How to Gather Fabric | Sewing Machine

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Hi, I'm Jennifer from Workroom Social and today I'm going to show you how to gather fabric.
We have our fabric piece right here that we want to gather and the first thing we're going to do is go to our sewing machine and make sure that we're on a straight stitch. Then we're going to turn our stitch length up as high as it will go, on my machine it's a four; so we're going to use a large stitch length. Then we're going to take our fabric and, for this project, we're going to assume a 5/8 of an inch seam allowance. Knowing that we're using a 5/8 of an inch seam allowance, the first thing I'm going to do is sew a line at 1/4 of an inch seam allowance, just on the one-ply fabric.
Before I start, I want to make sure that I have long thread tails going out the back because we're going to use these to gather the fabric, so I'm just going to lay those there. Then I'm going to put my fabric in the machine and, for the 1/4 of an inch seam allowance, I'm just going to use the edge of my presser foot and I'm going to sew all the way across.
When you get to the end of your fabric, you want to pull your fabric out and keep these long thread tails. So I'm going to cut, just in the middle, so that I have a long tail on my fabric, and a long tail on my machine. I'm going to pull that to the back and now I'm going to sew another narrow seam, another 1/4 inch from the seam that I just sewed.
If you add them together, 1/4 and 1/4, you would want the raw edge of your fabric aligned on the 1/2-inch seam marker on your seam guide. I'm going to put my fabric in and then I'm going to sew all the way down again. We're going to do the same thing we did already. We're going to put long thread tails and clip our project off.
Now we are ready to gather our fabric. The first thing you should do is separate your top needle thread from your bobbin thread. Then you should tie off one set, so I'm going to tie this set off, which is on top, and you can just make a knot, just a quick overhand knot. Then I'm going to pull it tight down on the fabric. Then, since we have a lot of threads here, I'm just going to clip this because I don't have to worry about that, I don't want it to get in my way.
So we pulled the top here and tied it off so we're going to do the same on the opposite end. I'm going to take the top threads and I'm going to tie them off, just like I did on the other side. Then I'm going to clip those threads. Great! So now I can go ahead and gather my fabric.
To do that, I'm going to work from the left and then from the right, gathering fabric towards the middle. All I'm going to do is hold these tails and pull my fabric in towards the center to make these gathers. Then you can do it from the opposite side as well to make your gathers.
Now if this were going into something, say this was going to be a skirt, you would definitely want to set this down and spread these gathers out evenly. You can see here, they are really tightly gathered and here it's kind of a little loose so you take your tails and hang on and just kind of spread them out; that made it a lot better. Then you can balance it out from the opposite side as well, just kind of move things along to get them nice and balanced.
Once you have your fabric gathered and it's in the place you want, you can now tie your other threads off so that they won't move. You want to try and keep your knots close to the edge so that this won't come undone.
Then you'll take your fabric, we'll make a little waistband. Say this is the waistband and this is our skirt piece, you're going to pin the gathered fabric to the straight portion. Then you'll take this to the sewing machine and we're going to sew our 5/8 of an inch seam allowance.
From our raw edge to our gather stitch here, we have 1/2-inch, so we're going to be to the left of all of our gather stitches. We'll take this back to the sewing machine and line it up with our 5/8 and sew across our gathers. As you come up to all the gathering, I like to just kind of pull things down straight before I sew over them, make sure everything is laying really nicely.
We have a lot of bunching here so we're just going to pull everything down, make sure it's well balanced and then if something comes a little undone, that's okay. You have your threads tied so you can just grab it and pull it a little bit to g

[@michelles8014]

Thank you!! My mom showed me sewing basics as a child so a couple years ago when she was diagnosed with cancer I started an apron with her as our final project. Unfortunately, we only got as far as cutting out the pattern before she got too weak and emotional to continue. I've recently picked it back up to finish, or I guess start, but am often overwhelmed. This video has really helped.

[@escaramujo]

I recently lost my grandma (the person who raised me, who was also the person who taught me hand sew when I was 3 yo). She was a terrific seamstress. Her hands were admired by all of us (the children she raised, which was a big bunch since every child that knew her loved her instantly). Now I'm trying to honour her memory by perfecting my gather-making skills. Around my people there is this saying that 'the maternal line is a line of thread' implying that the knowledge and skills are passed through the maternal line, the same way your first thread is given by your mother. I hope you can find solace with this activity.

