Sewing School Saturday - Gathering

Gathering is one of the basics "must knows" for sewing!  I use it all the time for making ruffles, skirts, purses, you name it!  It's a fairly simple technique, but one that can take a bit of practice.

First you'll start by running two lines of parallel stitching across the edge to be gathered.  We use two lines to make the gathers more even, uniform, and professional looking.  I also find it much easier to work with than if I "cheat" and just run one line. (Although I do occasionally cheat!)

A gathering stitch is a basic stitch on the longest stitch setting on your machine.  It can help to change the tension down to a 2 or 3, which will make it easier to draw the threads.  Don't backstitch!

If you're going to be using a standard 5/8" seam allowance, you'll want to make the line of gathering stitches about 3/8" and 6/8".  That way when you sew the ruffle down, you will be sewing between the lines of gathering stitches.

The second trick to getting a nice even ruffle is to mark and match!  You'll want to mark the centers, quarters, or even eighths (if it's a very long strip) of the gather and the piece to which you are attaching it.  This insures that the same thickness of gathers between each of those points.  You then pin each of those points together, right sides of the fabric together..

Now it's time to start drawing the threads.  You'll want to find the top threads of each seam (look for the side where you can see the straight line of one thread and the little loops of the bobbin thread coming over) and hold them firmly in one hand while you gently move the fabric back with the other hand.

 Continue doing this until the piece to be gathered is the same length as the piece to which you are attaching it.  You then spread the gathers between each two pins until they are all evenly spaced and uniform.

Pin the gathers to the fabric, matching the raw edges, and pinning at very frequent intervals.  Gathers have a tendency to shift while you are sewing.   See how nice and straight the gathers lie between the two lines of stitching?  You don't have to worry about the gathers twisting up behind each other, or catching the lower part of the ruffle.

Sew over the gathers with a normal straight stitch.  Don't forget to change your tension and stitch length back to normal.  Backstitch at both ends of the seam. 

Once the seam is complete, remove all the pins (make sure you get them all, they tend to hide under little folds!) and press.  The seam allowance is usually pressed up toward the fabric you attached the gathered strip to.

You will still be able to see the lower line of your gathering stitch.  This can now be removed, leaving you a neat and professional looking ruffle!