How to Gather Fabric in 6 Ways

Six Ways to Gather Fabric

Serger Gathering with Tight Tension

1. Set the differential feed on your serger at the biggest number (mine was 2).

2. Set the length on your serger to the biggest number (mine was 4).

3. Feed fabric through the serger, and it will automatically gather the fabric. With these settings, my fabric started at 36" and gathered to 19".

Gathering with a Cord

1. With a wide zig-zag, set your sewing machine to Width 6 and Length 5.

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2. Place a cord or string about 1/3'' from the top of your fabric and sew the zig-zag over the top of the cord. Be careful to NOT sew into the actual cord. You will want this to be able to slip through the stitches and if the needle sticks it, it will be stuck.

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3. When you get to the end hold the stitches in one hand and pull the cord (blue here) with the other hand. This will cause the fabric under the first hand to gather.

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4. Continuing pulling until the fabric is the desired length. Smooth out the gathers and then use a basting stitch to hold the gathers in place. Remove the cord and continue with pattern.

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Machine Gathering with Tight Tension

1. Adjust your sewing machine settings to Length 5 and Tension 8/9. More tension will make the fabric gather more tightly, and less tension will make the fabric gather less tightly. 

2. Pass your fabric underneath your sewing machine.

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Single Thread Quick Gather

1. Set your stitch length to the longest it will go; mine was 5.

2. Stitch this long basting stitch about 1/3" from the top of your fabric.

3. Find the bobbin thread (the bottom one), and pull only that thread. Use the other hand to hold the fabric.

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4. Pull the gathers until the fabric is the correct length. Tie your threads at both ends so the gathering will stay. Using this method is tricky because the single thread is more likely to break, so be careful when pulling the gathers.

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Double Thread Traditional Gather Method

1. Set your stitch length to the longest it will go.

2. Stitch this long basting stitch about 1/3" from the top of your fabric.

3. Sew a second line of basting stitches about 1/8'' below your first line. Make sure when you add the second line of stitches that you DO NOT cross the thread. They won't pull properly if crosses. The two lines of stitches must be parallel.

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4. Once you have your two lines, find the bottom bobbin thread and grab only those two threads. Pull the threads, while holding the fabric.

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5. The gathers will bunch right at the edge. Use your fingers to smooth out the gathers until they are even. Tie the threads at each end to hold the gathering.

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How to Gather Fabric by Hand

1. Thread the needle and tie knot at the end.

2. Push the needle from the back of the fabric to the front. This puncture will determine the position of the beginning of your basting seam. Pull the needle until the knot you tied in Step 1 hits the fabric.

3. About 5 mm away from your last puncture, push the needle from the front of the fabric to the back. Pull the thread taut.

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4. Repeat Step 3, alternating the direction of your needle but keeping the same stitch length each time. This is a simple running stitch with an increased stitch length.

5. Once you have reached the end of your seam, hold the end of the thread and push your fabric towards the knotted end. The fabric will gather along the stitched line. When you have gathered your fabric to the desired tightness, tie a knot at the other end of the thread so that it touches the end of your fabric.