How to set up your sewing machine to gatherstitch

Gathers are a method of introducing "fullness" to a garment. Gathers are also used to make frills and add decorative finishes to garments, cushion covers, curtains, table mats etc. It is quite simple to set up your home sewing machine to make gathers. It is essential that you first know your sewing machine, and how it works. You can read the manual that came with your sewing machine to get to know its parts as I will not deal with that in this article.

I will explain how to set up a basic interlock machine to make gathers, one that has no fancy devices that come along as accessories, this is because some of the new sewing machine models come with different types of pressure feet for different sewing tasks such as a Button-hole foot, a button sewing foot, a ruffle foot and many others. This type of sewing machine is certainly bound to have a gathering foot. The use of this will differ from model to model or brand to brand, so each will have its own set of instructions on how to use it, which will make the description rather subjective. So I describe a method that can be used, no matter what kind of sewing machine model you use.

The basic sewing machine, (interlock) uses two threads to make one stitch, the upper thread is supplied by the spool or reel placed on the spool pin of the machine, and the lower thread is supplied by the bobbin. In order to have a perfect stitch, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the tension setting is just right. Too much tension on the thread will cause the fabric to pucker and too loose tension will form loops on the fabric. Also different types of threads need different amounts of tension to make a perfect stitch. If  loops are formed on the lower side of the fabric, the upper thread tension is loose and vice-versa so first adjust the thread tension to give you a perfect stitch. you can refer to your sewing machine manual for this.

The second factor that you need to pay attention to is the stitch length. For normal sewing, stitch length for most fabrics is set to 10-12 stitches per inch. In order to make gathers, you will need to use the basting stitch, which is less than 10 stitches per inch. You can set your machine at the longest stitch length. Having done done this, sew a row of basting stitches near the seam /edge where you wish to place/or make the gathers. Sew a second row of basting stitches parallel to and about half a centimeter away from the first row. (you need to have at least two rows in event one thread breaks when pulling to gather the fabric, you may or may not require a third row of basting stitches)

After sewing two rows of basting stitches, hold the fabric in one hand, and gently tug the upper OR lower threads with the other. As you pull the thread, slide the fabric in the opposite direction. Voila! You have made your gathers.

Please note: ensure you do not pull out the whole length of thread as this will defeat the purpose)