How to Gather: a basic sewing tutorial

[zerogeisha]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

[jedilips]

I gotta say, learning to sew garments as an adult (with no training as a kid) is SOO much easier with the YouTube. How did we live without it? THanks so much for this, I can now finish my dress!

[sewmarm]

@jedilips Hah, yes the availability of "how to" information does help now that we're all grown up. ;) However, the amount of time wasted on unimportant stuff is huge!

[sehseh6]

I am just learning on my new sewing machine, your easy to follow instructions, are a real help but please don't play music on any new video's we hope you will make Thank You it's been a great help.

[christinafour]

This is a really helpful tutorial. Thanks a bunch.

[boundbythebich]

Thanks =) I've been making purses for about a year now, but new techniques are always popping up and I'm not always sure how to complete them. I really appreciate you taking the time to make a video on it!!!

[brieea]

That's alot!

[Missrlbarlow]

I'd suggest adding captions. It was kind of hard to hear everything with the music. But a great video!

[sewmarm]

@Missrlbarlow Yes, I would need to find the time to do it. In the Windows 7 Movie Maker (part of Windows Live), there isn't the opportunity to add a narrative, so I used frames of text before the actions in my newer videos.

[jj39py]

It would be better if you use a contrast color material & thread.

[MyLoveForCanada]

From one film maker to another- the white noise in the background of your video drowns out the instructions (and the music just adds on to it). An alternative would be to make the video, mute it in editing, and re-narrate it in WWM (basically any computer that has WWM has a microphone built in somewhere, even if it's hidden). That way, you won't get any sound pollution and the music will be a nice touch :) [this wasn't meant to offend, and I know you made this in 2007 and probably already know!]

[sewmarm]

@MyLoveForCanada Yes, though have you upgraded to Win7 yet? Guess what WWM Live is missing? Yup, the ability to add narration. So on my princess seam movie I ended up not having any voice because I had planned on doing a narration over the shots and didn't do any voice during the takes! I would have to battle the teenagers for my XP machine back... anyway, maybe some day I'll get real video equipment instead of using my digital camera? ;)

[raeanne1125]

Thank you so much I am working on a dress and I found this video very helpful when trying to figure out the instructions of my pattern.

[CHEERorDANCE]

Cool

[AkodoBear]

Thank you for this. =)

[princesspudtassja]

i hve a question...what tye of machine is that??

[sewmarm]

@princesspudtassja

It's a Singer 3343c. Visit my site for reviews of Singer sewing machines. SewSing dot com.

[ruinsatiable2]

I just gave basting and gathering a try and it worked out wonderfully, thanks to you. I didn't break any threads, which was my biggest fear. I've found that it just takes some patience and when one area is a bit resistant while sliding, then just move beyond it to another area and come back to it. It will loosen. What a relief to have made it through the process without incident and for it to have come out so well. I appreciate your help. Great, easy to follow instructions. I've subcribed. :)

[sewmarm]

@ruinsatiable2

Great tips! And thanks for the compliments!

[ruinsatiable2]

Thanks so very much for posting this video. I'm a sewing novice, but I'd love to become proficient with it. I'm making a Halloween costume and wasn't sure of the best method for gathering fabric. Thank goodness I came across your video, because the way I was thinking of doing it was not just completely incorrect, but it would have been tricky and not at all precise. It would have been highly unlikely that I would have finished with the skirt having the correct waist measurement. Thanks again.

[sewmarm]

@ruinsatiable2 Happy sewing!

[ReneeChampayne]

GREAT!!!

[tibetanknight]

Oh my gosh, this was so helpful. I'm working on my Renaissance Festival costume and was sort of playing it by ear until it called for gathering, something I've never done before. I feel super confident about it now, though. Thanks so much :)

[sewmarm]

@tibetanknight Great! I recall doing a lot of gathering on my Renn Fayre costumes.

Happy sewing!

[MISSredroselover]

my needle is in my seing machine and is not comming out how do i get it out?

[sewmarm]

@MISSredroselover

I don't know your machine, but on my machine there is a small knob on the left hand side of the needle holder that loosens to allow changing the needle.

[sbk1432]

thanks so much!

[jazminmoses]

hi how do you put a bobbin in a machin

[sewingjoy]

Hi, I am trying to sew a small gathered sleeve on to a baby dress, I found your video helpful. However, I have a question, do I need to remove the basting stitches after I place the gathered piece on the fabric?? it shows when you turn them to the right side!! help!! thank you!

