Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: debsews
Date: 10-18-2005, 10:58 AM (1 of 11)
| I'm a self taught sewer and I stick to easy things like pj's that don't have a lot of detail. Well I bought a cute gown pattern for my granddaughter and it has a ruffle at the bottom of the gown. My question is after I sew the three ruffle sections together and hem it and then match up the seams on the ruffle to the dots on the gown how do I get it gathered so it's even all the way around. I have put in the two gathering threads but after I pin it to the dots I can't get it gathered past that point. Is any of this clear enough to help me? Thanks in advance! |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 10-18-2005, 12:11 PM (2 of 11)
|
I'm a self taught sewer and I stick to easy things like pj's that don't have a lot of detail. Well I bought a cute gown pattern for my granddaughter and it has a ruffle at the bottom of the gown. My question is after I sew the three ruffle sections together and hem it and then match up the seams on the ruffle to the dots on the gown how do I get it gathered so it's even all the way around. I have put in the two gathering threads but after I pin it to the dots I can't get it gathered past that point. Is any of this clear enough to help me? Thanks in advance! I'm not sure I understand what you are working on and/or doing but I'll give it a try any way  Generally when you are gathering with the 2-thread gathering method, you are going to want to do all your gathering before you do the pinning and/or matching of the dots. The matching of the dots gives you alignment, showing you the average basically of how much gathering on each side of that space you evenly may need to do the gathering. Does that make sense?  I will often over gather, then using my fingers pressing out gathers evenly across to match everything up, smoothing out the gathers to make them look even across the area. Of course that doesn't mean that you gather past the little notch of end or begin here, but you obviously know that 
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246 
|
From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 10-18-2005, 12:17 PM (3 of 11)
|
What I would do is mark the points on the ruffle material(that matches the night gown bottom sections) with pins, then sew 2 rows of gathering threads in each section, leaving fairly long thread ends on each section, then pin the ruffle material to the bottom of the night gown and pull-up each ruffle section from each end of the long threads to match each section of the gown. You will have to kind of spread your gathers (so they are fairly even in each section)and then pin and sew. Sometimes I do an overcast on the edge of the ruffle before I do the gathering threads if the material has a tendency to ravel. I also take the gathering threads out after I sew the two pieces together as sometimes my gathering threads stray outside the seam allowance. Some machines have a gathering foot but I have never been able to get the amount of gathering I want so have never bothered with them. Also some patterns use 3 rows of gathering stitches but I think that is mostly for dressey type clothes. Two rows have always worked pretty well for me. The only thing I have to watch is not too pull to hard and break the darn threads. |
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: debsews
Date: 10-18-2005, 12:24 PM (4 of 11)
| Well I think you've given me what I need. Gathering each section individually instead of that whole length will certainly be alot easier. I tried to gather it and then pin but that didn't work for me. As I said I haven't done alot of this kind of thing and so I'm sure practice is needed. I will give it a shot and see how it goes. Thanks. It's a cute pattern M4955 and I got the sleeves done with a few problems. They have the casing and elastic so it is full below that. But this ruffle was kicking my butt and I had to walk away! |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: debsews
Date: 10-18-2005, 03:09 PM (5 of 11)
| Well I finally got the ruffle on the gown. However I think the pattern is wrong because it only calls for three ruffle sections and I couldn't make that work. I went back and cut out another section and it went together perfectly after that. So I guess there are times when you just have to do it your way. Thanks for the suggestions I did go ahead and gather all of it first and then matched up everything and pinned it on. I'm so relieved I'm finished with it because that's one more thing I've conquered! |
User: debsews
Member since: 09-16-2005 Total posts: 254 |
From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 10-18-2005, 07:39 PM (6 of 11)
|
I'm basically self taught as well but after watching Shirley Adams on T.V and Linda MacPhee I have branched out alot. I also find the Sew News magazine has done alot for me, also like Threads magazine but haven't done alot out of that one, but it certainly gives me ideas about the things I do, do. Quilting mags also inspire me and have done wall hangings and started a quilt last year for an xmas present, maybe I'll get it done this year as I ran into a snag trying to make my corners line up in part of the design and decided not to do anymore on it until I got it figured out. Glad to hear you got the ruffle worked out and in place, hopefully you'll tackle something else and amaze yourself.Happy sewing.
|
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: beachgirl
Date: 10-18-2005, 11:40 PM (7 of 11)
| Thread breaking can happen often when gathering for ruffles. You can use quilting thread that is stronger but I like to zig zag over stronger thread or string even. Just don't let the zig zag stitch catch on the thread or whatever your useing. It gathers quicker & better then after pinning or sewing just pull the gathering string out. Do this in the seam area so the zig zag stitches won't show on your finished ruffle. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
|
From: Catalina
Date: 10-19-2005, 04:53 AM (8 of 11)
|
I have a gathering foot too but never use it. I usually zigzag over dental floss. Sometimes I just take a treaded needle and do a running stitch and gather a section at a time- sew it- then gather some more. Measuring is the key, then divide your ruffle evenly for each section. |
User: Catalina
Member since: 01-06-2005 Total posts: 119 |
From: Sewspecial
Date: 10-19-2005, 06:51 AM (9 of 11)
| I have been sewing special ocassion dresses for years. I like to put two basting (machine) stitches in one at about 1/2" and one a little less than that. You've matched your points based on your pattern. Adjust the gathering by hand between these points so they look pretty even and pin it in place. Sew very close to the 1/2" basting with the gathered side up. This will allow you to make sure your not tucking in extra fabric. Your gathers should come out perfect. I remove the basting stitches after. If you've sewn real close to the 1/2" seam they shouldn't show and you dont have to remove them......it'll make it easier to merrow/serge. |
User: Sewspecial
Member since: 09-24-2004 Total posts: 30 |
From: LauraM62
Date: 10-19-2005, 09:33 AM (10 of 11)
I'm kind of both taught, took several sewing classes way back in school. Sewed for several years after school, then after kids I could sew for them but just could never get a pattern to fit me  The one thing they never taught is sewing classes was the art of pattern alterations, the fitting of the after-baby body. So I went to home decor, quilting, and things for the kids - until my older kids didn't want mommy things  Hmmm but that is changing in my now 15 year old too I've been learning allot more lately about fitting patterns for the mature figure As far as gathering, I do use the 2 thread method as that is what I was taught. I haven't had a thread break in years, I think once you got 1) the spacing down 2) using a long stitch 3) loose tension - I haven't had a problem. I have looked at the zig/zag dental floss as a choice if I needed in certain fabrics, but haven't needed it yet
LauraM
SW Indiana If everyone cared and nobody cried; If everyone loved and nobody lied; If everyone shared and swallowed their pride; Then we'd see the day when nobody died --'If Everyone Cared' by Nickelback |
User: LauraM62
Member since: 08-10-2003 Total posts: 246
|
From: LadySloPokes
Date: 10-20-2005, 12:21 PM (11 of 11)
|
I'm like LauraM62-took a couple of sewing classes in high school way back when mini-skirts were becoming the fashion of the day! Now, after 30-some years, I've started again. For gathering, my new machine doesn't make long enough stitches, so I will hand-basted the gathering rows with long stitches. That seems to work out okay for right now. I may just keep my old machine to use for basting and gathering as it made really nice long stitches.
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198 
|
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-17129.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft