Adding a Ruffle to The Tie Detail Top

After what seems like a year of wearing sportswear I wanted to add some frivolity to my wardrobe: this ruffle trimmed Tie Detail Top is the result.

My first thought had been to make the simple tie-neck version of The Tie Detail Top to wear with The Blazer and Wide-legged Trousers. But once I’d cut out the main garment pieces there was plenty of fabric left to make more bias binding than the pattern required. So I decided to utilise this and create a ruffle trim. I made a continuous strip of bias binding 6 cm wide by approximately 4 metres long. I made the top as instructed omitting the tie detail but finishing the neck and cuffs with bias binding. I split the remaining bias strip into two equal lengths. As the strips are cut on the bias I left the edges unfinished as they weren’t fraying too much. These edges could be finished with a rolled edge but the effect would not be as soft.

To make the ruffle trim I stitched down the centre of each bias strip using the longest stitch length on my machine. I then gathered the fabric up to measure 50 cm, the length of the front from neck to hem. I found the ruffle naturally spiralled and I decided to incorporate this into the finished effect. So when laying the strips of ruffle either side of the centre front, I pinned between the twisted sections. Then with a regular stitch length I attached the trim.

The top including the ruffle required 2.50 metres. I used silk dyed with turmeric to create this lovely soft primrose colour.