What You Need to Make a Ruffle Pillow

A ruffle pillow has a gathered fabric border sewn around the edge, creating a soft, decorative frame. You can make one by cutting two fabric pieces for the front and back, gathering a long strip of fabric into ruffles, and sewing everything together around a pillow form. The whole project takes about two to three hours if you have basic sewing skills and a working sewing machine.

Start by gathering these materials: two pieces of fabric cut to your desired pillow size (usually 16 by 16 inches for a standard pillow), one long strip of fabric for the ruffle (typically twice the perimeter of your pillow), thread that matches your fabric, a pillow form, pins, scissors, a measuring tape, and a sewing machine. You will also need a needle for hand-stitching the opening closed at the end.

Key Takeaways

  • Cut your front and back fabric pieces to the same size, and cut your ruffle strip twice as long as the perimeter of your pillow to create the gathered effect.
  • Sew a gathering stitch along the center of the ruffle strip, then pull the thread to bunch the fabric evenly before attaching it to the pillow front.
  • Pin the ruffle between the front and back fabric pieces with the ruffle facing inward, then sew all three layers together using a quarter-inch seam allowance.
  • Turn the pillow right-side out through a small opening, insert the pillow form, and close the opening with a ladder stitch or whip stitch by hand.

Cutting Your Fabric Pieces

Measure and cut two identical pieces of fabric for the front and back of your pillow. If you want a 16-by-16-inch finished pillow, cut both pieces 17 by 17 inches to account for the half-inch seam allowance on all sides. Use a ruler or measuring tape and mark your cutting lines lightly with chalk or a fabric pencil before cutting with sharp fabric scissors.

For the ruffle strip, cut one long piece of fabric that is about 4 to 5 inches wide and roughly twice the perimeter of your pillow. If your pillow is 16 by 16 inches, the perimeter is 64 inches, so cut a ruffle strip about 128 inches long. You may need to piece together multiple strips by sewing them end-to-end if your fabric is not wide enough. Press all pieces with an iron on medium heat to remove wrinkles before you begin sewing.

Creating the Ruffle by Gathering

Fold the ruffle strip in half lengthwise with the wrong side facing out, and press it flat with an iron. This creates a long, doubled strip that is now about 2 to 2.5 inches wide. Open it back up—you now have a center crease that will guide your gathering stitch.

Set your sewing machine to a long stitch length (around 4 to 5 millimeters) and thread it with a color that matches your fabric. Sew a straight line down the center crease of the ruffle strip, leaving about 6 inches of thread loose at both ends. Do not backstitch at the beginning or end; you need those loose threads to pull for gathering.

Gently pull both loose threads at one end of the ruffle strip, bunching the fabric toward the center. Keep pulling until the ruffle is gathered evenly and is roughly the same length as the perimeter of your pillow (about 64 inches for a 16-by-16-inch pillow). Wrap the loose threads around a pin to hold the gathering in place. The ruffle should look like a long, fluffy strip with even folds all the way along.

Pinning the Ruffle to the Pillow Front

Lay your front fabric piece flat on a table with the right side facing up. Take your gathered ruffle strip and pin it around the edge of the front piece, with the raw edges of the ruffle aligned with the raw edges of the fabric. The ruffle should face inward toward the center of the pillow, not outward. Start at one corner and work your way around, adjusting the gathers so they are even and the ruffle sits flat against the edge.

At the corners, fold the ruffle slightly to turn the corner smoothly, and use extra pins to hold it in place. Make sure the ruffle does not bunch up or twist as you pin. When you reach the starting point, overlap the ends of the ruffle by about an inch and pin them together. You should now have the front piece with the ruffle pinned all the way around its perimeter, with the ruffle pointing inward.

Sewing the Front, Ruffle, and Back Together

Place your back fabric piece on top of the front piece with the right sides facing each other, sandwiching the ruffle between them. Pin the front and back pieces together around all four sides, making sure the ruffle stays tucked inside and does not get caught in the pins. The ruffle should be completely hidden between the two fabric layers.

