THE PERFECT
BALANCE
FABRIC
We used solid-colored light cottons
for the ruffle and top sections, paired
with patterned jersey knits with neutral
color patterns. While we did not back
our ruffle fabrics, we did back the
other materials to give the bag some
structure.
Now, the weight of the fabric you
choose to ruffle makes a difference. If
you choose a heavier fabric, you may
need to reduce the length of your
ruffle fabric. Alternatively, if you choose
a very light fabric, you may want to
increase the length. In total, your
finished ruffle strip should be as long as
your zipper, plus a 1⁄2” seam allowance
on both sides. Check out the specific
dimensions needed for each sized bag
design on the Materials List.
THREADS
There is nothing more annoying than
pulling your fabric into a ruffle, and
SNAP, the thread breaks, leaving your
ruffle to unravel. We used .007 monofilament
thread, which is clear, works
nicely with a 75⁄11” embroidery needle,
and is perfect for the ruffle, as it is super
strong. Another bonus is that once the
fabric is ruffled, you aren’t distracted
by a colored thread. Other than the
clear .007 mono-filament thread used
for the ruffle, we chose to match the
embroidery threads to their respective
fabrics. For the monogram element,
we chose a contrasting thread to draw
more attention to the monogram itself.
NOTIONS
Make sure you have a cute and
coordinating zipper set aside for this
project. You’ll also want to keep your
rotary cutter and ruler close by for a
super-straight cut!
MONOGRAMMED RUFFLE BAGS | PROJECT | 11