The Ruffler Foot is one of the best time saving attachments you can add to your sewing machine. This accessory is used to create perfectly spaced pleats and gathers. There are several adjustments that you can make to vary the look of the pleats, including the size and depth of the pleats. It's perfect for light weight fabrics and also medium weight fabrics.
The existing presser foot will need to be removed from your Singer Sewing Machine before attaching the Ruffler Foot attachment.
The Ruffler Foot attachment has an arm that slides around the needle clamp and moves up and down with the movement of the needle. This movement causes the Ruffler to tuck the fabric in as you sew. Attaching the Ruffler to the machine can take some practice. It's helpful to loosen to screw or remove it altogether while maneuvering it on the presser foot holder and
sliding the arm around the needle clamp. Be sure to tighten the screw securely.
Near the top of the attachment is the Ruffle Regulator. This is used to determine the frequency of the tucks.
You can set it to make a tuck every stitch, every 6th stitch or every 12th stitch; or it can be set to zero if you do not want it to tuck at all.
The Ruffler Foot allows you to determine not only the frequency of the fabric tucks, but also the depth of the tucks. Turn the Adjusting screw near the front or side of your machine. This will adjust the amount of fabric pushed into the attachment each time it makes a tuck in the fabric. Turn the screw and slide the adjusting bar towards the right to make deeper tucks. Turn the screw toward the left to make shallower tucks.
Tip: Always perform a test on a swatch of fabric before sewing on your project. Make the appropriate adjustments to create the look you wish to achieve.
To begin, place the fabric into the Ruffler Foot, bringing up the fabric, right side facing up, into the Fabric Guide so it is underneath the "prong", but over the Separator Blade. The Fabric Feed Plate should be resting on the fabric. Lightly push the fabric feed plate toward the back, lower the presser foot, then lower the needle into the fabric, then begin to sew.
Not only can the Ruffler Foot attachment can make pleats in a single layer of fabric, it can also create pleats while simultaneously stitching the pleats to a flat piece of fabric. Place the fabric to be ruffled, face down into the attachment as usual. Then place the fabric that is to remain flat, facing up underneath the separator blade. Lower the needle to start the seam, then sew. When you are finished sewing... the ruffle will be stitched to the edge of the flat fabric!
Sewing Inspiration
Petticoats - Gathering tulle for petticoats or underskirts can be quite tedious and time consuming. In one step, the Ruffler Foot attachment creates beautiful and even gathers which are ready to sew the the base fabric.
Imagine the time you will save! For the best results, use a fine tulle or netting with small holes. Tulle with larger holes can get caught on the teeth of the Ruffler Foot attachment.
Create an interesting cuff for a sleeve or band for the bottom of a skirt - Tired of using the usual hem or cuff? Use the Ruffler Foot attachment to create a beautiful pleated band to your garments!
The Ruffler Foot attachment can be used with many different types of fabrics.
Using a soft fabric like chiffon will result in softer pleats, while a more structured fabric like silk dupioni, will result in crisper pleats.
Here is a little hint: It is much easier to hem the bottom edge of the fabric first before creating the pleats.
Pleat ribbons or narrow strips of fabric to embellish towels, pillows and garments. Try experimenting with the various settings on the Ruffler Foot to achieve different looks. Thread the ribbon through the guide slots in the Ruffler Foot to help keep the ribbons from slipping out of the attachment while sewing.
When the ribbons are gathered, use a straight stitch to secure the base fabric. The possibilities are endless!
French Puffing - French Puffing is an heirloom sewing technique where a gathered strip is inserted in between two flat pieces of fabric. Typically, there are several steps in creating French puffing. Using the Ruffler Foot Attachment eliminated several of those steps because you can gather the strip and sew it to the flat fabric all at the same time.
When one side is finished, turn the strip around, gather and attach a second flat piece of fabric to the other side, and voila.... you have got beautiful French Puffing!