How to Gather Fabric Using a Serger / Overlocker - Quick, Easy, and Even Gathers

[@ErinSews]

Your timing couldn’t be better if you’d done it on purpose- my serger is supposed to be delivered today so I’ll be spending time this weekend playing around with it.

[@ChristineSewsALot]

I am so happy you are getting a serger! Have fun playing with it and I look forward to hearing about how you get on with it.

[@dizzyquiltsandsews]

Christine - your timing is spot on with this one! I’m working on something that’s going to require A TON of gathering. I’m now definitely going to try using my serger for it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Xx 💞

[@ChristineSewsALot]

You are so welcome! I have a lot of little girl dresses in my future so I know I will be doing a lot of gathering which previously was an unfavorite thing to do. Now I don’t mind because the whole process takes minutes.

[@MichelleSewsAgain]

Great tutorial Christine! I know many people will find it to be very helpful 😊

[@ChristineSewsALot]

Thanks Michelle!

[@ZeldaSews]

Christine, this was wonderful! I was looking at a dress with ruffles for my granddaughter, and I'm going to use this method to make the ruffles.❤❤❤

[@ChristineSewsALot]

Try it! It does save a lot of time!

[@carmensalome]

Oh so thats how you do it! That will definitely help me with dress a girl dresses! Your little dress us so sweet! Thank you for this tutorial.

[@ChristineSewsALot]

Thank you Carmen! It is a game changer with all the gathering of skirts on dresses.

[@Speedycommander]

Thanks for all the tips, especially the explanation on attaching the ruffles to the bodice. Great video….

[@ChristineSewsALot]

You are welcome!

[@TodayinJensSewingRoom]

Man oh man you are SUCH a good teacher. So comprehensive. I don't generally gather on my serger because you don't have that slight bit of fabric at the top, and I don't trust that my gathers will be even as I sew them to the other piece. But I think that's just a confidence thing. I'll work on it because one time thru beats 3 any day! xox

[@ChristineSewsALot]

Give it a try!

[@kgflcreations]

Thank you Christine for this great tutorial 👏. I will try it for the next time I have to do some gathering 👍👍💞💞

[@ChristineSewsALot]

Give it a try Karen! Saves soooooo much time.

[@socarole66]

Great tutorial Christine and even though I used my machine to gather already it was interesting to see the settings you use and marking where you want to start and stop is a fab idea. Thanks ❤

[@ChristineSewsALot]

Thanks Carole!

[@maggiecraven9625]

This looks great, can’t wait to try it out. Thanks Christine ❤

[@ChristineSewsALot]

You are very welcome! Let me know how you like it.

[@SewAndTellwithDori]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRISTINE!!! I've heard so many YT sewists talk about using their sergers to gather fabric, but no one that I'm subscribed to has posted a video on doing so (that I'm aware of). On top of everything, you're using a Baby Lock brand serger, which I'm contemplating buying to replace my Brother 1034D serger that seized up recently. Could probably get it fixed, but I'd rather upgrade. I have a BL Crescendo sewing machine and a BL Jazz II sewing/quilting machine, so I might as well upgrade to a BL serger. Would like to ask questions re: your BL Triumph serger. Are you on Instagram? Again, thanks so much for posting this video! The process was so much easier than I had imagined it would be. 🥰

[@ChristineSewsALot]

I am on Instagram. I LOVE my Triumph. It is the top of the line, but I got a great deal on it because the shop had so many in stock. I wanted a Baby Lock because they thread so easy, but I also love how easy it is to use, how reliable it is, and so much more. One thing that made me go with the Triumph was that there is a lot of room to work in both in the height between the bed of the machine and the needle and the throat space. It is very quick and easy to convert to cover stitch and changing needles is a breeze as they are easy to access. Happy to answer any questions. The Crescendo is a sweet machine.

[@SewAndTellwithDori]

@@ChristineSewsALot Great info! Is the Triumph an "air threading" machine? I've heard that term, but don't know exactly what that means. May I ask (ballpark) how much Triumph machines run? I'd like to include a rough figure in a sewing room budget I've put together. Thanks!!!!! .🙏🏻

[@SewAndTellwithDori]

Hi again, Christine. I went online and found out what the retail price was for the BL Triumph machines. Guess I have to put that in my new sewing room budget and plan accordingly. Thanks again for your serger gathering tutorial!

[@ChristineSewsALot]

I bought mine while I was working at a Baby Lock dealer. It was still pricey, but I got a nice discount.

[@SewAndTellwithDori]

@@ChristineSewsALot I check on the BL serger prices (retail). ☹ Good for you getting a discount! I paid more than I ever thought I'd pay for a sewing machine (my BL Crescendo). The dealer threw in a BL Jazz 2 machine for free to seal the deal. The pandemic was just starting, so business was down. I'd like to buy a new serger, but that's not going to happen for several months at best. Going to go back and re-watch your video re: gathering. Since you worked at a BL dealer, can I ask you for advise if I need any?

[@brendaforret9931]

Thank you so much for the tutorial. It is timely as I have a project upcoming that I could use this on!!

[@ChristineSewsALot]

You are very welcome! Definitely my favorite way to gather. Since I love dresses and sew for a couple of little girls, I have a lot of gathering in my sewing room. If I had to do it the traditional way, there would be fewer dresses. Let me know how your project turns out!

[@ln6974]

When pulling up your needle threads, gently hold onto the looper threads with your other hand rather than having them bunch up. You can release them once your needle threads are free. This works for me.

[@ChristineSewsALot]

Thanks

[@dianez9211]

Thank you for taking the time to create this video. Very helpful. Please let me know how you threaded your serger. I have a guide that shows me how to thread the serger. It has 3 thread narrow, 4 thread wide, 2 thread needle, etc. I am a little confused.

[@ChristineSewsALot]

What model serger do you have? To gather I thread it 4 thread, use the longest stitch length and adjust the setting off of N so that it feeds the fabric through twice the rate as normal which creates the gather. Of If I need it gathered more I pull on the needle threads, not the looper threads