Tutorial: Refashion a T-shirt with a Ruffle Front

I like cutting apart tees and making them cuter.  Here is a tutorial on adding a bias tape with a matching ruffle to finish a cut edge.  A useful technique for adults and children's clothing.  First pick out a cute tee that need some new life!

This is what it will look when you are done.

 This is made with a ruffled piece of bias fabric and two pieces of unruffled bias that look like this and I am going to show you have to make them.  One is folded in half and gathered, the other is folded on both sides and folded again to make the bias tape (like the store bought kind)

The first step is to cut down the center front of the tee.  You do not need to finish the edge of knits so now go to the next step,  cutting some bias strips from some cute fabric.  I cut 2 1/2 in wide because I like that size when folded in half for the ruffle.  As you see here, the unruffled bias pieces are folded in half and in half again, all from the same 2 1/2 in wide strips.

About to make a Tee into a layering piece, love it.

Strips cut on the bias, I cut 2  1/2 inches wide.

Set aside two strips for the front of the t-shirt; get the rest ready for sewing together and making into a ruffle.

These strips will go down the two front sides.

Now pin the ends of the ruffle strips together end to end to make a long strip.  1/4" seam allowance is good.

Pin the strips this way and then sew.

Then to the ironing board to press the ruffle strips;  fold then in half lengthwise  and press.  Now you have a loooong strip ready to ruffle.  Wait, what to do with the other two pieces?  Fold and press them, too, but press each lengthwise end in to meet the middle of the strip, then fold again in half.  You will have two bias strips with the side ends tucked  in. See beginning photo for example.You will not ruffle these two pieces.

Now place a piece of dental floss or heavy thread or thin cord down on the seam allowance of the ruffle piece and zigzag over it.

I placed dental floss on the 1/4 seam allowance and zigzagged over it. Here you see the ruffle piece folded in half and I am sewing near the raw edge.

 When  you are thru zigzagging, either tie a big knot at  one tail end or loop the dental floss end around and around a pin that has been pinned in at the tail end of the piece.  After that, pull the floss until you get the kind of ruffle you want.

Pull the cord and lets ruffle, it is stronger and easier than two lines of running threads

At this point you have a ruffle- yea- and two pieces of bias tape, ok!  Almost done.  Sandwich the ruffle in between the bias tape and pin.  Ready for sewing.

Sewing the bias to the ruffle now.

Bias tape sandwich on the left and ruffle sandwiched in , now stitching it.

Laying it down so just the ruffle hangs over the edge, then pin.

Last step!  Lay the whole thing- you will have two pieces of bias tape with a ruffle- so lay it over the t-shirt edge and sew again.  I like to sew a double stitch, over the first row and then a second row so there is a row going down both side of the bias strip.

Double rows of stitching now to attach cute ruffle to the t-shirt.  Yes, if any zigs show, pick them out here and there.  No one is perfect.

Here is the end result, write me if you have any questions, I am going to do this on a small girl's Tee to show you how that looks so stay tuned.