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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: ckmom002
Date: 01-24-2007, 10:04 AM (1 of 10)
| i just bought one yesterday and cant seem to get it to gather!!! |
User: ckmom002
Member since: 06-11-2006 Total posts: 105 |
From: dmoses
Date: 01-24-2007, 10:57 AM (2 of 10)
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Here's an article about ruffling and gathering feet. I think it will help. http://www.creativeneedlemag.com/articles/Footprints/footprints.html Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: pucktricks
Date: 01-25-2007, 11:18 PM (3 of 10)
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Okay, I'm doing this without looking at my notes, so I may be telling you backwards. But, if I remember correctly you increase stitch length and tension to get it to gather. You also will need to make sure and experiment with the fabric, because like anything it'll change depending on the fabric. For instance, when I was learning about it in my machine mastery classes, the fabric we used I only needed to change stitch length and had this amazing gather. The one I used at home, I needed to also increase the tension. That being said, it is so much fun, and makes twirl skirts a piece of cake. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570 
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From: weezyrider
Date: 01-26-2007, 09:30 AM (4 of 10)
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Also, some gathering feet have the ability to attach the gathered fabric to a flat fabric so there are 2 places to put the fabric in the foot. Weezy |
User: weezyrider
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 218 
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From: PaulineG
Date: 01-27-2007, 05:39 AM (5 of 10)
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I'm fairly disappointed in the gathering foot that I bought - it seemed to do only slightly better than my ordinary one no matter what adjustments I made. Depending on how much I have to do and how important it is I've decided to go back to the loose zig zag over fishing line because I feel like I've got more control over how it turns out. The foot does gather but not as much as I'd like so about the only thing I have used it for is twirl skirts because I'm too lazy to do all that pretty much by hand. Good luck. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: my2girlies
Date: 01-29-2007, 03:35 PM (6 of 10)
| I was very excited to get my gathering foot!! But I never got it to work properly. I think they are very tempermental feet!! |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-29-2007, 04:58 PM (7 of 10)
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I do not like gathering attachments.. I say that first, so you know where I'm coming from.. They look exactly like the one that came with my Featherweight 221 I bought used in 1957... That means its 50 years in my posession.. Don't you think a machine attachment would look totally different in this day and age ?? I too, rely on zig-zag over stren.. (fishing line).. My gathering foot never made it ruffle up enough to suit me.. If I want gathers, I want them full of gathers, not skimpy and half done looking.. The only exception was the priscillas I made for my Niece's BR years ago.. I did them on my serger by tightening the tension and sewing fast. (very fast) That made a very nice ruffle to attach ...
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: weezyrider
Date: 01-30-2007, 10:16 AM (8 of 10)
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Pfaff calls theirs a shirring foot. Mine works very well for ruffles. Mine has the 2 slots. You put the fabric under the foot and increase the needle tension and the stitch length for tighter gathers. It only works on lighter fabrics. Since I use a lot of batiste and lightweight broadcloth it works fairly well. Weezy 
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User: weezyrider
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 218
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From: LegalDealer
Date: 01-30-2007, 01:07 PM (9 of 10)
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Can someone please tell me how to get the ruffler to stitch? I attached the ruffler correctly and it moves and all while stiching, and appears to work okay...except that the ruffles all come out immediately since the bobbin doesn't seem to make a stitch complete, like there was no bobbin thread but there is! I have disassembled the foot and attached another and straight stiched, thinking something is wrong with the machine...but no, the stiches are fine then. Maybe I will try to pull up the bobbin thread past the fabric first before stiching. AND why are you ladies talking about zig zag on a ruffle? Is that to hold the ruffle down? or to attach it to a flat fabric? THANKS! Bonny |
User: LegalDealer
Member since: 10-19-2006 Total posts: 27 
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From: mcfay
Date: 01-30-2007, 08:38 PM (10 of 10)
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Are you talking about the big pleater ruffler attachment that has different setting and an arm that goes in and out that you put the fabric under? Or a foot that is not much bigger than your regular pressure foot. They make both kind. If you have the foot and set the tension just right you can put your finger behind it while your sewing and hold the fabric against the foot, so when the fabric feeds through it will bunch up against the foot a little at a time. That will help it ruffle, also the lighter weight fabric will ruffle better than the heavier fabric. If you have the big ruffler, pleater attachment, then make sure your fabric is between the bottom and the arm that pushes the fabric. After you set it to the size of pleat you want the arm should move in and out. Make sure the U shaped arm is on the needle screw. Hope this makes sense. I've used both kind. I have an old singer that I can use the pleater attachment on. But use the shirring/ruffler foot on my industrial machine. |
User: mcfay
Member since: 01-30-2007 Total posts: 16 |
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