Clara would like. She’s definitely into pink so I went hard core with that one.
Then I cut the strips. They were about 4 1/2″ wide by the length of the fabric (mine was all 44″ long).
Then came the tedious task of ironing. I hate ironing but it really does help with little sewing projects. Iron both sides and then press down your seams like below so that you can hem the edges of each ruffle.
After you hem all your ruffles (around the bottom, top and sides), it is time to attach the ruffles to the apron. Starting at the bottom, you want to line up your first pieces so that it covers the bottom part of the apron completely.
Then plan accordingly. This helped me…to lay out the fabric for each layer so I wasn’t surprised later when the fabrics didn’t look good together or there was two pinks next to one another.
So if you are a professional sewer…get outta here. If you are like me and barely can sew a straight line, then this is how I do ruffles…get the piece of fabric lined up and ready at the correct location (pin if necessary).
Lay the piece of fabric flat on the machine (and sew about an inch and then backstitch).
Then jam the fabric under the foot and sew simultaneously. This will create the ruffles. I have tried doing it with long stitches and pulling one thread…but my thread always breaks or my fabric ruffles weird…so now I do the stitch and jam method. Continue pushing the fabric under the foot as you sew but make sure you have enough fabric at the end so all the ruffling isn’t at one end and not the other.
Repeat, repeat, repeat. Then time to sew on the ribbon. I just attached mine with a stitch on top and bottom and then did the sides with the ribbon folded around the back.
The ruffles KILL me. Like fifth degree manslaughter. DEAD.
Off it went and about a month ago when we went to visit our friends, I snapped this picture of her looking too hot to trot.
Are you dead yet? I can’t wait till the day comes where I add stuff like this to every single piece of clothing. I even contemplated dressing Weston up in ruffles and bows one day (he wouldn’t know, right?!) just so that I can pretend…then I remembered that Jeremy might kill me. Oh well, I’d already be dead from the cuteness 🙂
Absolutely ADORABLE! May you have ruffles and bows in your future SOON!!!
Any chance of a recap of your visit to VA?
Sounds like someone is having a girl! Congrats!
After two boys, I’m also praying for a girl just for this reason. RUFFLES! AND ALL THE PINK THINGS! I spend extra time during every trip to Hobby Lobby to stop and stroke all of the beautiful, girly fabrics that I may never get to use!
ruffle cheat method #2 – turn your tension up as high as it will go and feed that ruffle through- it pops out on the other side totally ruffled up! Yes, I’m can sew, but yes, I am also lazy. 🙂
I’m in love with that. I have a little boy (& another little boy on the way) so I totally get your need for ruffles in your life! Now my friends and family need to have girls so I can make one!!
I have two boys and occasionally, I like to put a bow or girly hat on them. The 4 year old has gotten wise and doesn’t want to wear a girly hat. The 17 month old is still clueless, thankfully. I hope you get a girl this go-round. Although, boys are so delicious, aren’t they? And they love their mamas. Will you find out? You didn’t with the other two, right?
Super cute 🙂
Oh Katie B. this is adorable! I sure hope you have a little girl!
So when are we going to find out if this baby is a boy or girl?
Turned out really cute Katie! Love the fabric combo. -Fellow ruffle-less mother of two young boys 🙂
Too stinkin’ cute! Do we know the gender of B3?
Adorable! Nicely done 🙂
Ah! Fingers crossed for a girl! Though you and Jeremy make such cute boys, I wouldn’t complain about another one.
I would pay you in cheeze it’s to make me a ruffled bed skirt with those fabrics!!! 🙂 I love that combo!!
Does “I can’t wait till the day comes where I add stuff like this to every single piece of clothing” mean that you are preggo with a GIRL????
OH man I thought this was a gender reveal! I was thinking yep she is definitely having a girl….hmmm I would think you might know by now? Just keeping it secret??
Clara is a doll! Love this apron and all the ruffles. Totally adorable!
PS-I thought this was going to be a Baby Bower gender announcement…oh well, I’ll wait patiently. 🙂
Adorable! Now if I could get past the step of threading the bobbin or whatever its called on my sewing machine, I’d give this a whirl. Need Grandma to help me!!!
This is adorable! I appreciate your non-professional sewing tutorials. I’m the same way; I just wing it until it looks about right. My sister, who is very much a pro seamstress, laughs at the way I cut fabric/tie off threads/make patterns, but hey, it works!
