One of the simplest and easiest add-on feet is the gathering foot. When I worked at Viking Sewing Gallery is was without a doubt one of my favorite feet to teach new sewists to use. This foot can be incredibly handy even if you don't sew ruffles or plan to do lots of gathering. How to use a Sewing Machine Gathering Foot.
What The Gathering Foot Does
The gathering foot makes it possible to gather a length of fabric either in a single layer or to attach it to another piece of fabric, gathering and stitching in one step. It allows the gathering to be created as the fabric passes under the needle and foot rather than having to sew long rows of gathering stitches, then pulling them up evenly by hand.
What the Gathering Foot Looks Like
The gathering foot is short in length, flat bottomed. The front of it has a fold giving the foot a double layer. The left side of the fold has a gap/slot while the right side is closed allowing you to place the edge of the fabric against the right side to act as a guide. The foot only has a single layer of metal at the back which never comes in contact with the throat plate of the sewing machine.
How A Gathering Foot Works
To gather a link of fabric or trim, feed the fabric edge under the foot and sew. The clearance at the back of the foot allows the fabric to bunch together and gather. To attach a gathered section to another layer, sandwich the piece of fabric that is flat in the slotted area of the foot. Place the other piece below the foot and sew. The lower piece of fabric will gather and attach to the upper fabric which will remain flat.
How to Use a Sewing Machine Gathering Foot to Gather a Single Layer of Fabric:
Place the fabric under Gathering Foot and sew. Increase upper tension for tighter gathers. To gather and attach gathered fabric in one step:
1. Attach the gathering foot to the sewing machine
2. Set the machine to a straight stitch and increase the stitch length.
3. Place fabric to be gathered under the presser foot right side up.
4. Sew down the length of the fabric to be gathered.
5. Adjust the stitch length and tension if necessary to increase or decrease the gathers.
How to Use a Sewing Machine Gathering Foot to Gather Fabric and Attach to Another Fabric
1. Attach the gathering foot to the sewing machine
2. Set the machine to a straight stitch and increase the stitch length.
3. Place fabric to be gathered under the presser foot right side up.
4. Place fabric to have a ruffle attached to it in the groove of the foot right side down.
5. Sew, guiding the under fabric but do not hold it back.
6. Keep the top fabric in the groove moving it steadily as needed.
7. Increase the stitch length, upper tension, and presser foot pressure for more gathers.
Project Ideas
- Ruffled cushion or pillow
- Gathered lace edges
- Gather netting
- Shirring with elastic
- Attaching ruffle to skirt or apron
- Gathering and attaching a skirt to a waistband
Quick Tips
The gathering foot is suitable for light to medium weight fabrics. Straight stitch, (left needle position), length 3 to 6. The longer the length, the more fabric will gather. To encourage more gathers, place a stylus or a finger at the back of the presser foot to decrease the progress of the fabric.
Looking for tutorials on more sewing machine feet? Check out our Sewing Machine Feet Series.
How can you use the foot for 2 pieces of fabric if you have clip on machine?
For most machines, it should work the way I showed in the video. I'm not sure what you mean by clip-on machine. What machine do you have?