| Gathering is the sewing technique used | | | | the material. |
| for many applications in different | | | | - Evenly distribute the gathering, and |
| sewing projects. Ruffles are an example | | | | finish sewing your seam according to |
| of gathered fabric, as are puffy sleeve | | | | directions. |
| caps. Gathering is accomplished by first | | | | For very thin or slippery fabrics, you |
| applying long stitches, called basting, | | | | may need to use a slightly smaller |
| and gently pulling up on the threads to | | | | stitch length to keep your stitches |
| gather the fabric. | | | | smooth. Always mark your patterns, as |
| - To machine baste, set your sewing | | | | you will need to line up the gathered |
| machine to its longest available stitch | | | | area with particular areas of another |
| length. | | | | piece of your garment. If you don't have |
| - Stitch this basting stitch along where | | | | it marked, you won't know where to match |
| your seam line will be, on most | | | | up the pieces. |
| commercial patterns 5/8 inch from the | | | | When you're gathering a small area, you |
| fabric edge. | | | | can wrap one end of the thread around a |
| - Stitch again 1/4 of an inch inside the | | | | pin to keep it anchored in place and |
| seam allowance. | | | | prevent the thread from being pulled |
| - Two lines of stitching will keep your | | | | totally out of your sewing piece. |
| gathering more even, and hold your | | | | Machine gathering is a technique that |
| gather in case one thread breaks. This | | | | you'll use in many sewing patterns. |
| is especially important on long | | | | Practice it a few times on fabric scraps |
| gathering lengths such as waistline | | | | until you're comfortable with the |
| areas. | | | | technique, and you're on your way to |
| - Gently pull up on one thread to gather | | | | more successful sewing projects. |