I have sewn a few miles of ruffles in my time. The way I learned was to place a gathering stitch along the edge, and gingerly pull the thread to scrunch the fabric to match the length of the skirt. You had to be gentle enough not to snap the thread, or you would have to start all over. Eventually I got brave enough to skip the gathering stitch and quickly shove fabric under the needle as I sewed. This was how I adorned dresses for my twins, the wardrobe that included one for every letter of the alphabet. This picture shows B for butterfly.

 

There are other projects in which I aim for smoothness. When I lay a quilt out for sandwiching, the three layers need to be flat. Ruffles are not welcome on a kaleidoscope, which takes some engineering with 600 triangles trying to play well together.  I heard a quilter give a talk once on Mistakes Not to be Repeated, which included a woman's lone star. It only had seven of the eight points, and no amount of ironing could get that sucker to lie down. 

 

One of the places I learn new patterns is a website called Missouri Star Quilt Company. They offer weekly free videos, hosted by women who perpetually smile. What surprises me is how often subscribers find reasons to complain. Interspersed with the enthusiastic comments there are long tirades about the irritation de jour, followed by women who complain about the complaints. It is almost funny, but not quite. The bottom line is that these videos are gratis. No charge. On what grounds would anyone throw stones? 

 

I recall a conversation with a group of mothers who were disgruntled around the scholarships their children had been granted. It was hard to know what to say. Isn't the obvious response to say thank you? 

 

Getting scrunched up about what life gives us can sap us of energy. As I coast into old age, I am more invested in leaving the ruffles on little girl's dresses. 

 

"Very different is the case with those who trust in the Divine. These, notwithstanding they have care for the morrow, still have it not, because they do not think of the morrow with solicitude, still less with anxiety. Unruffled is their spirit whether they obtain the objects of their desire, or not; and they do not grieve over the loss of them, being content with their lot. If they become rich, they do not set their hearts on riches; if they are raised to honors, they do not regard themselves as more worthy than others; if they become poor, they are not made sad; if their circumstances are mean, they are not dejected. They know that for those who trust in the Divine all things advance toward a happy state to eternity, and that whatever befalls them in time is still conducive thereto." Heavenly Secrets 8478