How to Gather Fabric When Sewing

Gather fabric when sewing to create fullness in fabric.

When you sew, gathering is a common technique used to create fullness in fabrics. The conventional technique for gathering involves two rows of basting stitches. An unfortunate result of this technique is thread breakage, however. If your threads break, you will need to begin the gathering process again. Instead of gathering with basting stitches, gather with a zigzag stitch over a length of sturdy floss or string. The likelihood that the string will break is much less, which will enable you to finish your sewing project successfully.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Cotton string or dental floss
• Scissors
• Sewing machine (with zigzag setting)
• Matching thread
• Needle

Instructions

1. Lay the fabric on a flat work surface so you can work on the edge you will gather.

2. Cut a length of cotton string or dental floss that is about 2 inches longer than the fabric edge you will gather.

3. Position the fabric in your sewing machine with the wrong side facing up to enable you to sew along the fabric edge. Set the zigzag setting on your machine to the widest setting.

4. Lay the cotton string or dental floss along the fabric edge about 3/8 inch in from the raw edge.

5. Hold the cotton string or dental floss in place and position your sewing needle to begin sewing a zigzag stitch directly over the cotton string. Make sure as the needle comes down on both the left and the right of the string that it will not catch the string in the zigzags.

6. Begin stitching the zigzag stitch over the string. The zigzag stitches will hold the string in place along the entire edge of the fabric. Sew slowly to ensure you sew straight, keeping the length of string 3/8 inch away from the fabric edge at all times.

7. Stitch zigzag stitches over the string until you reach the other end of the fabric. Remove the fabric from the sewing machine.

8. Pull the cotton string or dental floss from both ends of the fabric. As you pull the string, make sure to pull both ends so you do not inadvertently pull the string through the zigzag stitching. Continue pulling the string until you create the desired gathers in the fabric. Adjust the gathers along the fabric so they are even.

9. Stitch small tacking stitches through both ends of the strings (over the zigzag stitches) to secure the gathers and keep them from pulling out. Clip off the excess strings on the other sides of the tacking stitches.

References

• Sewing.org: ZigZag Stitch