sewing Sewing is the craft of fastening pieces of textiles together using a sewing needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabric, archaeo ...

and

dressmaking A dressmaker, also known as a seamstress, is a person who makes clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Dressmakers were historically known as mantua-makers, and are also known as a modiste or fabrician. Notable dr ...

, a ruffle, frill, or furbelow is a strip of

fabric Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, and different types of fabric. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is no ...

lace Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is split into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...

ribbon A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Cloth ribbons are made of natural materials such as silk, cotton, and jute and of synthetic mate ...

tightly gathered or

pleat A pleat (plait in older English) is a type of fold formed by doubling textile, fabric back upon itself and securing it in place. It is commonly used in clothing and upholstery to gather a wide piece of fabric to a narrower circumference. Pleat ...

ed on one edge and applied to a

garment Clothing (also known as clothes, garments, dress, apparel, or attire) is any item worn on a human human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin s ...

bedding Bedding, also called bedclothes or bed linen, is the materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, protection of the mattress, and decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment ...

, or other textile as a form of trimming. Ruffles can be made from a single layer of fabric (which may need a hem) or a doubled layer. Plain ruffles are usually cut on the straight

grain A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit (caryopsis) – with or without an attached husk, hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and ...

. Ruffles may be gathered by using a gathering stitch, or by passing the fabric through a mechanical ruffler, which is an attachment available for some

sewing machines Diagram of a modern sewing machine Animation of a modern sewing machine as it stitches A sewing machine is a machine used to sew fabric and materials together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution ...

. A flounce is a particular type of fabric manipulation that creates a similar look but with less bulk. The term derives from earlier terms of ''frounce'' or ''fronce''. A wavy effect is achieved without gathers or pleats by cutting a curved (or even circular) strip of fabric and applying the inner or shorter edge to the garment. The depth of the curve as well as the width of the fabric determines the depth of the flounce. A godet is a circle wedge that can be inserted into a flounce to further deepen the outer floating wave without adding additional bulk at the point of attachment to the body of the garment, such as at the hemline, collar or sleeve. Ruffles appeared at the

draw-string A drawstring (draw string, draw-string) is a string, rope or lace used to "draw" (gather, or shorten) fabric or other material. Ends of a drawstring are often terminated with a sheath called an aglet. The ends may be tied to hold the drawstring ...

necklines of full

chemise A chemise or shift is a classic smock type of women's undergarment or dress. Historically, a chemise was a simple garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from sweat and body oils, the precursor to the modern shirts commonly worn in W ...

s in the 15th century and evolved into the separately-constructed

ruff Ruff may refer to: Places *Ruff, Virginia, United States, an unincorporated community *Ruff, Washington, United States, an unincorporated community Other uses *Ruff (bird) (''Calidris pugnax'' or ''Philomachus pugnax''), a bird in the wader famil ...

of the 16th century. Ruffles and flounces remained a fashionable form of trim, off-and-on, into modern times. In the 21st century, ruffles have made a significant comeback as a trendy design element in fashion, particularly in prom and wedding dresses. This resurgence can be attributed to a growing appreciation for romantic and feminine aesthetics, as ruffles add an enchanting flair to garments. Ruffles are versatile and can be incorporated into dresses of all styles, from elegant gowns to playful party dresses, making them appealing to women of all ages. Many renowned fashion brands have embraced this trend, showcasing ruffles as a key feature in their collections. High-end designers and fast-fashion labels alike produce chic items with ruffled details, highlighting their popularity in contemporary fashion. As a result, ruffles have become synonymous with elegance and celebration, allowing wearers to express their personal style while embracing this classic design element.

References

General and cited references

* Arnold, Janet: ''Patterns of Fashion: the cut and construction of clothes for men and women 1560–1620'', Macmillan, 1985. Revised edition 1986. () * Baumgarten, Linda: '' What Clothes Reveal: The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America'', Yale University Press, 2002. * ''

Oxford English Dictionary The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), a University of Oxford publishing house. The dictionary, which published its first editio ...

'' * Picken, Mary Brooks: '' The Fashion Dictionary'', Funk and Wagnalls, 1957. (1973 edition, ) * Smith, Alison: ''The Sewing Book'', Dorling Kindersley Press, * Tozer, Jane and Sarah Levitt, '' Fabric of Society: A Century of People and their Clothes 1770–1870'', Laura Ashley Press,

External links

* 15th-century fashion 16th-century fashion Fashion design Parts of clothing Sewing {{Fashion-stub

See also

References

General and cited references

External links