[TreadleLady]

@sewingjoy Yes, you do need to take out the basting stitches. They should come out easily since a long stitch length was used.

[sakiparis]

The music is very disruptive... it's hard to hear her. You cannot see some of the demonstration. She sounds like a good teacher.

[SafyaAmujahid]

Hello , i found your video very useful and would like to be friends . plz add me to your friends list for future videos , i would do it myself but im not that familiar with the computer .thank you Safia Salam

[klaura3]

great video! keep it up!

[silverbracelet6]

Whats the recommended stitch length and tension? Does it make a difference? I just need it for skirts and such...

[23misza]

PEDAL GAZ PEDAL

[alice30045]

I believe the timing is off in the bobbin. It could happen if you've tugged to release fabric which was pulled into the needle plate which happens when the timing's off. Needs to go into the shop unless there's lessons here somewhere on how to fix your machines.

[rainoyon]

thankz

[Ryauna]

Hi I found your video very useful however I have a small problem. My thread keeps breaking. The fabric is thick almost like upholstrey and I just may be using the wrong thread. A thicker thread may work better.I'm not sure.But I'm trying to gather the top edge of a cloak for a Renaissance faire and having a heck of time getting it to work. The first bit of fabric will gather just fine but woe to me if I try to even out or tug too much the thread breaks and I have to start all over =o( Any tips?

[sewmarm]

Sounds like it's the thicker fabric, but do make sure that

1) You are using the longest length of stitch and appropriate tension (you should see even stitches on both sides of the fabric), and

2) That you do two rows of basting stitches, that way if one breaks, the other should still be there, and

3) Make sure to only pull on one thread, not both, and keep pulling only up that one thread.

Hope you're successful! I used to sew my own Renaissance Pleasure Faire costumes, too!

[romanwarfist9182]

Hi my name is Jay and I make medieval armor as a hobby and recently bought a sewing machine so I could make some knight tunics I can get the machine all threaded and when I start to sew the thread almost instantly binds up in the bottom where the bobbin sits can you help?

[tairatoney]

bobbin is not in correctly- sounds like to me

[sewmarm]

See my tutorials on loading your sewing machine bobbin, and there are some by others in my favorites of other machines. It does sound like your bobbin is not in correctly.

Good luck!

[littlebuglearntosew]

Hi Jay, I hope you have your bobbin problem solved by now. If not, review your machine manual; make sure the bobbin is wound counterclock wise when the case goes on; make sure you're using the correct size needle for the type of thread you're using; make sure the bobbin case in securely engaged in the machine. Let me know if you're still running into trouble. Peg

[graffiticrime]

that problem exists when the tension is not tight enough or theirs something in the hook catching the thread.

[ViuSReg1]

this really help a lot

[1170OP]

Thank you so much I always did it in a hard way

[xNightshadex]

Thank you!!

[bigsisluvslilbro]

Thanks bunches! You saved my skirt! :D

[xThePhantomsAngelx]

Oh wow, that actually helped like a lot, thank you so much.

[HopeJoyness]

yesss thank you

[3heathgirls]

Thanks that's just what I needed.

[kandiily]

I am brand new to sewing and my mom showed me how to do this last night and it came out awesomely! It really wasn't difficult once I got the hang of it. It's one of those skills that, as a beginner, makes you feel really can say you can sew. Thanks for the video!

[pinkxiheart]

THANK YOU SO FREAKING MUCH!!!!

i cant seem to find a good tuorial on how to "ruffle" or gather...whatever. but thank you so much i am so making a skirt:)

[CelinaQ]

Awesomely helpful video. Thank you!

P.S. I like the soundtrack! :D

[paigeandpruerock]

Thanks for this! I was making a dress today, and the skirt needed gathering and I had no clue how to do it! Thanks very much for the video x

[SpiritBear12]

In a demo such as this, it would make it easier to see what's going on if you use a light colored piece of fabric with dark thread. The contrast just shows up better on film and in turn, is better understood when it's seen clearly.

Other than that, it's a nice demo, kudos.

[ambientsparkk]

Great video!  Much easier than gathering by hand. Thanks a bunch!

[sewmarm]

Enjoy! Happy sewing!

[ploxsicle]

Thank you! (:

[sewmarm]

Happy sewing!

