Gathering
Creating fullness or pleats in the skirt section as marked on the pattern.
Where it is used
Gathering the Shoulders
p. 2- Gently pull the lower threads to gather the shoulder seam to match the length indicated on your paper pattern. Distribute the gathers evenly and tie off the thread ends.
Preparing Lower Front Gathers
p. 4- Sew two parallel gathering lines along the lower edge of the front pieces (3 mm and 7 mm from the edge) using a long stitch length (3.5-4 mm). Leave thread tails loose.
Gathering Lower Front Bodice
p. 4- Pull the lower threads to gather the lower edge of the front bodice to match the pattern specifications. Tie off the thread ends to secure.
12. Gathering Hem
p. 7- Gather the basting stitch at the hem to the measurement indicated on the skirt pattern.
11. Stitching Gathering Lines
p. 7- Stitch gathering lines across four sections at the hem of the skirt, following the patterns for the front and back panels.
13 & 14. Inverted Pleats
p. 8- Make inverted pleats along the lower edge of the skirt between the gathered sections, following the notches. Secure the pleat allowances with a 0.3 cm seam allowance.
Sew Gathering Rows
p. 6- Sew 2 parallel rows of stitching along the top edge of the lower pieces to create gathers. Stitch the first row 0.5 cm from the edge and the second row 0.7 cm from the edge. Use a long stitch length; do not backstitch at the beginning or end, and leave thread tails.
Gather Lower Pieces
p. 7- At the same time, pull on the lower bobbin threads and gather to the amount shown on the paper pattern. The gathering length on the back piece is given in full. On the front pieces, the gathering length is marked from the side seam to the notch on the front edge line. Tie off the thread tails.
Sew Gathering Rows
p. 6- Sew 2 parallel rows of stitching along the top edge of the lower pieces to create gathers. Stitch the first row 0.5 cm from the edge and the second row 0.7 cm from the edge. Use a long stitch length; do not backstitch at the beginning or end, and leave thread tails.
Gathering the Ruffle
p. 11- Gather the gathering stitch along the ruffle to the size indicated on the pattern for the front and back ruffles.
Reinforce and finish the skirt pieces
p. 8- Reinforce the skirt pieces either entirely or partially, including the hem allowance and the edges for the zipper. Finish all the vertical edges of the front and back skirt pieces. Stitch the darts or gather as marked on the pattern.
Serge the bottom edge of the skirt
p. 9- Serge the bottom edge of the skirt and press the hem allowance.
Related terms
← depends onWaist seam
requiresSewing machine
← depends onSleeve cap gathering
requiresThread
← depends onRuffle
requiresStandard sewing machine
applied toThree-thread loopback fabric
requiresSewing machine
requiresStraight stitch sewing machine
requiresSewing machine