Sew around all four sides of the pillow using a quarter-inch seam allowance (the distance from the edge of the fabric to your stitch line). Start at one corner and sew slowly, keeping the ruffle smooth and even as you go. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each side to find your stitches. Leave a 4 to 5-inch opening on one side—do not sew this section closed. This opening is where you will turn the pillow right-side out and insert the pillow form.

Trim the corners of the fabric at a 45-degree angle, cutting away the excess fabric about a quarter-inch from your seam line. This reduces bulk and helps the corners lie flat when you turn the pillow right-side out. Be careful not to cut through your stitches.

Turning and Stuffing Your Pillow

Reach into the opening you left on one side and gently pull the pillow right-side out through the hole. Use a blunt tool like a chopstick or the eraser end of a pencil to push the corners out from the inside, making them sharp and square. Press the entire pillow flat with an iron on medium heat, paying special attention to the seams and the ruffle so it lies smoothly.

Insert your pillow form through the opening. If the form is slightly larger than the opening, gently stretch the fabric opening and work the form in slowly. Once the form is inside, arrange it so it sits evenly and fills out all the corners of the pillow cover.

Closing the Opening with a Ladder Stitch

Thread a needle with thread that matches your fabric and tie a knot at the end. Fold the raw edges of the opening inward by about half an inch and press them flat with your fingers or an iron. Pin the opening closed if it helps you keep the edges aligned.

Use a ladder stitch (also called a whip stitch) to close the opening invisibly. Bring your needle out through the fold of fabric on one side of the opening, then insert it directly across into the fold on the other side. Slide the needle inside the fold for about a quarter-inch, then bring it back out and cross over to the opposite side again. Repeat this back-and-forth motion all the way along the opening. Every few stitches, gently pull the thread to close the gap. When you reach the end, tie off the thread inside the fold so the knot is hidden.

Give your finished pillow a final press with an iron and fluff the ruffle with your fingers to arrange the gathers evenly. Your ruffle pillow is now complete.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common error is cutting the ruffle strip too short. If your ruffle is not long enough, it will not gather properly and will look flat instead of fluffy. Always cut it at least twice the perimeter of your pillow, and err on the side of cutting it longer rather than shorter.

Another mistake is sewing the gathering stitch too close to the edge of the ruffle strip. If you sew right at the edge, the thread may break when you pull it to gather, and you will have to start over. Sew the gathering stitch down the center of the strip so there is fabric on both sides of the thread.

Do not backstitch when you sew the gathering stitch. You need loose threads at both ends to pull for gathering. If you backstitch, you will lock the thread in place and will not be able to gather the fabric.

Finally, make sure the ruffle is facing inward when you pin it to the front piece. If you accidentally pin it facing outward, it will end up on the outside of the pillow instead of creating a border around the edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different fabric for the ruffle than the front and back?

Yes. Many ruffle pillows use a contrasting fabric for the ruffle to create a decorative effect. Just make sure the ruffle fabric is the same weight as your main fabric so it gathers evenly and does not look bunched or thin compared to the rest of the pillow.

What if my ruffle is too long after gathering?

Trim the excess ruffle strip before you sew it to the pillow front. Gather it to the correct length, then cut off any extra fabric beyond the overlap at the seam. This prevents bulk at the seam and makes the ruffle look more even.

Do I have to use a ladder stitch to close the opening?

No. You can also sew the opening closed with a regular straight stitch on your machine, but the ladder stitch is invisible from the outside and looks more polished. If you use a machine stitch, the thread line will be visible on the front of the pillow.

How do I make the ruffle fuller and more dramatic?

Cut the ruffle strip even longer—three times the perimeter instead of twice—and gather it more tightly. You can also make the ruffle strip wider (5 to 6 inches instead of 4 to 5 inches) to create a deeper, more voluminous border.

Can I add a ruffle to a pillow I already own?

Yes, but it is more difficult. You would need to carefully open one seam of the existing pillow, insert the ruffle, and resew it closed. It is usually easier to make a new pillow cover with a ruffle and use it over your existing pillow or form.