[tawnyelise]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I don't have the time or money to go get sewing lessons and am trying to make my daughter's clothes. Your tutorials are a huge blessing!

[sewmarm]

Happy sewing! Just get easy patterns and start simply. Work up to more complex things and decorations. Your sewing skills will grow with your daughter!

[MaakaTsuki]

I made a pillow in home ec class....and it was hard. But thanks for the tips. It helped alot. <33

[lordkhyros]

I am looking for one on sewing on your yoke, i don't get it. Please help

[HannahGray37]

I'm just getting back into sewing and am having a hard time finding tutorials like this. Thank you so much...seeing the task in action makes more sense to me than just reading about it in a book:)

[sewmarm]

A video is worth a thousand pictures ;).

Happy sewing!

[NeverTrustSmilingCat]

i'm 37 and have got some curtains i absolutly love but they are too long so what i plan to do is buy a sewing machine and make some cushion covers with the left over material.

I am a complete beginner lol but i know what i want and it has to be done, bit scarey though.

[janerazor]

Thanks so much for the vid. I am just now learning to sew--at age 41! Hopefully it is not too late for me, lol! I have a question about once you have a piece of gathered material. How do you sew it onto another piece of material? Where do you put your stitch? Above the two basting stitches? Below? In between? Thanks!

[sewmarm]

You can do it! It's never too late.

For sewing the gathered piece to the other piece, you will want to sew it so that both the basting stitches are in the seam allowance. I guess that would be "below" the basting as you look at the edge.

Otherwise you have to spend time pulling out the basting, as it shows if you sew between or above it.

Hope that helps!

[Acidfaery8]

Thanks, that was really helpful!

[sewmarm]

You're welcome!

[Nickisfeirce]

This is so helpfull!

thanks!

[sewmarm]

You're welcome!

Happy sewing!

[karilagan]

Thanks for sharing this technique. I can't wait to try it out.

[sewmarm]

Lots of patterns call for gathering, so I'm sure you'll find a sewing project you love that you'll be able to try it out on!

Happy sewing!

[shakaama]

how do i gather with tule?

[sewmarm]

Tule is pretty tricky. You might want to hand baste instead of with a machine. Then gently pull up on one side of the thread.

Good luck and happy sewing!

[ryannlag]

I don't agree with this method of gathering. Its time consuming and very VERY hard to have an even finish....

[sewmarm]

In my favorites I have some other YouTuber's gathering videos. Check them out!

[UncleCheesedog]

Thank you so much! If only I had found this video about 2 hours and 30 curses ago!

[sewmarm]

My motto for sewing: my seam ripper is my best friend!

Happy sewing!

[suziebee20]

Thank you! I'm working on a dress for Halloween for my daughter and the gathering is driving me bananas! This video is very encouraging that I'm doing it right and I need to stick with it. I think I need better thread though, mine keeps breaking! :(

[sewmarm]

Yes, do buy a different thread a.s.a.p. I once bought a cheaper thread, and it kept breaking over and over. I changed the thread (very worried about my machine at that point!), and no problem. I don't skimp on thread anymore,that's for sure.

For gathering, do the two rows of basting while you get used to it. Also, for long gathers, I use two rows, since one is very likely to break.

Happy sewing!

[ikilledurdad]

Awesome!! Simple & to the point, thanks for posting, I'll be trying this out soon :D

[sewmarm]

Happy Sewing!

[MileyEmilyfan4eva]

Thanks for making this! It really helped!

I kept pulling on the top and bottom threads...I think I did that about three or four times!

[sewmarm]

Hehehehe, well, at least you didn't try to pour meat juices on the garment (basting in cooking terms!).

A video is worth a thousand pictures! Happy sewing!

[coppercoin77]

you are the first post I have left here on You Tube...Thank you!!! for this little lesson!!

[sewmarm]

Leave more! Tell me what else you need to know!

Happy sewing!

[doxiesupholstery]

great information!

[sewmarm]

Thanks! Happy Sewing!

[timboslayer]

Well, my wife wants me to sew loads of things today before she gets home from work so any tips are very useful. I'm petrified. This has inspired me to get started though. Thanks.

[sewmarm]

Happy sewing!

[GoddessSkyeBlu]

Very helpful and easy to follow video. Thanks so much!

[sewmarm]

Happy sewing!

[NoirFemme]

How do you gather knitwear? I'm currently sewing a knit shirt with gathered puff sleeves and this method isn't working so well.

