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Sewing Tips: How To Gather Fabric Using A Sewing Machine

Want to learn how to gather a fabric using your sewing machine? If you're having trouble gathering your fabric properly, here's a really simple way on how to gather fabric using a sewing machine.

Sewing Tips: How To Gather Fabric Using A Sewing Machine

Learn More About Gathering Fabric by Using a Sewing Machine

When it comes to gathering fabric, do you know how to do it using your sewing machine? Well, if you've never done it before, have no fear, because it's much easier than doing it by hand. Gathering fabric is bringing your fabric together so it creates a slight ruffle or bunch of  fabrics. It is also important to learn this method because you can use it to some of your sewing projects like Can-Can skirt, puffed sleeves, and Warhol dress. And Howcast channel has got some techniques to share us. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Here are the things you'll need:

Materials:

Tools:

Instructions:

Step 1. Sew a line in the one-ply fabric

Sewing Tips: How To Gather Fabric Using A Sewing Machine

Prepare a piece of fabric that you want to gather.  Make sure your sewing machine is a straight stitch. Turn your stitch length up to four, so you're going to use a large stitch length. Then, sew a line at 1/4 of an inch seam allowance into the one-ply fabric. Use the edge of the presser foot and sew all the way across (before you start, make sure that you have long thread tails going out the back because you're going to use it to gather the fabric).

 

Step 2. Cut the thread in the middle

 

When you get to the end of your fabric, pull your fabric out and keep these long thread tails. Cut the thread just in the middle, so that you have a long tail on your fabric and a long tail on your machine.

 

Step 3. Sew another narrow seam

 

Pull that to the back and sew another 1/4 inch narrow seam from the seam that you've just sewed. So, put your fabric in and sew all the way down again. Just do the same thing you did already.  Put long thread tails and clip your project off.

 

Step 4. Tie a knot on the same opposite ends

 

Now you're ready to gather your fabric. The first thing you should do is separate your top needle thread from your bobbin thread. Then you should tie off one set, which is on top, and you can just make just a quick overhand knot. Then pull it tight down on the fabric. Do the same thing on the opposite end. Good job! Now you can go ahead and gather the fabric.

Step 5. Gathering the fabric

 

To gather your fabric, your going to work from the left, and then from the right, gathering fabric towards the middle. All you're going to do is hold the tails and pull your fabric in towards the center to make the gathers. Then you can do it from the opposite side as well.

 

Step 6. Spread the gathers out evenly

 

Set this down and spread these gathers out evenly. As you can see, they are really tightly gathered and some are kind of a little loose, so you take your tails and spread them out. Then you can balance it out from the opposite side as well, just move things along to get them nice and balanced. Once the fabric is gathered, you can now tie your other threads off so that they won’t move. Keep your knots close to the edge so that this won’t come undone.

 

Step 7. Sew a little waistband

 

Take your extra fabric and make a little waistband. You’re going to pin the gathered fabric in a straight portion. Then you’ll take this to the sewing machine and sew 5/8 of an inch seam allowance. As you come up to all the gathering, pull things down straight before you sew over them, make sure everything is laid really nicely.

 

Step 8. This will be your finished project

If you have a lot of bunching, just pull everything down and make sure it’s well balanced. And if something comes a little undone, just grab your tied threads and pull it a little bit to align correctly. Now, you can cut all of your threads, iron, and you'll see your very even and lovely gathers. And that’s how you gather fabric.

You can also watch the video tutorial here for full visionary details:

Once you learn the basics, it's very easy for you to master how to gather fabrics. It's not really hard as you think it is. Just follow the simple step-by-step tutorial and you'll certainly learn how to do it in no time.

Want to learn more sewing techniques? Click here.

 

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