Rob: We have been having so much fun, my daughter Ruby and I, here on the set of Man Sewing
creating some fun tutorials for you. Hopefully you’ve all watched the doll quilt. Today
we’re going to show you how to do the bed skirt and the ruffle. Let’s get started.
Ruby: That’s right. We showed you in the past video how to make the quilt. Here you
go, dad. Rob: And you did a great job on that, by the
way. Ruby: Thank you.
Rob: You’re welcome. Ruby: And now we’re going to show you how
to make the bed and the ruffle. Rob: Fantastic. You want to show them what’s
underneath? Ruby: Yeah.
Rob: Ok Ruby: Which we just used a plastic tote bin
and then she has clothes, the doll. And she’s in the blanket inside.
Rob: Isn’t that fun? This was actually one of Ruby’s dolls that she made using one
of the Sizzix dies from Carrie Giddy I believe is her name. Or Kit Giddy I know is her link
there. And then the lid, and this was Natalie’s idea to use the whole thing to hide our products
and stuff like that as well.
Rob: Step one: find an old tote. That can be under your bed or in the closet or corner
of the garage. However, that will become the bed. And make sure your doll fits on it before
you do all of your sewing of course. Now we have to find the perimeter. Do you remember
how we find the perimeter to determine how much fabric we need for the top?
Ruby: Yep. Rob: That’s right. Because you learned it
where? Ruby: In 5th grade.
Rob: I love 5th grade. Ok so tell us how to do the perimeter.
Ruby: You measure length plus length and width plus width.
Rob: That’s right. Ok. So we’re going to measure the length around all four sides
and that will teach us how much we need for the ruffle itself. We’ll come back to that
in a second. We also want, see I got all excited about perimeter because I was so excited about
5th grade. We also forgot to tell them, we, I forgot to tell them how to create this top
piece. So this was actually the size of our lid plus an inch and a half in length and
an inch and a half in width. And that gives us our seam allowance and just enough drape
over the edges that our ruffles don’t stick out like old spider legs or something creepy
like that. So now I think we’re making sense, right?
Ruby: Um huh Rob: Ok so we have our top rectangle cut,
number one. Then we also had to determine, I’ll be right back with this. I did take
another measurement and that was simply the measurement of this distance here. And on
our tote we needed six inches and that included our seam allowance and a little bit for the
bottom hem. So we technically needed about five inches of fabric, six inches cut. I realized
while Ruby was working that she was getting a little burned out. I was so excited to be
sewing, sewing, sewing and I love having my kids in the studio with me, that she let me
do some of the sewing on this project. So this step I did while she was on a break.
So I basically took four cuts, the length of the fabric. 44 inches long by six inches
tall because that is what I needed, right? So I had four of these. And then I joined
them together as you see here. And I just joined them on the straight, it’s going
to get hidden in our ruffle. Ok, right there. So all four of them are joined. And I also
have this really nice double folded hem. That will be at the bottom of the skirt. This is
where we’re going to sew it onto the rectangle. You’re probably saying, and you should have
said, Wait dad, they don’t know how much they need, right?
Ruby: Right. Rob: Because we’ve got to tie it back together.
Ruby: Yeah Rob: Ok so what we did is we used Ruby’s
perimeter math. When you’re doing ruffles you want to usually use 1 ½ to 2 times the
length of the distance that you’re trying to travel. So let’s say we needed about
90 inches to go all the way around our doll bed, our perimeter. So we made 180 inches
worth of ruffle to be. That worked out perfect because it was four strips at 44 inches, right?
Ruby: Um huh Rob: And I can do the math. I know that’s
not quite 90 inches but there we go. So we have enough to go basically twice around the
doll bed.
Rob: So here is that rectangle. This is the top of the doll bed. And here is the ruffle.
The last thing I went ahead and did though is I joined it so it’s actually an entire
loop. There are no longer any loose short ends because I don’t want to have to deal
with joining it once it’s on the quilt. So we’re going to be working with our right
sides together for this and a quarter inch seam allowance. We’re going to pin each
corner and kind of separate out enough ruffle so we can just ruffle as we go. So what we’re
going to start by doing is we’re not going to use one of our seams. We’re going to
come over here to a corner. And because they’re right sides together, let me rotate this.
I know it seems awkward. But I want my, I want my hem inside touching the center of
my ruffle. And I’m just going to lay this out slightly, make sure. Ok, Ruby we are ready,
put a pin here like this. Now remember, we were talking about having about twice as much
ruffle as length. So then we can do this. We can just take this down here and fold it
down to the end like this. And I’m just going to pinch this part. This part right
here we now can assume somewhere in here can be that next corner. And what I’m really
doing here is I’m trying to even out the ruffle to be over the doll bed so that I don’t
end up coming up with too much ruffle in one location and not enough in another. So we’re
going to work through these corners the same way here. Rotate that around. So Ruby, why
did we use this fun green polka dot? Ruby: Because it matched our quilt.
