• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nikki, In Stitches

Wife, Mom, Maker

  • Blog
  • About
    • Meet Nikki
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
  • Make It Together
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

How To Hem Flowing Tulle Ruffles With Jewelry Wire? {A Sewing Tutorial}

Nikki · October 16, 2015 · Leave a Comment


As I mentioned in my last post, I am in the throes of some serious Halloween costume sewing these days. And I do mean serious.

My kitchen table is covered with yards of pink tulle that I push to the side for meals, then break back out when all the crumbs have been wiped away.

And if you’re a self taught seamstress like me, tulle could possibly be the most ‘unfun’ fabric to work with, right? It moves, it pulls, it slips and slides, (pins NEVER stay in it where you put them!!) but it’s pretty much a staple in most Halloween costumes. There’s no getting around it…especially this year, when I’ve been charged with making my five year old daughter into a mermaid queen.

I stumbled upon a great way to finish the edges of your tulle that I thought I had to share.

Not only does the finished edge help keep your tulle from fraying long after Halloween has passed and your finished work of art has found its way into your child’s dress up bin, but it also gives the edge a beautiful flow…no sharp edges or folds here!

Just waves and ripples of beautiful tulle, which really…let’s be honest.

If you’re going to spend the time (and by “time” I mean DAYS) to hand make a great costume, it should have waves and ripples…and also bring you a margarita on the rocks with salt…but hey. At this point, I’d take a room temperature cup of coffee as long as the end of this tulle was in sight.

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

Materials:

  • Tulle
  • Coordinating Thread 
  • Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies
  • Fishing line (Wait! I know! This is kind of crazy, right? But THIS is what gives the tulle the “ripples” and NOT the “folds” when you gather it! And one more thing! If you’re like me and enjoy one stop shopping, swap out the fishing line for the heaviest monofilament you can find in the jewelry department of your craft store…it will work the same way!)

Directions:

  1. Fold over and pin about a 1/4″ inch hem along the edge of your tulle, being sure the fishing line or monofilament is INSIDE the hem.
  2. Use a very skinny zig zag stitch to not only hold the hem in place, but keep the fishing line encased! (If you look up at the picture at the top of the post you can see the monofilament “shining” a little bit, trapped inside the hem!)
  3. Gather your tulle just like you normally would on the unfinished edge!

Ta Da! See that? One side is gathered, but the other side has flowing rolls, NOT bunches or folds! Great tick, right? Plus it adds a little more dimension to your fabric…not a margarita, or even a cup of room temperature coffee…but dimension, just what you (and your tulle) need. (Insert sarcastic face here!)

 

Filed Under: Blog, Sewing Tagged With: Ask Nikki, Finishing Touches, Halloween Projects, Sewing

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Wife. Mom. Maker.
A little bit of all of that goes here.
Read more.

Search DIY Tutorials

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • mail
  • pinterest
  • youtube

Categories

On My Work Table Today

Large Silhouette Stencils With Registration Marks I had some time to myself yesterday while the kids were outside sledding in the snow and felt inspired to do a little painting. Actually, the truth is, I started this months ago for my youngest and was feeling more than a little guilty that it still wasn't finished. I made one for my oldest over the summer and they're meant to be a set, … [Read More...] about Snow Day Painting

My Favorite Projects

How To Guarantee Perfectly Centered And Straight Designs With Your Silhouette Cutting System

February 6, 2018 By Nikki 4 Comments

Create Your Own Story Wall

August 16, 2016 By Nikki 2 Comments

Rustic Wooden Pallet Picture Frames

February 10, 2016 By Nikki Leave a Comment

My Recommendations

Silhouette Cutting Systems

DeWALT Tools

Oracle Vinyl

Home Decor Project Ideas

Copyright © 2021 · Daily Dish Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in · Privacy Policy