[@WickedSk8rGrl]

🥺 Saddest yet sweet thing I’ve read. I bet she’s super proud😢

[@meriumhasthephonebox]

I'm a complete beginner and I am currently making an apron as my first project. I will be keeping you in my thoughts ❤

[@dreamfortress4772]

omg who's cutting onions

[@holisticallyholly4612]

Hey you! I'm in the same boat! My mom passed with stage 4 cancer and left me her sewing machine! I'm trying to use her clothes and make myself a new wardrobe with them. I'm so sorry for your loss! I know for me this is the hardest thing I've ever been through. I hope you're still sewing! ❤

[@sherwoodforest7012]

I'm a beginner and was almost talked into buying an expensive additional foot for my machine. Thank you so much!!!!

[@The_torero]

The gathering foots are actually inexpensive.

[@ataraxiastemple]

I got one off eBay for about $4, I recommend getting one just in case ✨

[@fReAkLaNcEr123]

32 sewing feet in Amazon for £17 is pretty cheap tbh.

[@codzydee7334]

Yeh thank goodness for you tube

[@andtipidee]

@@fReAkLaNcEr123 That’s still quite an investment, especially for a beginner sewing!

[@kutepookie]

Omg! Hands down to you! You explained and how every steps in details that I was about to follow and know what you were doing unlike other videos I had watch they did Not show every details! Wonderful job!

[@sohappytosew1082]

Very nice! I like how you show everything at the machine. Being a novice, it's sometimes a challenge for me to "now just go to your machine and sew...". Thank you!

[@maddyfoster4328]

This was so easy to follow, instructions were clear and straightforward. As someone who needs a visual to follow written patterns, thanks so much!!

[@mads855]

I'm sewing my daughter's Easter dress and wanted to add flutter sleeves! It's my first time and realized it required gathering. This looks super simple. Thanks for the great video!

[@randomjunk1019]

thnx alot.... this video helped me gather the skirt i was making and it turned out really good

[@aimlessalix8066]

Finally so much easier than all the other videos👍👍👍

[@funsizeddancer2505]

omg!!! thank you!!! new at sewing! you made this super easy for me to get! very much appreciated!!!!

[@mireyasuazo5846]

cg

[@eliseolopez8568]

Fun Sized Dancer Hello, do you know what it’s called when the fabric overlaps one another to create a staircase?

[@umanilakantam]

great job love this channel

[@jamilanaseer7074]

Thank you i learned alot from you

[@michelledsouza6304]

She's a great teacher

[@donnapeyton636]

Great demonstration and easy to do. Thanks.

[@mariselaesteves630]

Just what I needed! Thank you!!!

[@nathamuller3853]

Best video I have found !!!!

[@NaturallyLuvely]

Omg, amazing! Very well explained. Inches, metric it's okay if we want to learn we will figure it out.😊

[@dewisulistiyani264]

Hello, thank you for the nice video. It's very clear stepwise. Can you please explain how much of the fabric that we use? Is it twice as much?

[@milaasdf6463]

Thank you. This really clarified my technique. I press after gathering and after the final sewing.

[@hannahd366]

Several years late to the party, but I assume this technique would work as well if I were going for a balloon-ed pants bottom, correct? 🤔

[@spatel2836]

Hmm probably

[@lesleymoody7501]

Great video. Very Clear. Thanks!

[@angelicamalamaria]

Love this! I have a DIY channel and I love finding new tutorials they're so helpful! ✨🤗💕

[@baileychouest9507]

Great video! Thank you

[@dianoly12]

What if I want both sides gathered? I am trying to make a skirt with that effect but I'm affraid for a bumpy look on the side seams. I tried elastic but doesn't look as neat as I would like it.

[@imeldauhongora8070]

Very helpful thank you

[@bmorgan7559]

Oh wow, this is so clear! Excellent tutorial, just what I was looking for :)

[@adriennejohnson9818]

Thanks! I’m 16, making my first dress! Wish me luck, yall

[@christinalane3859]

Wow now I can use this method when I make my praise dance skirt! 😃

[@mLp43v3r]

Thank you for this, I'm currently working on a doll outfit and I was struggling on the skirt and I finally came to the conclusion it was because of the gathering on the company made dress that caused the puff, but I didn't originally know how to gather on a machine and hand gathering doesn't work the same, I appreciate the tutorial so much!!!

