ruffles... frills... what do you call them?

Hi,

I have been having an email conversation with an American friend and we discovered we have different terms for those gathered edge bits around the edge of a cushion/pillow.

Here in Australia, we call them frills. My friend, in America, refers to them as ruffles.

Odd question, I know, but what do you call them, and where are you from?

Yvette Stanton Author of "Elegant Hardanger Embroidery" and "Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature"

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ystanton
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Eep! I'd have to say "ruffles" too. Western Canada Jeanine

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Jeanine3

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

What Cheryl said works for me-- Lucille

Reply to
Lucille

I would call them ruffles (in the USA). If you look at home dec patterns for pillows with the gathered "stuff" around the edge, the pattern calls it a ruffle. This side of the pond, the term "frills" is sort of generic term for any sort of "ruffly" of "frou-frou" type of embellishment. In general, ruffles, ruching, decorative embroidery, beadwork, etc. can be considered "frills". **Usually** it is something that is lacy or very "fainting violet" type feminine. PAX & CiaoMeow Tia Mary >^;;^<

Reply to
Tia Mary

In the U.S., prior to the 20th century, the term was frills. It got changed, somewhere along the line, to ruffles. The term is synonymous, although Webster defines ruffle as a "decorative frill, particularly at the neckline or wrist." Ruffle is also defined as a gathering up.

Dianne

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Reply to
Dianne Lewandowski

My grandmother had an old sewing/dressmakers book with a vocabulary section that had separate terms for ruffles depending upon location (neckline, cuff etc) and the direction of the open side. And all manner of fun, albeit dated, terminology - differences in corsets and other undergarments.

Sadly, I have no clue where the book is now and can't find a similar list on line.

So - does anyone have clue to where to find a similar list.

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

Here's another page with lots of interesting definitions for the word ruffle

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Reply to
Lucille

Frills, mostly, in the UK. To me, ruffles are more like the ones sometimes worn at the neck in a sort of fall.

Pat P

Reply to
Pat EAXStitch

Thanks.

I'll continue to call them frills in the knowledge that if people are not immediately familiar with the term, they will probably at least be able to figure out what I mean.

Many thanks!

Yvette

Reply to
ystanton

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