How to use a Gathering Foot Quick and Easy Tutorial.

In this post, you are going to learn how to use a gathering foot with your home sewing machine.

This presser foot will help you to gather fabric a lot faster than any other gathering or shirring technique you can do without it.

The only thing you need to do is find the right brand presser foot for your sewing machine, attach it to your sewing machine and start sewing.

I will show you how to gather a single layer of fabric and also how to attach a flat layer of it while you gather a second layer, all at the same time!

Are you ready?

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I absolutely love the effect of gathers on everything.

Particularly on my garments. I have added gathered ribbons and pattern pieces to a lot of the clothes I sew.

If I think of specific places my favorites are the sleeve hems (just like on the variations of my Magnolia Dress Pattern), on the hems of tops, between princess cuts, and of course on the hem of skirts and dresses.

But that’s not the only use you can give to this amazing presser foot.

If you learn how to use a gathering foot you will also learn how to use it to attach a flat layer of fabric and gather another to it at the same time.

Imagine the possibilities.

You could make a gathered skirt or dress without a pattern.

Also, you can use this technique to make gathered ribbons to decor all your sewing projects. 

I have used them for example, as trims for my throw pillows.

What is a Gathering Presser Foot?

The gathering presser foot is a sewing machine attachment, usually sold separately that is used to automatically gather or shirr fabric while you sew it.

This foot has its own shank. So to attach it to your sewing machine you will have to unscrew the whole foot leg and screw this in.

It has a left-opened slot to put a second layer of fabric in it so you can sew and gather two layers at the same time. This will give you as a result one flat layer of fabric and one gathered.

How does a Gathering Foot Work?

The gathers are formed as the base of the presser foot pushes the fabric towards the feeding dogs. 

As the base of the foot only covers half of the feeding dog’s area the fabric on the back of the foot will stay in place.

This will make that the fabric that is being fed from the front gathers as it is being sewn.

Where to get a Gathering Foot for my Sewing Machine Brand?

It’s important that you check your manual or your brand’s machine service provider to see exactly which and where to get your gathering foot.

I got my foot from a package that I got from Amazon with 52 presser feet. Until this day I haven’t had any issue with any of them.

Sewing Machine’s Setting needed for this presser foot.

You must change the settings on your sewing machine’s thread tension and stitch length in order for your gathers to form.

If you want big gathers both of those settings must be smaller.

On the other hand, if you want fuller and closer small gathers you should increase both the stitch length and the thread tension.

My sweet spot for the perfect gather is to have the thread tension on 7 and the stitch length on 5.

I do recommend sticking with a tension between 7 and 9.

How to use a Gathering Foot?

Watch this video tutorial to see how to attach and use the gathering presser foot on your sewing machine or read the step-by-step picture tutorial below to get more insights on the process.

Gather a Single Layer of Fabric

1. Attach the Gathering Foot.

Using the screwdriver that comes with your sewing machine remove the foot that is on.

Then place the gathering foot and press it up with your hands.

Screw it in, making sure that it is aligned and that the screw is tight.

2. Place the Fabric under the Foot.

Align the edge of your fabric with the edge of the presser foot.

If you want to have a good seam allowance to work with, make sure to move the needle all the way to the left.

Lower the needle while you hold the threads from the needle and bobbin on the back.

3. Start Sewing.

Start sewing. I recommend that if you can, you reduce the speed on your sewing machine so you can start slow.

This will allow you to have more control of the alignment of the fabric while it is being gathered.

If the fabric gets stuck at any point, raise the needle and gently pull the fabric away from you until you release it.

Bring it back under the foot and continue sewing until you finish.

Joining a Flat Fabric with a gathered Fabric.

1. Start with the same settings to gather one layer of fabric.

Use the same exact settings that are mentioned above.

Attach the foot and place the fabric you want to be gathered under the presser foot.

2. Slide the Flat Layer Fabric through the slot.

Take the layer of fabric you want to stay flat and face it with the right side down.

Slide this fabric through the slot of the foot and align it until it touches the right tab.

Lower your needle.

3. Start Sewing.

Use your left hand to guide the lower fabric. 

At the same time use your right hand to guide the flat layer of fabric.

If you want flawless results sew both fabrics very slowly to have more control over them.

4. Press the seam allowance.

Press the gathered seam allowance upwards to the flat layer of the fabric.

You can also make an overlock seam to finish the seam allowance if your project is not going to have a lining.

Difference between a gathering foot and a shirring foot.

Technically the gathering foot and the shirring foot are very different but they do the same basic function, to gather fabric. The difference between these feet lies in the fact that the shirring foot does not have a slot for a flat layer of fabric.

Instead, a shirring foot has a single hole in the center for the needle to pass through.

There is a lot of debate on what’s the difference between gathering and shirring. 

And although everyone has their own opinion, according to Sew and Ca. gathering and shirring is basically the same thing.

Only they make the distinction that a shirred fabric has more than one line of stitching on it.

Alternative ways to gather Fabric without a presser foot.

There are a lot of ways you can gather fabric without this tool. A few of them are.

• Use a seam ripper to gather fabric fast with your machine.
• Make a basting stitch and pull the threads to form the gathers.
• Sew a zig-zag stitch over a small ribbon or thread and pull that thread.

Is there another way you know to gather fabric fast and easily? Let me know in the comments below! I will be more than happy to try it out.

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