[@carolinemamelpo9795]

This is amazing thank you

[@paangelqueen]

awesome im just learning to sew and this helped so much thank you

[@phe.mp3]

thank you so much!

[@CeeItsMe]

Just what I was looking for. Thank you so much for posting! :)

[@zandriengelbrecht7297]

On what size paper must you print the patterns?🤗

[@nazninshaikh6272]

Thank You!! Can we gather cotton fabric too with this technique?

[@bmm3325]

Yes you can!

[@عبداللهصباح-ر7ظ]

روووووووووعه

[@yumna626]

I am gathering a sleeve edge of crepe fabric. this technique worked great. thank you

[@beahwatson]

this is very helpful, thanks so much!!

[@Seamstress_in_the_Making]

Woah thank you so much! Im completely self taught, this video helped a lot with the shirt i wanna make

[@philanna38]

Always sew on the RIGHT side of the fabric so you can pull up the bobbin thread. Also, you shouldn't tie off the bobbin thread if you are following a pattern because you have to fit the gathered piece to the pattern piece.

[@CrimsonAlice]

LOL, well, i wish i bothered to look in the comments about two minutes ago

[@milaasdf6463]

I believe she tied off the top thread not the bobbin thread.

[@ladyhawc03]

@@milaasdf6463 - Agree, I just went back & viewed/ listen to the video..she said to tie off one of them..& then she tied off the top threads.

[@mikasaakerman6191]

Thank you!!!

[@kimdkus]

Thanks!! I wondered how to tie off the gather.

[@redplaysgames719]

This is so good!! Quick question, how do you tell the top needle thread from the bobbin thread?

[@akuou88]

personally i use different colored threads

[@LinhTran-yt5nw]

How much can this machine be?

[@Hatchisadcat]

Americans must be highly intelligent to figure out 5/8 of an inch , I mean 99% of the world use metric system ( Imperial system is only used by Myanmar, Liberia and USA , just read it somewhere) ! I mean 5/8 inch = 1,5 cm , that's much easier to visualise, no ?? Like I would never measure 5/8 of a meter, what would that be ?? No idea ... Apart from this, thank you very much I know how to gather now, I needed it for a bag ! :)

[@meapia21]

vvv it’s not confusing when you grow up using the system. Also American machines have these measures marked next to the presser foot.

[@Patternpile]

Good tutorial.

[@bendobson9165]

Hi I was just wondering what tension I should have my machine on for this? Thank you so much!!

[@hububdub8716]

Does it matter which you tie off between the top and bottom (@2:49)?

[@violetbasketball]

No

[@sharikathol8657]

Thank you for your help, this technique was lots easier than others!!

[@juanitarenfrow9126]

There is a much easier way I learned after doing it like this for years.. I found it on you tube... when sewing you hold your thread on top of your machine between your thumb and first finger kinda tight as you sew your fabrics it will ruffle on its own!

[@malaganesan262]

good

[@janinedunbar]

Really clear instructions, thank you!

[@sarahosmari7870]

hi howcast thankyou so much for sharing with me how to gather stitches on a shirt keep up the good work

[@Hannesl247]

Do you not reset the stitch length before stitching the edge to the gathered part?

[@TeresaV]

My question, too. Guess I'll see if that's been answered in the comments. I don't expect a reply since it's such an old video.🤷‍♀️

[@mariafaiz8272]

This video helped a lot for me thank you so much 😊

[@zanechaos]

So you need add extra inches to the waist to gather? Especially on a skirt for a bigger person?

[@annamccabe936]

zanechaosnyes!

[@marthaescobar9581]

Did she sew with the pins? Can someone explain this to me.

[@Bunny2086]

+martha escobar Yes, she sewed with the pins so the top of the skirt fabric wouldn't come off as she sewed them together. The pins are perpendicular to the direction of her sewing so the pins don't get in the way of the sewing process, as they're there just to hold the fabric in place. :)

[@harmoniag]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@Lisalittleones]

How do you sew the skirt together after you are done the pleats?

[@savannahtatianna]

+Lisa DeLise you sew the ruffle to the bodice by sewing in between the lines you just sewed.

[@Lisalittleones]

Great , thank you :)

[@marianneclancy9784]

Great video, very helpful. Thanks.

[@susanfreeland33]

Hello,,I am trying to gather satin bias tape i made for a blanket..ANY IDEAS PLZ???