No one has ever made me wish that I could be a stay at home Mom with time to do the fun projects you do until YOU. I LOVE the ruffle apron and I even think I might be able to make it over Thanksgiving. Great idea! I love it. Thanks for helping some of us by giving us ideas that we can actually achieve. I think you are awesome and I wish I could be you when I grow up. Oh wait…I am older than you! LOL!
Super cute!! While I’m DYING over the cuteness of this apron (I know several little girls in my life that would love this including my 13 month old), I like many of your readers are DYING to know the sex of the baby currently occupying your uterus!!! AND to find out how you broke the news to Jeremy and the boys! (That video last time made me shed a tear while watching it at work. Probably didn’t help that I too was pregnant, hormonal, and had been following your journey and was SO happy for you.) You and Sherry are KILLING me over here; obvi in a good way, but I can’t go on!!
So cute! I need to know are you going to find out if baby love is a boy or a girl?!
Love the apron! I’ve also struggled with ruffles and pleats before and I’ll be trying this method next time!
Does this mean you’re having a little girl?!
Gah! I hear ya! I love to sew but there are no ruffles over here either, my Wyatt and Weston need a sista! (but not too soon, I’m not ready for baby all over again, he’s still crawling!) Any time a friend/neighbor talk about wanting a Christmas dress or curtains or anything for a girl, I nearly JUMP DOWN THEIR THROATS to volunteer to help sew it, just to be able to TOUCH those cute ruffles and lace! Okay, now I sound like a creeper… 🙂
I’m sure I won’t be the only person who suggests that maybe Clara will still like ruffles when she and Will get married. 🙂
Beautiful. I hope baby #3 is a girl so there will be plenty of ruffles in your future. Will you be finding out the baby’s gender?
Love the apron you’d be such a girlie mom. I have a daughter and while I dress her up cute as a button I will admit I don’t do ruffles sewing on anything. When do you find out gender of this baby or are you wanting to be surprised?
For any future ruffles in your life, zig zag stitch over a piece of dental floss. Be careful not to stitch on the floss. Once stitched on, just pull the fabric down the floss for easy ruffles! Much easier and more durable than long stitches! Happy Sewing!
Love this! I made one of these for my sister last year. Have you tried making the ruffes by adjusting your tension? Super easy 🙂 Google it and you’ll never go back!
Super cute idea! I need to do this for my girls. If only I had a sewing machine… or could sew….
Very cute!! Are you going to find out the gender of your baby? I hope you are having a little girl 🙂
Very cute! So, when do we find out if you are going to get your little girl fix with baby # 3? Do you know the gender yet?!?!
That is just so fabulous! I want a little girl so I can make this for them!! And so cheap too!
Ughhhh I saw the ruffles and thought this was a sex reveal post! You’re killing me Katie!
Cute apron BTW! Love how all the fabrics work together.
Katie,
That’s such a cute apron.I’m inspired to make those for my girl’s birthday make-your-own-pizza party
I hope and pray you are having a girl in there. I can only imagine what all cute things future projects will hold.
Are you revealing the sex?
~chitra
Did I miss a gender reveal for #3? It would be sweet to see you as a mom to a little girl. I have two girls and dream about having a little boy, but no more babies for me :-/
Adorable!! I had my day with ruffling tulle (NOT EASY) for my cake table at my wedding and luckily had a ruffler foot, but soon that has to go back to it’s rightful owner. The next time I ruffle, I try your technique.
Puh-lease tell me that this is the beginning of your gender reveal for Baby Love!? Pretty please? Come on Bower relatives – this blog reader is dyin’ to know!!!
🙂
Nicole B.
do you know what you are having? perhaps this is a hint to us?
That apron is adorable! I hope you get to be blessed by having a little girl someday so you can go ruffle-crazy all the time!
Oh my goodness! Too cute for words! Anyhow, I just took a sewing class at. Joann’s last night and was looking online today for easy sewing projects especially the gifting type. Thank you for this tutorial!
So is this an announcement in code?? When do you find out what you’re having? Inquiring minds want to know! 😉
Just adorable 🙂
So adorable! I have 3 little boys so there are no ruffles in my house either unless I go get some for myself. Ok, just added that to the grocery/shopping list. Thank you!
I love you in The Hunger Games.
Hi Katie! Can you share the name of the local fabric store? I think my inlaws live close to your area! My MIL would love a good deal on some fabric!
