36
1540
1530
1520
1540
1530
1520
Utility stitches and practical sewing
Gathering with the straight stitch
Using a straight stitch, you can gather sleeves,
skirts and valances with a stitch length of 6
mm. To ensure consistent gathering you should
sew two or three rows of gathering.
• Mark the fi rst line on the right side of the
fabric and sew along it. Allow the threads to
extend approx. 10 – 20 cm.
• Each subsequent seam can be sewn one
presser foot width from the last.
• Gather the piece of fabric by pulling the
bobbin thread. You determine the amount of
gather by how much you pull the thread.
• Finally, the thread ends are knotted to
secure the gather.
Gathering with elastic thread
Sleeve and waist seams can be gathered by
sewing over an elastic thread.
• Mark the fi rst gathering seam on the
reverse side of the fabric.
• Sew a few stitches using stitch M/F. Leave
the needle in the fabric. The needle must
be in the center of the presser foot. Raise
the presser foot and lay the elastic thread
around the needle.
• Lower the presser foot and sew a few
stitches. Then pull the elastic thread evenly
at both ends.
• Determine the amount of gather by the
amount you pull the threads.
• The gather can also be altered after sewing
by pulling the ends of the elastic threads.
• Finally, knot the threads and elastic.
Tip: The cording foot (special accessory) is
particularly suitable for gathering. Due to its
guide grooves the elastic is fed evenly during
the sewing process.
stitch
G
E
E
0
0
0
6
6
6
3-5
3-5
3-5
0/1
0/1
0/1
stitch
M
F
F
5-
5-
5-
Stretch
Stretch
Stretch
3-5
3-5
3-5
0/1
0/1
0/1