[@humaasif6408]

plz tell me how you add extra fabric onthe top of skirt

[@taraiza878]

huma asif do the same thing on the other side of the band... Without pleating

[@batflower07]

You're a great teacher! Thank you!

[@rebeccawijesuriya2756]

jennifer is very catchy 😍😲

[@luvnlilac]

This is by far the best instructional video I have seen that shows how to gather. Thank you!

[@hassamkamal6790]

just use a gathering foot instead nd save plenty of time

[@amymuller321]

I don't have a machine like yours i have a empisal dress maker 270D

[@halanasierra7800]

Tie the top strings then flip and tie the top string in the other end? It tie the top strings both sides in the ~front~ ?

[@Mjl449]

Or you could just turn up the tension dial on your machine too (along with your stitch length) and it does all the work for you 🤷‍♀️ your welcome.

[@rahmahmusa1314]

Thanks 😊, this great

[@marymoore4549]

Great vid! What kind of sewing machine do you have?

[@textiletechindrajeetyadav5390]

How to calculate gather ratio

[@faizamemon2548]

Thanks a lot

[@عبداللهصباح-ر7ظ]

روووووووووعه

[@عبداللهصباح-ر7ظ]

روووووووووعه

[@nicolevandersommen1523]

this did not work for me at all, my thread broke almost immediately

[@ManufacturedCrises]

When you stitched it or when you pulled it?

[@monjiaitaly]

How much more fabric do you cut when you are gathering it? What is the calculation. Thank you.

[@minionhope8819]

My friend wants me sew her skirts for her dolls and plus noes but does my thread have to be the loosest? Myn is from 0-9?

[@missimperfectlyfine7]

i think a smaller one like 5-6 should be ok for a doll.

[@ginasejur]

Thank you! Helped a lot :)

[@acloversgoodluck]

This explains a lot for me, thank you!

[@aldorahunter8452]

What do this mean

[@aldorahunter8452]

3 or 10 between the small dot

[@MeganScheurman]

But at the end how do you make it look so seamless? 😭 I'm doing my first sewing pattern for my 5 year old and its a simple dress that requires two gathering stitch section for the lower section of the dress. My gather is alright I suppose but I don't know how to connect the fabric like you do.

[@MeganScheurman]

Update: I think I did it! 😂😁😊

[@mireyasuazo5846]

i

[@silverlookfh1114]

Nice video! Just subbed to you 😘

[@enidsepulvedarodriguez1567]

Thank you so much for this easy to understand and follow video on gathering!

[@SequoiaSierra]

Great demo!

[@textiletechindrajeetyadav5390]

Gather ka ratio kaise nikalte hai

[@naveena5582]

What fabric is that ?

[@missimperfectlyfine7]

probably cotton or poly-cotton

[@ejikemeetudo6766]

Thanks you just helped me finish my homework!

[@fatmataljai8933]

I Have this really important question i really hope people can help me with "If im gonna gather the fabric? How many fabric do i need ? Cause what i see is it got smaller when she gatherd it and if u need help with that question my waist size us "25"

[@philanna38]

You can double or triple the width of the fabric. All depends how full you want the gathers for the skirt. Always putt the bobbin thread to gather.

[@i36s]

Thank you so much for a clear and concise explanation! You are a great teacher and this was SUPER helpful!!

[@djtblizzle]

Jennifer is super cute!!! 😍

[@TheCountryFarmhouse]

You and I have the same machine, I’m really new at sewing and using my machine so I really appreciate all your how to’s

[@Moocow2003]

Thank you

[@babykittyhandmadehouse7684]

It's very helpful.Thank you so much.💛

[@lizacurran1085]

PERFECT thank you!!!!

[@amireallyprepared2823]

do gathers stretch?

[@rivitraven]

only problem I have with gathering is that I have a yoke that I am sowing gathered fabric upon. this yoke is going to have a certain specific length and I am to put a fabric tube that is pregathered on it. problem is that due to the certain length requirement I do not want to end up with an eneven gathering, or accidentally gather it too much/ not enough. especially since the fabric that I am using is very expensive and gorgeous.

[@lemonminus1589]

you can try pleats or a ruffler foot, since this is 3 months old you probably figured it out

[@charliespinoza1966]

Thank you! This was very easy to understand.

[@MARIAMEDINA-kr5ue]

great!!! i dint remember this from my sewing classes

[@elzaneimane9882]

Do you backstitch when you sew on the waistband?