Accessories: Ruff

Making the Ruff

 My Character that I have created for my assessment is a very seductive and a lust wanting character, therefore I wanted to make my own costume piece to portray a small part of this which I could wear in my assessment photos. I wanted to create a ruff which was traditionally worn for this reason as: 'Ruffs, or ruffles, started as a high frilled collar. Fashion then dictated a more feminine and seductive image for women which was achieved by opening the ruffle in front to expose the neck and the top of the breasts'. This definition of reasons why ruffs where worn wear to attack men and used to seduce men which in fact relates perfectly to my character. It is also ironic as the ruff was originally worn by men but a smaller version. I have made mine with black fabric instead of white as white means purity and I wanted to create the opposite traits to this.

To start making the ruff I went out and brought five, one meters of black ribbon, black thread, a needle, Velcro, scissors, ruler and a pen. To start making the main ruff I took each meter of ribbon and measured 3.8 centimeters  along the top until the end. Then to begin sewing the black thread I pinched every other marked dot together and sewed the thread through and carried on this until the end of each ribbon. Then after this is done you should look like the far left picture below, when its like this sow the opposite folded ends together like we did with the first side. After this continue this same technique with the other four ribbons and you should have small ruff that look like the bottom picture below.
   

After completing all five small ruffs I then sowed all five off them together at the bottom and the top of each fold. When all the small ruffs are attached you should have a full sided ruff and then the final step is to measure out the Velcro. I took both parts of the Velcro and measured the right amount which I then sowed on too each ends of the ruff. This was the final step to making the final ruff and in the last picture below is the final outcome.  

By Amelia Richmond-Knight