Rob: That’s right and it was one of our other favorite prints that we really liked,
right? A lot of times when we’re working with ruffles and things though it’s fun
to have a print that’s a little bit bigger and it says its name. So we could see these
dots even in the ruffling. So that was something I encouraged her when she was choosing which
of her other favorite fabrics to use. I was encouraging her to use a little bit larger
print so that the ruffle will really show up nice. Ok I’m going to need your hands.
Will you help hold that for me? Ok, wonderful. And again I’m just doubling my ruffle. And
it doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be somewhat loose. Bringing that down here. Ok
so there’s that point again that’s pinned into here. And then we have, just a double
check, let’s move this around a little bit. Here and we should have roughly double. It
looks like it worked out pretty nice.
Rob: Now what we’re going to do next, like I said, with our quarter inch seam allowance
we’re going to begin stitching these together. Now this is not necessarily a beginner beginner
style of sewing. So it is very simple but I would encourage you all to do this as maybe
a team if you’re working with a beginner. So what we’re going to do now just for ease,
is I’m coming up here and I’m basically kind of finding the center of where my ruffle
is going to be. You could have started in a corner as well. But this is going to be
easier for us, the two of us to work together on. So I’ve got that center. We’re coming
right under here. I also put an edge guide on the machine. And whenever I’m working
with a beginning stitcher an edge guide, an apparatus like this here really helps us only
have to focus on pushing the fabric over and not worrying about our seams traveling. What
we’re going to do now, and I’m sorry I haven’t given you much chance to speak here.
I just felt like maybe the coffee just kicked in. Ruby is going to start to sew and she’s
going to sew about an inch maybe an inch and a half and then we’re going to make a ruffle
so you go ahead and start. And let’s go ahead and stop right there. Now what we like
to do, can you lift up the presser foot for me? And so she’s lifting up the presser
foot and I fold in a ruffle and that ruffle is almost an inch thick as well. If you’ve
never ever done this kind of sewing you might want to practice on a little scrap or two
as you’re working. Just to get the feel for it. Ok so I’ve made the folds. And then
she’ll stop again. So basically after she came off of that fold we stop again and if
you lift the presser foot I’ll do this part. So you can see how nicely it is when you’re
working as a team. And I’m folding that fold back until that fold hits the needle.
Thanks, you got it. Of course, you know what you’re doing, don’t you?
Ruby: Um huh Rob: Ok. She’s lining up the edges for extreme
accuracy. Focus, I love it. Ok, you want to try this fold on your own?
Ruby: Is that good? Rob: It’s great. You did perfect.
Ruby: Ok Rob: You’ve got it. Yep, you had it.
Ruby: Just one layer right? Rob: Oh what’s that? Actually two layers.
Ruby: Oh ok Rob: That’s what feels weird. It’s because
it’s the layer that goes underneath. Ruby: Oh man.
Rob: Yeah, so now you’re sewing on technically like three layers, right?
Ruby: Um huh. Rob: So you can go ahead and stitch that one
and then we’ll show them how it looks on the whole finished project.
Ruby: It just came out. Rob: That’s ok, those things happen. If
you were really concerned that this seemed like maybe you were working with a really
young child or just a lot for their hands you could take and pre do this all with pins
if you wanted to. I like to teach people how to be creative and sew on the fly so to speak.
And with that I like, I like this method. But anything that works for you for creating
your ruffles. Oh you’re doing terrific. That’s great.
Ruby: And you’re going to keep on doing that all the way around your rectangle.
Rob: That’s perfect. Ok should we show them the finished project?
Ruby: Yes. Rob: Ok so this is what it looks like when
it’s all done. Did you find when we were doing the first one that the corners were
very tricky? Ruby: Not really
Rob: No we basically did them just the same. I don’t remember them being even challenging
at all. You can see on the back side here, that I basically just took and folded at the
corner and just kept on going. I wouldn’t sew over the pin if you get a chance and you
have that pin there, I would be careful of that. Is there any other tips that you would
like to offer for them? Something that I’m forgetting, maybe?
Ruby: No I think it’s good. Rob: It feels like it’s great.
Ruby: Yes. Rob: Ok well then check this out, let’s
get our doll bed all ready to rock and roll back. So we’ve got our tote. And you can
certainly fill that up, right? Ruby: Um huh
Rob: Ok here. And there it is. And it hangs so beautifully and nicely.
Ruby: Yes. Rob: Oh. What a wonderful day I’ve had sewing.
And Ruby you have done such a great job. I, as always, am so proud of you. Thank you,
not only for being on Man Sewing but for being my daughter.
Ruby: You’re welcome. Rob: Your mom and I love you. Thank you very
much. Why don’t you sign us off today? Ruby: What do I say?
Rob: Whatever you want Ruby: We’ll see you next time on Man Sewing!
Rob: Man Sewing! Oh I think we nailed it, don’t you?
Ruby: Yeah. Rob: Alright.
Ruby: Definitely.