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Love to Sew Studio Uses
Brother Project Runway Sewing Machines |
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| How to Sew Your Own Clothes:
Garment Construction |
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Gathering Seam... How
to Gather a Seam |
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A garment showing gathering
at the bodice top area. |
Learn how to gather fabric
by a strong zigzag machine stitch. |
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are several ways to gather fabric. Below is an easy way that your
gathering threads are sure not to break. This gathering technique is a
stronger method. We use this method in our studio, and it is our favorite.
However, if you are using a light or gentle fabric you will want to use a
different method. Here are two other methods of gathering fabric:
How to hand baste to
gather fabric.
How to machine
baste to gather fabric. |
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Gathering seams use to
mean tedious hand sewing of basting which took up much time, and if you had
thick or heavy fabric your thread would break, and you'd have to do it all
over again. Those days are done. Below is a real easy way to gather,
in which your gathering comes out perfect and sturdy every time. Try
it on some scrap fabric, you'll never dread gathering again. |
Cut a 4" X 8" piece
of fabric to practice on.
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Pull BOTH
upper thread and bobbin thread together long enough to cover your piece of
fabric as shown in the photo.
Set your machine on the widest zigzag and the longest (baste) stitch length.
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Carefully
zigzag stitch over the 2 threads. Do not back-tack. Try not to catch
the threads as you sew. Since this is
practice, we are stitching down the middle of the fabric. You will want to
stitch using the pressure foot as your guide
when you are gathering for making a garment. |
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This is
what your gathering seam should look like when you are done. DO NOT
cut the threads that you pulled up from the bobbin and top and zigzagged
over. |
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Pull the
two threads that you sewed over and your gathering is done. It's that
easy. As mentioned before when using this type of
gathering on a seam for a garment, use a 1/4" seam allowance
(or the pressure foot edge as your guide) so that when
you sew your garment together with a 5/8" seam allowance, the zigzag
gathering will be hidden. See other
methods of gathering fabric to compare which method works best for you:
How to hand baste to
gather fabric.
How to machine
baste to gather fabric. |
| Gathering plays an
important part in garment shaping and making. Many handmade clothes include gathering.
With this method, your gathering can be smooth and even. You control
where the gathers go. Your goal should be that your gathering looks
even. This give the most professional look. |
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Two Favorite Sewing & Dress
Making Books We Use Here at Love to Sew Studio Are:
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Christine Haynes book "Chic & Simple Sewing."
This is our all-time favorite sewing book to use for beginners to
intermediate students in our studio, and full size patterns are included.
This book is filled with adorable easy to sew dresses, skirts, and more
for the modern hip girl! |
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We
also have Wenlan Chia's "Twinkle
Sews" in our studio. It's definitely for the
more advance student though! The patterns are on a disk and you can print
them right on your own computer. We love her designs and youthful spirit
in her collection of 25 pieces of clothing to make in this book. |
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Click here for Photos of Handmade Garments using a
Gathering seam |
Methods on How to Sew Your Own Clothes - Garment
Construction
How To Design and Make Clothes Main Index Page
Lessons in Sewing Clothes
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