Make It Easy: DIY Elasticized Organza Ruffle Trim & Use Ideas

Today I've got a new how-to for making a beautiful and versatile trim: Elasticized Organza Ruffles! This technique makes it easy to create gorgeous ruffles with delicate ribbon.  It's useful for loads of applications and the elastic is totally hidden, so only the beauty of the ribbon shows. Use them as clothing detailing, straps, hair accessories - even as embellishments to favorite toys. 

Find out my shortcut way to make 'em, 

plus a bunch of fun & easy project ideas for using them:

Materials

- 1.5 inch wide Organza ribbon (2.5 times the finished length desired)

- 3/8 inch wide Lastin clear elastic 

- Lightweight fabric sewing machine needle

- Coordinating thread

- Item to embellish or pattern piece + fabric

I got some fantastic organza ribbon from BB Crafts.  These ribbon spools come in nearly 50 colorful, shimmery shades and have 25yds each so there's plenty for loads of projects. There are a lot of other great varieties of ribbon too.  And at less than ten cents per yard for these, very affordable.

The secret to easily making these amazing & stretchy ruffles is Lastin clear elastic. This is similar to what you see as clear bra straps & hanging loops in clothing, but much stronger and meant to be stretched.  It's pretty inexpensive (less than $1/yd) too. It's ideal to pair with organza ribbon because it's strong, has great stretch and is clear, so it will not show through the transparent ribbon.  And unlike just sewing ribbon directly onto fabric, this addition makes the ruffles perfect to use on knits or anywhere you still want to have some "give".

I find 1.5 inch wide ribbon ideal for my ruffle size, but you could go narrower or wider if preferred.  Flip ribbon wrong side up and place elastic cut to desired length on top in center. Back stitch together at end for a few stitches to anchor and then begin to stitch together with a narrow straight stitch while pulling the elastic towards yourself and downward.  Pull tauter for a tighter ruffle, or just slightly for a looser version.

You'll begin to see the ribbon ruffling up behind the presser foot:

I find it easiest to hold the end of the ribbon behind the machine with one hand while I pull the elastic with the other.  It helps keep everything straight and even:

Back stitch again at end.  I like to ruffle my ribbon right on the spool so I never end up short and then just cut off when done.  You'll end up with a pretty ruffle like this:

Project Uses:

Cuff Ruffles: I'm showing how to apply this as a cuff embellishment on pants, but the same steps would apply to a sleeve, neckline, etc.  I find it easiest to use a pant pattern that has a single piece for each leg (therefore, only one inside seam), but a front+back pattern works too, you just need to stitch the outer side seams together first.  Or, to add to completed pants, unpick the inside leg seam near the bottom to have the same flat panel to stitch on.

Measure the width of the pant leg (or cuff or whatever you are trimming).  Cut the clear elastic to be 2 inches longer so you have some wiggle room for starting & stopping.

Stitch the hem next.  This makes it easy to place the ruffles and not have to worry about accidentally top-stitching over them later:

Make ruffle as shown above.  Pin the organza ruffle directly over the hem stitching, pinning frequently to keep it straight:

Stitch down the center of the ruffle along the previous stitching.

Add another row (or more) of ruffles just above it (I spaced my stitching 2 inches apart) and then complete the pants as normal.

This really dresses up a plain item like these fleece pants into something fun & fancy:

Ruffled Ponytail Cover: Make a ruffle that's 2.5 to 3 inches long and fold it in half wrong side out. Stitch down the short end, cut off excess and heat seal raw ends with a lighter to prevent fraying. 

Turn right side out and you've got a cute little ruffled accent for ponytails.

Ruffle Hair Puff: Alternatively skip the elastic and just baste stitch down the center of a 12 inch strip of organza.  Pull the bobbin threads to make a little ruffle puff and double knot.  

Heat seal the raw edges and tie to an elastic band for another cute little hair poof-style accessory:

So simple but such a nice look for a ponytail:

Doll/Toy Clothing: Pair up both styles to make fantastic costumes for dolls and small toys like this My Little Pony.  They're easy for little hands to get on & off and are incredibly inexpensive to make , so you can create an entire toy wardrobe for next to nothing.  

My daughter literally gasped when she saw her pony all dressed up and then brought me 5 more that "needed outfits", so I obliged.  It literally took 5 minutes to whip up enough for them all.   Since they were looking chic we had to do a pony fashion show, all lit-up, catwalk-style.  Work it ponies!

Other Use Ideas: Use them to make elastic straps for shoes, bridal accessories (super easy garter), clothing straps - just about anything.  Organza ribbon makes ruffles even prettier! And since it's so inexpensive to make, the possibilities really are endless!  What would you try them on?

I'm also sharing this project with my FAVE LINK PARTIES.

Click HERE to check them out!

I received compensation for this post. The opinions are completely my own, based on my experiences. For my complete disclosure policy, see HERE.