Hope you find out your having a girl so you can enjoy those ruffles everyday!!!! 🙂
Too dang cute that girl is! The apron is absolutely darling, too. 🙂 I sure hope you get a little pink loving girl this time.
My grandson is 8-mts tomorrow and this weekend we learn that once again we will be grandparents.
Another easy way to ruffle is to pick up some strong really thin cording *bought mine at Hobby Lobby. Sew one end down to the edge of the fabric you’re going to ruffle and zig-zag over the top … missing the cording of course. Pull the cording therefore ruffing your fabric and the thin cording won’t break like thread. Get fabric to size you need, sew it down, then snip out the cording and discard. Easy peasy. I have a ruffler for my machine but it’s a total pain for small jobs. Hope this helps.
Jake’s a Girl
Very cute! I’m curious if you’re finding out what the sex is of the new baby.
It turned out adorable!
I’m a very amateur seamstress but my sister showed me an awesomely easy way to create ruffles when you don’t have a ruffler. Use a zigzag stitch over a cord (being careful not to sew into the cord). Once that is done you can secure the fabric on one side and push the fabric down the cord. Pin to your fabric and sew it down (avoiding the cord). Once that’s done you can pull the cord out and voila!
Here’s a website that shows it better.
http://www.happytogethercreates.com/2012/05/how-to-make-ruffle-zig-zag-style.html
I’m glad my sister showed me because I love ruffles!
Those are CUTE! Great job Katie, thanks for sharing. I’m hoping to learn to use a sewing machine new year, there’s so many little projects I’d like to try my hand at.
I thought from the title this was going to be a gender reveal post!! When is your ultrasound? How much longer do we have to wait? 🙂
As cute as your boys are, I hope your #3 is a girl! I have a 4 year old girl who is both girly and tomboy-ish. My almost 2 week old is a boy so I’m definitely enjoying the more simple side of clothing options this time around.
Where is the fabric store that you find the remnants. I like in the Atlanta area too.
I love this tutorial!!! I have three adorable nieces who would love this from their auntie for christmas 🙂 I don’t comment on here often, but read every post. Your ability to mix humor, sarcasm and emotion is powerful and so real. Thanks for all you do!
Love,
a (awesome) fellow former home-schooler 🙂
Very cute! If you are having a girl, indulge in the cutesy while you can. I’m glad I did cause my 13 year old no longer wears ruffles or anything cutesy anymore. I nearly painted my 10 month old sons toenails. I told my hubby I was going to paint them and that it would be okay because I would paint them blue for “boy”. Ha
So cute!!
So cute!! I have two boys and know that someday I will have the girl I’m supposed to have:) by the way, I know you’ll tell us when you’re ready, but….do you know what you’re having yet? 🙂
The apron is absolutely adorable and looks so cute on Clara. How did she like it? It needs to be displayed on a hook by “her” kitchen. Yes, you and ruffles go together for sure. Girls rock!!
I think she liked it ok…she was very occupied making sure Will was using the kitchen stuff correctly so she wasn’t into modeling it too long 🙂
xo – kb
It’s called the Fabric Mart I believe and it’s in Stone Mountain on East Park Place.
xo – kb
We do know what it is but we are waiting till we tell my grandparents in person before announcing it online. We should see them at Thanksgiving.
xo – kb
We do know the gender but we are waiting till we tell my grandparents in person before announcing it online. We should see them at Thanksgiving.
xo – kb
I think it’s called Fabric Mart and its in Stone Mountain next to K&G warehouse.
xo – kb
HAHA! Oh Jen…I wish I said that to you that first time I met you.
xo – kb
We do know what it is but we are waiting till we tell my grandparents in person before announcing it online. We should see them at Thanksgiving.
xo – kb
We do know what it is but we are waiting till we tell my grandparents in person before announcing the gender online. We should see them at Thanksgiving.
xo – kb
No clues until we tell my grandparents in person. Then we’ll announce it online. We should see them at Thanksgiving…so only a bit more.
xo – kb
Oh so exciting!!! Totally understand. Can’t wait 🙂
I’m exited to be pregnant with you again! My second will be one next week & I’m currently 8 weeks along with #3. Not quite as crazy spacing as your #2&3 but my first will only be 3 in March. So a different kind if crazy here!
We do know what it is but we are waiting till we tell my grandparents in person before announcing it online. We should see them at Thanksgiving so after that!
xo – kb
I have done that but it was a complete mess. It could be my cheap machine.
xo – kb
Ok, not sure why my reply ended up on this string vs with my initial comment…silly phone.
