Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Scalloped ruler tutorial

The shop got a new toy and at first I was not too interested, then I played with it.  It is now my favorite gadget.  Scallop ruler doesnt do it justice.  I call it homemade ric rac on steroids.  It is way more versatile than I thought.


There are three sizes of rulers.  Your finished width will be 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch and 2 inch.  for this tutorial I used the 1 inch, it only gets bigger form here.

--cut your fabric to a little larger than the width of the ruler.  Sew any sections together to get the desired length. You will need 2 lengths

--Place lengths right sides together

--trace the outside scallop and all the points from the ruler onto the wrong side of you fabric.  Move ruler down until your entire length is traced


--sew a 1/4 in seam from the traced scallop line.  Stop and turn at the marked end points.  For a smoother edge stitch 1 staright stitch at the turning point.

--Connect the center points.

--Cut down the center line through 1 THICKNESS OF FABRIC ONLY!!!

--Trim scalloped edges.  I used pinking shears and then snipped into my deep groves

--With the pushers push out and iron each scallop.  the pusher is heat resistant so you can iron with it so your edges are nice and crisp.  (Pushers are sold seperately from the rulers, but are well worth it.  they are a huge time saver)

--your scalloped edge / ric rac is now done.

Here are your options of how to use it

As a ric rac detail

fold in half length wise and use as you would prarie points

fold in half over the edge of a quilt and sew with a 1/4 seam in place of binding (no need to hand stitch the back side!!)

cut all fabric in half length wise (instead of one layer only) and use as a single layer of scallops.  This will double your amount of length.

Use two different fabrics for a two tone scallop

I have used this on quilts, bags, skirts, aprons, sweater and shirts, and I also used in place of straight fabric in the gathered flower tutorial from a few weeks ago.

You can but the rulers and pushers at the shop.  We have them indiviually or as a set of three.

8 comments:

Bjorge Queen said...

At first, I thought: That's got to be some serious clipping and pressing. I didn't think about pinking shears or a preshaped presser. Nice. I must have this. But how do I explain the urgency to my husband?

Sew Much Ado said...

I thought the same thing, but with the presser that would be awesome and so fun!

Wendy said...

Okay, I hadn't given these new gadgets a second look ... now, I need to hunt them down ;) Thank you for sharing!

Christine M said...

I haven't seen the scallop rulers before. They look great.

Brittany said...

Awesome. I've been playing around with making homemade rick rack, but this is just so brilliant and simple.

Unknown said...

Is there a printable version of this tutorial? You did an awesome job!!!!!
Thanks, Marge

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