Ruffles

I had forgotten how completely tedious sewing ruffles is.  What I thought was going to be a super simple, whip it out in an hour, type of project was decidedly not.  

Our lounge chair cushion is torn and discolored and I couldn't find a good replacement for it that would match the chairs.  So, inspired by this picture on Instagram, I decided to make a shabby floral cover for it.  

I originally ordered the prettiest faded floral fabric from Carousel Designs but after pre-washing it I realized that I didn't have enough yardage.  It is also a very lightweight cotton and I was going to have to line it with another fabric.  So I'll save that fabric for another project.  

I wasn't able to find anything online or in stores that was quite what I was looking for so I turned to Etsy and found this fabric, which is actually a vintage bedsheet from France.  It is a nice weight cotton and I figured it was about as pre-shrunk and as faded as it was ever going to be.  

I had my fabric cut out and was ready to go when the ruffling and my sewing machine started giving me fits.  I tried the high tension, long stitch method but my machine kept skipping stitches – like two inches worth.  It also wasn't gathering it very much so I tried a variation where you also pinch the thread between your fingers to give it more tension.  Too much evidently and when I tried to ease up the ruffles the thread would break.  I finally settled on the string and zig-zag stitch method which was better but still kept dropping stitches.  

If you look closely you can see where stitches are dropped.  It wasn't as bad because I could always go back over the areas that needed it.  I did try swapping bobbins, rethreading the machine, switching out the needle.  What I finally figured out was my thread was shredding and after I switched that out things picked up.  

After ruffling over 33 linear feet of fabric I was over it.  

I love the sprays of lilacs in the fabric.  Just to the left of the lounge chair is a lilac bush.  It also picks up the statice right behind it too.  

My friend asked if I was all caught up on my projects and it turns out I am!  Except for the dollhouse which I can/should focus on.  The greenhouse is done, my slip cover is done.  I might try my hand on making some dresses for my granddaughter.   I could also focus on the Halloween party invitation and my costume.  Halloween always sneaks up on me and I find myself frantically trying to get invitations out and my costume finished.  I already know what I am going to be and one component of the costume might be tricky to find.  

Happy Monday everyone!  Enjoy the week.