We do know but we are gonna keep it to family until we tell my grandparents in person 🙂
xo – kb
Yes! We already know but are waiting till family is told before announcing it.
xo – kb
STILL CRAZY! I think anytime anyone has two kids under three, its a little nuts.
xo – kb
Yes! We did find out!
xo – kb
HAHA! Will asks me to paint his nails if he sees me doing mine so I give him one line in the middle of one nail and we call it a ‘racing stripe’…that’s manly right?! 🙂
xo – kb
Nope…you didn’t miss it yet 🙂
xo – kb
We will once our family all knows.
xo – kb
We did find out and are planning on telling my grandparents in person soon…so after that we are gonna share with the world 🙂
xo – kb
We did find out!
xo – kb
We do. We are planning on revealing right after we tell all our family.
xo – kb
We did find out already 🙂 We did with Will and Weston too.
xo – kb
I do know but it is a secret till my family knows. We are gonna tell my grandparents this Thanksgiving so we will be announcing it after that.
xo – kb
It means exactly what it says 🙂 No announcement yet!
xo – kb
I need to! We have some of the cutest pictures 🙂
xo – kb
It was just a gift for my Will’s girlfriend…no clues either way!
xo – kb
Oh man, now I can’t wait until after Thanksgiving for the gender reveal!! I love this apron. I’m a failed sewer but I’ve heard of a ruffle presser foot that I thought did ruffles? Maybe I made that up since no one has mentioned it yet, but I thought it was just for ruffling. Anyway, great job on the apron!
So cute!! I used to make ruffles with sewing the stitch in it and pulling.. Went over to my mom’s house one day to finish a ruffle project.. She saw what I was doing started laughing and says wait a minute. The lady switches out the foot on her sewing machine and I give her the fabric and BAM! she has a specific foot that does ruffles… After I picked my jaw up off the floor and cursed a few words and her response was I thought everyone has a ruffle foot for their sewing machines.. Needless to say I ruffle things now just for the fun…
Probably after Thanksgiving. We are telling my grandparents when they come down and then we will announce 🙂
xo – kb
Somebody probably already said this but I’m too lazy to read all the comments so I’ll just say it again….did you know they make a special foot for your sewing machine called a ruffler? Well I call it a ruffler, not sure if thats the official name. But its just for making ruffles! ruffles! ruffles! And if there’s a little girl bean in your belly…it may come in handy 😉
So exciting! We have our gender reveal at Thanksgiving too! It’s our first! I’m desperately hoping for PINK!
Katie! This is so stinking cute!! I would like to commission one in adult size, please! p.s. I’m also a stitch and jam ruffler.
And your new short haircut looks amazeballs. 😉
So cute! I am going to make one for my granddaughter. I will not be using the stitch and jam method though; it never works right for me. I always end up with little ruffles on one side and big ruffles on the other. 🙂
ahhhh…the suspense!
Your “Oh well, I’d already be dead from the cuteness”, just cracked me up. Hope you get as much laughter and joy from the day as you give to others! Your posts help to give me insight into my daughters life as she mothers my grandson (3) and my granddaughter who is turning 1 in a couple of weeks. This apron idea may come in handy someday even though I am probably in the minority as a grandma who doesn’t like to sew!
Adorable.
The good news is that so many folks had different methods to make ruffles here in the comments!
xo – kb
I’m not sure, three little boys all in a row would be so wonderful! As long as the baby’s healthy, right????
Adorbs apron. Good job preggie lady. Guess what, I am too! Haven’t told anyone yet though… except the interwebs now… hah!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this. This is so adorable and Clara looks so proud in her ruffles.
I think I’m going to have to make these for my nieces for Christmas!
CONGRATS! And you are right…healthy is what I want…cliché and all…as long as the baby comes out and we get to go home together…that’s what counts 🙂
xo – kb
Second that ahhh!!!!
This is adorable. I’m thinking of making one for my daughter. I’m not a sewer and a little confused by your instructions. When you pined the ruff on did you pin the fabric straight/flat to the fabric? Or did you make little tucks and pin?
And can you explain this statement? “Then jam the fabric under the foot and sew simultaneously”, sorry for the annoying questions, I just really think this will be a great DIY present for my daughter and probably a few other friends kids.
