An easier way to do the ruffle bum

When my mama and I first started our little etsy adventure one of the first few things that went in the shop were ruffle bum onesies. They were so much fun! I love being creative with them and thinking of different things to put on the front of them. Well one of my bestest friends in the whole entire world is having a baby girl this week so I have been busy putting together all kinds of girly things for a gift basket for her. I have been making tutus, hats, a car seat cover, hair bows, onesies, burp cloths, and tights! (girls are so easy!!)I'll have to post them all slowly. But as I was making her a ruffle bum today I thought of  a different way for the little ruffle bum!!!! I usually make the ruffles in strips and sew them on separately this time I did one gigantic ruffle and only sewed one on. I love the way it turned out and it's a lot faster. I don't feel like this picture gives it justice! But here is a little tute of how I did it.

First: Start picking a color theme and fabrics. I liked pinks Imagine that!!

Second: Decide what you want the front to be. I chose Hearts. I don't really know why usually I am not a heart fan. But I really like the way this turned out. So I got some pellon, and Ironed my heart fabric to that and then I cut out two hearts. One a little bit bigger in pink corduroy fabric, and one a little smaller in a different print. Then you peel the back of that pellon off and place your shape on your onesie wherever you want. And Iron that baby away! Sometimes I take a scrap piece of fabric to put over my onesie while I am ironing just to make sure I don't leave marks.

Third: I stitch the hearts into place. Because I have already ironed the heart on technically I don't HAVE to stitch the hearts on, but I do because I like the look. I usually try to use a different color of thread just to add color.

Fourth: I wanted some bling on this heart. So I made a little bow. To do this I simply chose some tulle and ric rack and sewed them all together right in the middle. Then I picked out some buttons and sewed them on to. After the little bow was all done I hand sew it to the onesie. I usually just make sure I stitch it really good so that it can be washed and not fall off.

Fifth: It's ruffle time! I had never tried it this way before so I wasn't sure how it would turn out. But this is what I did. I took 4 fabric rectangles  and 2 tulle rectangles and placed them on top of each other. Each rectangle got smaller in width as I went. And then I did my gather stitch right down the middle of all of them at the same time. (Remember to gather stitch you set your stitch at the longest setting and sew without back stitching. Then you pull your bobbin thread and watch it all gather) After it was gathered, I pinned it on the bum of the onesie where I wanted it and I pinned the ric rack right over my gathering stitch and sewed it all to the bum.

I am kind of mad at these pictures because I don't think it gives it justice! It really is adorable. This picture almost looks like the ruffle is too wide or doesn't fit the onesie well. But it is darling! Give it a try let me know what you think, or if you have questions!