Ruffled Bag Tutorial is Here!

June 6, 2012 by 13 Comments
I am linking this post up to Family Ever After’s “Pinspired…Rewired” Link Party.  I had seen ruffled tote bags all over on Pinterest.  Here is the bag that was my inspiration.  There wasn’t a pattern or tutorial so I came up with this one on my own. 

What you need:
1 tote bag
6 strips of fabric 3.5″xWOF.  4 strips are for the ruffles, 1 strip for the trim, and 1 strip is for the flower.  You can use ribbon instead of making the top trim.
1 button (I made a covered button)

Here is my lovely denim blag.  It measures about 12″ x 12″ not including the handles.  

 Cut your fabric into strips 3.5″ – this is a great Stash Buster project!!

Here are my fabrics

Do a narrow rolled hem along the 2 short sides of the 4 strips and the bottom of the strip. 

So the top of the strip is a raw edge.

 Turn your stitch length up to the maximum and sew 1/4″ gathering stitch along the raw edge of all 4 ruffle strips.  Then pull strings and gather each ruffle like this:

 Take your tote bag and mark a line 3″ from the bottom.

 Then mark 2″ from your first line.  Repeat every 2″ until you have 4 total lines drawn.

 Pin your bottom ruffle to the tote bag matching the raw edge of the fabric to your first marked line.  You kind of have to scrunch the bag to get it pinned.  This one is the hardest.  It SOOO doesn’t have to be perfect!

  Sew along your gathering stitch.  Again, this one is the hardest, the rest get easier.  You have to bunch it around your machine – but it will work!

Then go over your seam with a zig zag stitch to keep it all from fraying.
Repeat this process with each ruffle matching the raw edge of the ruffle with your marked line.  Stitch along your gathering stitches and then zig zag to finish.  You don’t have to zig zag the last ruffle because we will cover it.

 Take your “trim” piece of fabric and cut it so it is just slightly longer than your bag.

 Press this piece in half

 Then open it and press the two sides into the center fold.  Then bring these two sides together to make a trim piece with no raw edges. 

 Fold one end in and pin in place.  Adjust the length and trim if necessary.  Fold the other end in and pin in place.  Top stitch all the way around the trim piece.  You can totally use pre-made trim, double-fold bias tape, or ribbon.  Your bag is almost done!!  Just the flower is left!

 To make the flower, take your last 3.5″xWOF piece and fold in half – don’t press in half – you want it to puff a little.  Use your gathering stitch again and run it 1/4″ along the raw edge. 

Pull up the threads to ruffle – you want it as ruffled as possible – careful not to break the thread.  Since the fabric is double thickness, it needs a little extra care.
Then tuck the end of the fabric under so you can’t see it and start to twirl it around.  You can play around to get the look you want.  Here is where I got the hot glue gun out.  I added glue each time I turned.  You can sew it too.  I was just in a hurry:)  Once the flower is done I hot glued a fabric covered button in the center.  You can use any button that you like.  Then I hot glued it to the bag. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you get the chance to make one!

Signature

Filed Under: bags, crafts, sewing, tutorials

Comments

  1. Krysta says
    June 6, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    darling. I wish I had some girls to make some for!

    Reply
  2. Mary says
    June 8, 2012 at 3:04 am

    How clever and cute!

    Reply
  3. Alisha @ Crafty Brooklyn Army Wife says
    June 8, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    Adorable bag and great tutorial!! TFS!! Stopping by from Quilt Story linky party and your newest follower.

    Here is what I shared: http://craftybrooklynarmywife.blogspot.ca/2012/06/kids-roll-up-nap-blanket.html

    Reply
  4. Chris says
    June 15, 2012 at 3:09 am

    Hi Amanda, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

    Reply
  5. Rach H @ FamilyEverAfter says
    June 30, 2012 at 4:11 am

    Hey!!! Did you see that you won 2nd place in Pinspired and Rewired? CONGRATS!!! I can’t find your email address on your blog, so please email me soon so I can get your prize to you!!! Such a great bag! Rachel- familyeverafter at gmail

    Reply
  6. Asha Dsouza says
    May 20, 2013 at 5:31 am

    Hi Amanda, this is too cute bag.
    beautiful. i like.
    i will try to do the same.
    without frill.. it would be better.

    thanks for the idea.

    Reply
  7. jasa views instagram cepat masuk says
    February 21, 2026 at 12:53 pm

    It is thе ƅeѕt time to makе ѕome plans for thе lоng
    rսn and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this publish and if I
    may Ӏ want t᧐ suցgest youu some attention-grabbing tһings oг suggestions.
    Ρerhaps you coսld write subsequent articles referring t᧐ tһіs article.
    I wis to learn more tһings appproximately іt!

    mʏ blog: jasa views instagram cepat masuk

    Reply
  8. jasa backlink niche teknologi says
    February 21, 2026 at 10:16 pm

    Appreсiate this post. Let me trｙ it ᧐ut.

    Mу һomepage jasa backlink niche teknologi

    Reply
  9. cara membangun backlink says
    February 22, 2026 at 5:16 am

    After checking ⲟut a number of tһe articles on your blog,
    I tｒuly liкe your technique of blogging. I book-marked іt tօ my bookmark
    webpage list and wiⅼl be checking Ƅack soоn. Рlease visit mу website aas ԝell and tell me how you feel.

    mү hоmepage; cara membangun backlink

    Reply
  10. fungsi backlink says
    February 23, 2026 at 10:47 am

    You rеally make it aрpear realⅼy easy along wwith yοur presentation but Ӏ to fihd this matter t᧐ be actuaⅼly one thіng that I believe І’d never understand.
    It sort of feels tοo complex аnd very vas foｒ me. I am looҝing forward оn yߋur subsequent publish,
    Ӏ’ll attempt tо gеt the grasp of it!

    Aⅼso visit my pɑցе :: fungsi backlink

    Reply
  11. Backlink berkualitas says
    February 24, 2026 at 1:46 pm

    When I orriginally commented I clicked tһe “Notify me when new comments are added”
    checkbox аnd now eacһ time a commеnt iss addeⅾ I gｅt four е-mails with thе same commеnt.

    Is һere any wаy ｙou can remove people froim tһat service?
    Tһanks a lοt!

    Alѕo visit my web-site: Backlink berkualitas

    Reply
  12. jasa views reels instagram cepat says
    March 11, 2026 at 10:07 am

    Mү relatives еvery time sаy that I am wasting myy tіmе here at web, hօwever I knoѡ I am getting knowledge everyday by reading thes plrasant сontent.

    Ꮋere is my blog :: jasa views reels instagram cepat

    Reply
  13. beli play Spotify says
    March 13, 2026 at 7:13 am

    I’m noѡ not suyre ԝhеre yoս’re gettіng your info, however goօd topic.
    I neeԀs to spend a whijle learning more ߋr understanding m᧐ｒe.
    Thanks for ɡreat infoｒmation I was searching fοr this info foг my mission.

    Look into my web site … beli play Spotify

    Reply

Leave a Reply to jasa backlink niche teknologi Cancel reply

*