Adorable! And I love that you used a premade apron as a base, that’s a fantastic idea! Can’t wait for the big gender reveal! I have one of each, and it turns out boys and girls aren’t as typical as I expected. My daughter is definitely the high energy, spirited, bold one, and my son is a little sweetheart – so gentle and quiet. So much for stereotypes! Also, and this probably seems random, but I noticed you mention breastfeeding while you are pregnant. I’ve never known anyone who tandem nursed. Do you plan to continue after #3 arrives? If that’s too personal just ignore my question. A post about all that would be interesting though. 🙂
Going to have to make one of these for my 4 year-log granddaughter. I bought a cookie press yesterday just so we could make cookies together.
Yay!!! Please share soon…mmmmkay? 🙂
I have 3 boys and so my 20 month old daughter (the youngest) has a very girly room. Her bed shirt was made with ruffles and I found this handy tip online to make them super easy. Take some finishing line and zigzag stitch over it (I knot it on a bobbin to keep it at the end of my fabric). Pull fabric to ruffle and pin like crazy. The ruffle with always be even and the line doesn’t break! Hope that makes sense…. Can’t wait to hear what you are having 🙂
I did nurse while pregnant but Weston is officially weaned at 10.5 months of age. I would have loved to go a full year but he was just not into it (no comfort nursing for my boys!) and my milk supply was low (and I’ve heard it can change taste with pregnancy) so he decided to go on strike and never return. I tried for two more weeks but at that point it was done. I was really glad that I got to nurse and be pregnant for so long though.
xo – kb
I pin the ruffle on flat at the beginning just to sew that first inch forward and then back…then I push the fabric up and make little tucks as I press on the trigger foot 🙂
xo – kb
It’s just tooo cute! RUFFFFLES!!!
That is the cutest apron ever! I’m going to have to try the stitch and jam method…just gotta determine what to ruffle!
Cute, cute, cute!! Years ago I learned from a seamstress to zigzag over dental floss to create perfect ruffles. The waxed floss allows your fabric to slide easily as it gathers up.
Thank you for not making me feel like the only person who doesn’t do well making ruffles the “normal” way! I will now be trying the stitch and jam method so that I can ruffle to my heart’s content! 🙂
Ok, very excited to know what you are having (and hoping you get a girl this time around). However, I feel like I need to give you fair warning about glitter clothes for girls. Glitter clothes are really a family decision because as soon as you pick up your glittery child or put glitter clothes in the wash and even allow glitter anything over the threshold of your doorstep, your ENTIRE family will be finding glitter all over you from that moment until eternity. It’s a small price to pay so my 2 year old daughter can be glittery now and then, but my poor little baby boy (whose 4 months old) has turned up with glitter randomly on him since pretty much the day we brough him home. And it always ends up on our faces somehow, like we prepared to go out clubbing instead of to go to work/day care.
Katy, this is beyond awesome!!! My friend and I do a daily preschool for our 3 year old little ladies and they would be on cloud 9 to have these. Perfect timing because we are doing a agriculture/food unit in a couple weeks. Just brainstorming, you think there is some kind of way we can incorporate them in making the aprons? Maybe sewing tape to hold the ruffles down? Never tried it, have you? Does it hold up well? Would love to hear any ideas you have.
I think that most of this would be over a three year olds skill set but I think if I were to try to do something with Will, I would probably give him the task of picking the fabrics and ribbon, then I would use hem tape instead of sewing all the hems and have him help me fold and pin and I would probably have him help me ‘iron’ (I would give him a pretend iron to go over the fabric after I heated it…so he could feel the difference between hot and cold) and then I would have him help push the pedal when I sew the ruffles. I would probably not use the hem tape on the ruffles themselves because there are a lot of folds and it probably wouldn’t hold all that fabric well through washes and such. You could sew a small pocket at the top of each strip and have the girls push a yarn needle with yarn up the pocket to make the ruffles…then sew on. Just thoughts!
xo – kb
I know it’s not the same as ruffles, but you could paint aprons with the kids. They are always down for paint! 🙂
So cute! How much longer should the ruffle material be than the length of the item you are ruffling?
The bottom ruffle should be about an inch longer than the apron…if that makes sense.
xo – kb
I just made this for my niece for Christmas. I added her name in rhinestones for a little more diva look. I hope she loves it!
I have been looking for an apron for my 1 year old daughter for a while now, but never found anything I liked. Then I read this tutorial and had to do it. I have already made one for my niece and now on to making one for my daughter!