Gathering is a great way to add texture, dimension, and volume to any fashion project. It’s a technique commonly used to make skirts, blouses, dresses, curtains, and more. But it’s not always easy to get the gathering effect you want.
Luckily, by following a few simple steps, you can learn how to do perfect gathers on your sewing machine. To start out, you’ll need some fabric of your choice, a sewing machine, thread, straight pins, and an iron.
The first step to achieve a perfect gathering effect is ironing the fabric. Ironing eliminates any wrinkles and prepares the fabric for an even finish. Next, you’ll need to baste the fabric. To do so, you will need to use a regular sewing machine pressure foot and a long stitch setting. Run your machine to make a basting stitch across the edges of the fabric, about 5/8” away from the cut edges. You can use a contrasting thread for this stitch so that it’s easier to spot later.
Next, you will need to sew the gathered fabric to the base fabric. To do this, you’ll need to use zigzag stitches. Place the two pieces of fabric together and, once again, use a straight stitch to securely sew the two fabrics together.
If you’d like, you can combine the steps of gathering and sewing, as long as you use a heavy sewing machine needle. Pin the edge of the fabric 1/8” away from the cut edge, and set the machine to its highest tension setting, which will give you a tighter gather. Now, sew the gathered fabric and the base fabric together.
Last but not least, finish the edges with a zigzag stitch or other decorative stitch. This will make sure that the fabric is secure and that the gathers will stay intact. As always, be sure to practice on a scrap fabric first before attempting to sew gathered fabric on a real project.
Gathering a Narrow Edge
When gathering a narrow edge of fabric, you want to make sure you pin the two fabrics securely. Sew the two pieces of fabric together, leaving just a few inches unstitched. Now you can pull the thread to make gathers in the fabric. As you pull the thread, make sure that the gathers are even and not too tight or too loose. Once you are satisfied with the gathers, sew the gap you left earlier, to join the two pieces of fabric.
Gathering a Wide Edge
Gathering wide edges is a bit trickier. Start by pinning the two fabrics together and leaving a gap of at least 4 inches in the middle. Sew the two pieces together. Now, instead of pulling the thread, which may stretch the fabric too much, use a gathering foot to evenly gather the fabric. Once again, sew the gap you left earlier, and you’ll see your perfectly gathered wide edge fabric.
Uses of Gathers
Gathered fabric is used for many purposes. It can be used to make skirts and dresses, sleeves, curtains and drapes, kitchenware, and pillowcases. If you want to add texture to any project, gathering is the perfect way to do it.
Common Gather Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes when gathering fabric is stretching the fabric too much when pulling the thread. Be sure to pull gently and slowly, to avoid this. Another mistake is not pinning the fabrics securely. Make sure to secure the fabric tightly before starting to sew. And, of course, avoid sewing the gathered fabric with a light-weight needle. This could result in imperfect gathers, or even in the thread breaking.
Gathering on Different Fabrics
Gathering techniques vary depending on the type of fabric you are using. For example, if you are using a lightweight fabric make sure to use small stitches and a narrow zigzag stitch. On the other hand, if you are using a thick fabric, you can use wider stitches and heavier needles.
Finishing the Gathered Edge
Once you have gathered the fabric, you will need to finish off the edges. A great way to do this is to use a special binding tape to encase the edges. This will give the edge a neater, finished look. You can also use bias tape to cover the edge and make it look more decorative.
