A common question I receive is how to pattern match designs with ruching and gathers, especially for projects like my Ruched Maternity Skirt and Ruched Maternity T-shirt. While many strive for perfect stripe alignment, the asymmetric nature of ruching makes exact pattern matching impossible. However, you can get close to achieving a neat look.
This principle applies to any seam with gathers: you can pattern match seams at equal distances, but once gathers are introduced, the alignment will shift. For instance, if you’re sewing a striped ruched maternity skirt and want the side seams to match well, it’s only feasible up to a certain point. Here’s a simple approach: start from the hemline and work upward. When you reach the ruching notches, stop attempting to pattern match and allow the fabric to flow naturally. After the ruching is complete, the gathered sections will conceal any pattern mismatches, while the areas below remain straight and aligned. It’s that straightforward!