How to Gather: a basic sewing tutorialShow Video Details ↓ [music] …Woman: The two rows of long stitches are used to create gathers. The two rows help the fabric follow the smooth, even fold, as you'll see. In addition you have a safe guard in case one of the threads breaks. The important use of basting is gathering. To gather, you make two rows of basting. The first one on the seaming, the seam allowance. [noise] … … The second one a quarter of an inch inside the seam allowance. [noise] … … To gather, gently pull on one side of your basting. If you started pulling on the upper thread, don't pull on the lower thread also or you're essentially tying a knot. Pull and evenly distribute the gathering as you go. When you get to the other end you can either put a pin in this end to help keep the gathering in place or I actually just pull this end a bit and that essentially keeps it from un-gathering. Usually you'll be wanting to attach a gathered piece to another part of your garment. Pin the gathered piece to the straight piece. [silence] Adjust gathering to be even across the length. Many patterns will have you baste the stitch with the seam together first because often one side will get caught up in the other and it will be easier to rip out if it doesn't work out. And if you have to rip, it's easier with a longer stitch. [silence] That's the principle of gathering. You can use it in sleeve caps, in durndel skirts, decorative ruffles, all sorts of applications. It's called for in many sewing patterns and all you need is your all-purpose forks, your all-purpose needle plate, some time and practice and you can have beautiful gathering in no time. [music] … … … … … … … |