[sewmarm]

Good question. I don't think I've ever gathered knit material. You would probably be better off with elastic casing, I would think. If it's a sleeve end, I'd go for ribbing.

[TimelessBarbara]

Very nice, thanks so much!

[sewmarm]

You're very welcome. Happy sewing!

[moomoobrom]

I think it would be helpful to add that rather than sewing the firt line on the seam allowance actually come in a couple of mm - and then with the second line of stitch come across 3 mm - when sewn into a garment this ensures that these pull threads are hidden...

it is porbably worth noting that for about £10 you can buy a gathering foot.. they are excellent!!!

[sewmarm]

Yes, I have in my favorite's someone else's video of using a ruffler foot for gathering. I am definitely planning on getting one!

That's a good tip you mention, as it's very annoying to have to pull out threads that show after you sew a seam. Thanks!

[fernmeio18]

im planning to buy miself a sewing machine because i really am interested in sewing and designing...what is the best sewing maschine you cabn advise me to buy in terms of usage and flexibility. i really hope you'd help me. nice video !

[sewmarm]

Decide how much money you want to spend. Search the internet for prices, and see what kind of machines there are for the price you want to spend. I like Singers, but other people prefer other brands.

I definitely recommend getting a solid mechanical machine, not a computer driven machine or electronic interface machine, as the mechanical machins are more basic and thus easier to learn. And easier to repair if needed.

Hope that helps.

[trosea]

Excellent Video, great tutorial. I use to have to read books to my kids to get them to fall asleep, but now I just let them watch this on my laptop. LOL

[sewmarm]

Yes,the age of video. However, watching videos doesn't seem to improve their spelling like reading does!

[chisellecouture]

This was a very clear and helpful video!

Thanks for posting!

[sewmarm]

Happy sewing!

[gabbee]

Thank you so much!

[sewmarm]

You're welcome! Happy Sewing!

[Marronsoul]

thank you dear

[sewmarm]

You're welcome! Happy Sewing!

[cylckk]

clear and useful...Thks!

[sewmarm]

You're welcome! Happy Sewing!

[MorphineBunneh]

Thanks a lot. ^^ Helps a bundle.

[sewmarm]

You're welcome!

Happy sewing ;).

[Zxii]

Oh wow. This helped a lot! Thanks for uploading.

[sewmarm]

Thanks for commenting! Happy sewing!

[123stumpy321]

ok thanks alot!!! thanks for helping!!

[sewmarm]

You're welcome! I'm planning on doing a video project soon that will cover a lot of basic skills.

[123stumpy321]

hi i was wondering if u could answer a quesiton of mine! sorry... I am trying to learn the basics of sewing becuase I'm wanting to learn and i was wondering if you need to tie a knot or anything when u begin and finish sewing with the machine??? if you dont wont the stiches come out??? plz reply thanks!

[sewmarm]

Good Question! See my video on backstitching. You use the backwards stitch on your machine (or turn the fabric if you have an old machine that only goes forward) to keep the ends of your seams from unravelling.

Happy Sewing!

[EssenceOfHope]

OOoh, so that's what they mean by basting. Thanks for the video, that was great. :)

[sewmarm]

You're welcome! Happy sewing!

[designerkid13]

Never mind about the basting, I see the other comment now. Oops, sorry. Great video.

[designerkid13]

Thanks alot! I Love sewing and this really helps, but I also would appritiate if you clarified what basting means. Thanks again sewmarm!!! Great video!!!!

[sewmarm]

You're welcome! Yes, the two videos sort of go hand in hand. Maybe someday I'll rename them with numbers ;).

Happy Sewing!

[explicitlaydee]

thank you so much i'm sewing my own prom dress and i was wondering how to have the gather at the neckline ... you solved my problem!!

[sewmarm]

Good for you! One of my first fancy projects was a prom dress. I have very fond memories of how luxurious it was to sew on nice material and feel the garment coming into shape.

Happy Sewing!

[myredskirt]

Very cool!

[sewmarm]

Happy sewing!

[prettyfit]

Thank you, this video is awesome (:

But could you clarify what basting means?

[sewmarm]

Basting means temporarily making a seam. You can actually baste with pins to keep a seam temporarily in place. However, most patterns call for machine stitch basting. That's using long stitches that are easily removed after you make the temporary seam.

Hope that helps!

