How to Gather Using Your Serger | Sewing Tutorial
Gathering is a common sewing technique. Here’s how to gather using your serger.
Gathering is a sewing technique that takes a longer piece of fabric and shortens it by means of bunching or scrunching it up, thereby creating gathers.
Ruffles are similar to gathers, however, ruffles typically use a curved line, creating a spiral. Gathers may be used on a straight or curved line. Ruffles typically are an embellishment added to the edge of the fabric, like the hem. Gathers, on the other hand, are usually used to add in fullness to a certain area.
Similar results can be achieved by using elastic. However, the use of elastic also creates stretch. Gathering does not create stretch.
Gathers have all sorts of applications. Typically, gathers can be found in waistlines or sleeves. Recently, I made the M4M Pepper Puff Sleeve top which features puff sleeves which are achieved by gathers in the shoulder area, as well as by the cuff.
The Traditional Way to Gather
Typically gathering is done on a sewing machine. Sew 2 lines along the edge of the fabric that you need to gather. Use a long stitch. Once complete, pull the bobbin threads of each row to gather your fabric. Tie the ends at both sides to secure.
The challenge I face when gathering this way is to get the gathers even. This is especially noticeable when gathering a waistline on a bodice that goes all the way around. You want the gathers evenly spaced which can take a lot of fussing.
I find this especially to be true on the ends of my lines of sewing. I always seem to end up with a small section that is flat and not gathered at the ends of the gathering lines.
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How to Gather Using Your Serger
Gathering on a serger is quite easy. For me, once I tried it, I never went back to the traditional method.
I have a Babylock Acclaim and so the settings are specific for this brand of sergers. Other brands may be similar.
On your serger, change the settings to the following: turn the stitch selector to D and the differential feed up to 2.0.
I also find it helpful to turn my cutting blade off as I don’t want to trim anything. You only want to gather.
Now in order to get the correct amount of gathers, I do find that I need to sew the area twice. After you gather it with the first pass, take a look and see if it’s enough. Personally, I’ve always had to do it twice.
Don’t forget to change your settings back to normal after you’re done. I must admit that I’ve forgotten on more than one occasion.
I will say that gathering twice with the serger does create a bit of bulk. When sewing your gathers to another piece of fabric you will want to lay it flat as possible and check that it doesn’t bunch up as you sew.
That said, I love how evenly it gathers. Plus it’s so quick to do.
I typically do all my gathering using my serger now. I just find it so much easier and better. The results are always consistent.
