I’ve had some requests recently for sewing basics so today I’d like to discuss how to sew a gathering stitch. Learning how to gather fabric is a basic sewing technique, and essential for garment sewing, but it can be challenging when you are first learning.
I would LOVE IT if you would take a few minutes to leave a comment with any sewing basics that you’d like to see here on the blog. It will obviously take some time to create a good pool of basics, but it will help to know what your interests are!
Clearly, I like a lot of ruffling to accompany “my style.” And while it may be old hat to many of you, gathering and stitching fabric can be an intimidating process for others – I know it definitely was for me when I started sewing garments! I’m going to show you the process of gathering a skirt to join it to a bodice that will give you the cleanest results with (hopefully!) the least amount of frustration and/or mess. The trick is this: sew two lines of gathering stitches, press and steam your gathers, and pin a lot!! Incorporate those three things and you’ll be good! Ready?
Prepare your skirt pieces so that they’re ready to attach to the bodice. First, you’ll sew two parallel rows of long (gathering) stitches around the top of the skirt. (Stitch length long, tension loose.)
Use this gathering technique for perfect ruffles added to anything! It’s not necessarily limited to attaching a gathered skirt to bodice. You would use this technique if you’re gathering a skirt to add it to a waistband or to add a ruffle to the bottom of your garment.
SO!! Is this how you do a gathering stitch?? Is this Sewing Basics tutorial helpful? What other Sewing Basics would you like to see on the Girl. Inspired. blog??
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Comments & Reviews
Carol says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is exactly the gather that I love, when I fall in love with a dress in a shop. Those types of dresses are always too expensive for my budget, so I walk away disappointed.
But yea, I can give it a whirl! Thank you for your great instructions!
Carol P
DEBBIE says
Thank you for this tip. I just made an apron for my Granddaughter and made three rows of ruffles. The steam ironing would have made it simpler.
Heather says
I always tie the gathering thread ends together before pulling, that way I can ensure the threads don’t accidently pull out and that they are pulled equally.
Chris says
A friend of mine told me to use thin cording to do gathering. lay the cording on the fabric, extending the cording about 6-8″ on each side, do a wide zig zag over it, then pull on the cording, working the fabric into a gather. Thread doesn’t break while working it.
Joanne says
Thank you! I always have sewed since I was 7. This is the best technique I have see yet for gathering. Thank you for sharing!!
Jacqueline Gabriel says
This is THE BEST tutorial on attaching a gathered skirt to a waistband or bodice, bar none! I knew about the two stitched rows and pulling the bobbin threads. What I found most helpful: the pinning instructions and the STEAMING instructions! I had forgotten how far a bit of steam goes to create even gathering and in making the waistband sewing go so much smoother. Thank you!
Elaine says
This is the basic way I have always done gathers. I like the comment of pressing the gathers. I will do this the next time. Also I will try the comment of having my gather lines farther apart. I feel this will make for much easier removal of the thread.
Helen Nunn says
gathering info was very good, thanks and more please
Adrienne says
I was just doing gathers last night and hating them. This makes them look so neat and manageable. I must try this ASAP.
Kathy Cathcart says
I have always used the 2 thread loose tension approach but I’ve never used steam.boy does that make a difference! Thanks so much for sharing! Kathy
Karen Leanne King says
Great tips! Let me add a little bit to this:
When stitching your 2 gathering rows;
1) Use a heavier thread on the bobbin, if you can. Draw these threads… don’t pull from the needle thread, as the bobbin thread is looser, and less likely to break.
2)I have found that tying your threads together on one end helps keep your fathers from slipping.
3) use a long stitch on the draw threads.
4) before drawing up threads, divide the length of gatherings and the piece they sew into equal sections. Pin these marks together first!
Karen says
I was wondering about the holes left in the fabric in the gathering row below where you do the final stitching.
girlinspired says
For most basic fabrics, the holes will press out with a quick press and steam. If you’re using a really delicate fabric (I’ve had trouble with silks, for example), you may want to sew all your gathering rows to the inside of the final row of stitching – it makes it a little more difficult, but a necessary adjustment if the holes are going to be visible on the finished garment.
Donna Antaramian says
I used to use this method until I found the tip to zigzag over fishing line .. SEW much easier and faster. I use the zigzag method for my custom window treatment business especially on gathered bed skirts!
Heidi says
I have gathered like this, but never thought to press those gathers down. It might keep them from sliding. Thanks
Mary Murray says
I usually use a shorter stitch length. My gathers are a bit finer. If the fabric is heavier, I may increase stitch length, but only enough to prevent the threads from breaking. I may add a third row of basting stitches for security. One more thing…. I leave bobbin threads extra long and top threads about one inch so it’s easy to grab the bobbin threads to pull up the gathers.
Lela C says
Put a different color thread in your bobbin. It makes it easy to see when you gather your fabric. The bobbin threads always gather easier for some reason