[whyteboy5159]

thank you for this video. gathering has always stumped me and its nice to have people like you to explain.

THanks so much.

[sewmarm]

Happy sewing!

[whyteboy5159]

thank you so much for this. i have been trying to find a tutorial for gathering forever...and the best i came up with was scary and confusing pictures.

this helped me so much.

THANK YOU

[sewmarm]

If a picture is worth a thousand pictures, a video is worth a thousand pictures.

Happy sewing!

[ninnnaaa]

thaaaaaaanx!!!!

[sewmarm]

You're welllllllllcome!

[carriecarrie75]

Thank you very, very much! :-)

[sewmarm]

You are very, very welcome!

[MissBetc]

I could not thank you enough for this fantastic tutorial!! I'm a fashion design student and sometimes our books/directions make absolute NO sense to me until I see a visual so thank you thank you thank you!

I'm going to give everyone in my class this link and your website addy.

Have a beautiful weekend!

[sewmarm]

Great! I'm so glad! Please post other tutorials your class needs, too!

Happy sewing and designing.

[ebonyamberjade]

next semester I plan to take a sewing class at community college. It is something I've wanted to learn to do since I was a kid

[sewmarm]

Happy Sewing!

[omgkoneko]

thanks so much for your tutorials! when you read about these techniques it seems simple enough, but it really helps to see someone do it :)

[sewmarm]

Pretty amazing how video can get across these techniques.

[Isabella321]

P.S I am glad to have found your site. It is very informative. Thank you.

[Isabella321]

When I stitch the gathered material to another piece of material it does not stay. What am I doing wrong. Is it because I only used one basting stitch to make my gathers or am I using the wrong stitch to sew the pieces together. Should I use a zig zag stitch to sew them together?

[sewmarm]

You should use a smaller stitch than the stitch used for making the gather. In other words, where I show you to use the larger number, 5 , use a 2 or 2 1/2. That will give you a nice strong seam.

The problem with using a zig zag to sew together is that your seam is not smooth and straight. Zig zag is good for finishing off edges, as in my other video.

Hope that helps.

[gedythe]

I just started my first serious sewing project and I was so stuck on how to gather. Thanks so much, this video was a great help!

[sewmarm]

You're welcome! Happy sewing!

[alfredofwessex]

Thank you so much! You saved my project. I couldn't find this info anywhere else. I had been looking for two weeks! You are awesome!

[CarlaC212]

This video is SOOO helpful. I just got my first sewing machine for Christmas (i am 24). I am attemting to make my first dress and it calls for gathering. Now I am confident I can do it! Thanks! I am sure I will be back with tons of questions!!!

[sewmarm]

Congrats on your first sewing machine! I have no idea how people live without one ;).

Sewing is like cooking, only it's not so easy to look up what all those terms mean and how to do them. Hah, even in cooking, you have to baste sometimes! But it's a totally different thing than basting your sewing project.

Don't be shy about posting requests for tutorials. I'm slow at getting them done, but I put the comments from here on high priority.

[Justsue400]

Hi Thank You thank you thank you! I love your videos. Please show us everything. There is no where by me to learn. You are awesome. I just want to let you know how much I appreciate what you do. Maybe you can show a project from start to finish and we could follow along in a couple of segments.

Sue

[sewmarm]

Great idea!

[RiverSiege]

Great tutorial, I'm learning to sew so this will be useful. Could you please use a different coloured thread next time so we can see better?

[sewmarm]

Yup, that's my number one fault so far with my videos. That and lousy lighting ;).

[Feleta12]

how do you thread a singer sewing machine because that is what i have and it is hard for me to catch onto the other video

[sewmarm]

In my favorites, I have someone else's threading video, if you can't follow mine.

Best of luck!

[babygirlrr]

I like almost all of your videos, If there is a possible way; Could you upload a vdo of how to sew elastic band? THat would be terrific. Thanks for sharing :)

[sewmarm]

Do you mean sewing a seam that you insert an elastic band, or where you actually sew the elastic band onto the fabric?

Okay, actually I can put both of those on my list of videos to do, since they are both very useful techniques. I insert elastic more often than sew the elastic onto the fabric, but if you have small children, sewing the elastic onto the fabric is very useful for a lot of projects.

[awntwo]

that was really great. thanks for posting!

[magnoliasouth]

Excellent video and very helpful.

[sewmarm]

Thanks! Happy Sewing!