It looks like quite the contraption and this Ruffler foot for my Janome Horizon was just what I wanted for Christmas. Add-on feet for the Accufeed system don't come cheaply so I'd better learn how to make ruffles and use them a lot!
The ruffler foot attaches easily with the snap on foot - you just have to make sure the hook goes over the needle bar. Once attached, you can gather or make pleats every stitch, every 6, or every 12 stitches (or not at all if you need to switch to a straight stitch).
I was very excited to give it a try and as usual, I did some test pieces to sample the foot and figure out how it works. I like to try all the settings and experiment with a new tool or foot so I know what to expect and what my options are.
Here is a sample ruffle with gathers every 6 stitches and full depth pleats (this is my favourite look and probably what setting I will use the most. I can't wait to make a ruffle to add to a quilt):
Here is a sample pleating every 12th stitch. This is a much more subtle look and would probably be suitable for home decor items. These samples are not pressed with an iron so I'm sure they would look even nicer and crisper with some steam!:
Finally, here is a complete gather - really tight ruffle gathered at every stitch!:
The foot is a little 'clacky' so I will check with my dealer that the sound is typical and to be expected. I'm pretty sure I have it attached correctly. I need to practice a bit keeping the fabric feeding in a straight line - once the gathering piece grabs the fabric it kind of throws it out of line. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. I'll also need to figure out how much fabric it will take to get a ruffle of the correct size. Of course, adding all those pleats eats up the length!
Here is a video showing how the ruffler works.
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