Did you know that it's really difficult to come up with a phrase that has the word "gather" in it and not have it sound like you're calling cattle? Nothing wrong with cattle calling, I love a good helping of it. But this isn't the cattle / horse type of gathering, it's in the sewing sense. As in, here's another tutorial (gathering this time) that will be making it's way onto the pages of my patterns. That you can have for free, right here right now for the low low price of..well..free means free.
I've had a few people email and say that they are having a difficult time opening up the tutorials and patterns in the sidebar. Hmm..I wish I had a magic button to push but I really don't. They are all in PDF format so I suppose if you don't have a PDF reader installed on your computer they won't work? Any computer genious' out there that have suggestions? If you are one of the ones that are having troubles, here is a .JPG file of the Gather Up tutorial that you can click to enlarge and then save to your computer. It is a lower resolution that the file in the sidebar so it won't look quite as nice printed out. But let me know if this works and I'll see about posting .JPG files of the other ones. Also, when my website goes live, each tutorial will have its own page where you can just read it, with a link to download if you please. The site will go live when I have the patterns in hand from the printers. :)
Thanks for the tip! I like to do the zig zag gather with dental floss instead of heavy thread.
Posted by: Nichole | July 27, 2008 at 10:35 PM
wow, thanks for the tip on zigzag gathers - I have never heard of that one before. Is that a trick you came up with yourself? I can't wait to try it. In fact, I'll be a lot more likely to do a multi-layered skirt for Eliza now, as I have mostly avoided it up til now because it's not too fun to mess with the double layers. Thanks again!
Posted by: Shelley Detton | July 28, 2008 at 01:04 AM
wow! Even your demonstration is lovely! THank so much!!!
Posted by: sarah jane | July 28, 2008 at 05:32 AM
Love your tutorials. I've added this one to my favorites too! Thanks so much!
Posted by: Jodi | July 28, 2008 at 06:03 AM
This is such useful information. Easy to understand and wonderful illustrations.
Posted by: Lisa | July 28, 2008 at 06:14 AM
Nice tutorials! Do you know the gathering technique for sergers - that is all I use now for all of my gathering. I'm sure you do with all of your gathering on your outfits. :)
I would think that if you don't have Adobe Reader installed or had dial up it would be difficult to open them. You need a pdf reader, and the files are pretty big so it would take a while to download on a slower connection.
Posted by: Stacy | July 28, 2008 at 07:05 AM
Shelley,
I wouldn't say I came up with the zig zag method myself. It's a pretty popular method! I prefer the Straight gathering because it feels like I have more control, but sometimes you're working with too much and the zig zags make it easier!
Sandi
Posted by: Sandi Henderson | July 28, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Stacy-
You know, I never use my serger for gathering! I like to have "ultimate" control and not all people have sergers, but feel free to leave a comment telling others how to do it!
Sandi
Posted by: Sandi Henderson | July 28, 2008 at 07:48 AM
Sandi - your tutorials are wonderful, thank you so much for sharing them!
Folks may be having trouble with the tutorials because file size is very large, and some may not have the fast connection to download it or enough memory in their computer to see a file that size. You can optimize the file in Acrobat (the regular Acrobat, not the reader) by going to Advanced --> PDF Optimizer. The roses tutorial went from 8 MB to 300 K. The images may not be as sharp but if that means they can see it, that may work.
Posted by: Pink Sky | July 28, 2008 at 08:01 AM
As you requested, Sandi...
In case anyone wants to know how to gather on a serger, here are the settings:
Thread tension - between 6-9 (I use 9 for fuller gathers)
Upper and lower loopers - normal tension (3-4)
Stitch length - highest (mine is 5).
Leave a long thread end and you will most likely have to adjust it a bit, but it finishes and gathers at the same time. I do lots of gathering for my outfits for my daughter, and this is the method I use.
Posted by: Stacy | July 28, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Oh thank you - I just asked this question on my blog - I've been having so much trouble with my thread breaking! Thanks so much Sandi - can't wait to get my hands on your patterns...
Posted by: Amber | July 28, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Oh thank you soooo much! I'm making a tutu for my daughter (professional style with bodice etc not a play one) and after gathering 14 yards of net by hand I was running out of steam. I then read this post and whizzed through the next 35 yards in a flash by using the zig zag idea. It looks way neater than the hand done layers. Excellent!
Posted by: Ruthanne | July 28, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Sandi, tutorials are so helpful to everyone - thank you for doing them on your site. You hited at the end about the patterns being at the printer - do you have an ETA for them? I've been excited about them since meeting you at Market!
Posted by: Maricopa Fabrics | July 28, 2008 at 12:42 PM
I love how pretty your tutorials are! I know once I get my sewing machine set up somewhere around here, I'll be referring to them. Thanks for taking the time to, so generously, offer them to us!
~ Jennifer
Posted by: ~ Junkyard Jennifer | July 28, 2008 at 01:31 PM
It looks like a fabulouse tutorial - thank you for that. Oh, and can I say for God knows which time that I LOOOOVE your designs? :)
Posted by: Astrid | July 28, 2008 at 03:11 PM
I love your tutorials. I'm a beginner sewer and you make the instructions very easy to understand and you make a seemingly difficult task approachable, thank you!
Posted by: Renee | July 29, 2008 at 03:13 AM
Sandi, I also gather with my pleater ( for those of you that smock and have one). I run two lines and once I pull the threads and gather the material and pin it where i want it, i just sew between the two gathering strong threads and then just pull the two pleater threads out--it is so quick and easy and I never break a thread.
to change the subject Sandi, can you give us a HINT of when the patterns will be available for sale for EVERYONE that is anxiously waiting??? I thank you so much for sharing all of your tutorials--they are GREAT and I haven't had the first problem saving them or opening them thanks again for everything and I have told everyone that I sew with and even our local fabric store about your patterns--you are the best
Posted by: Anxiously Waiting | July 29, 2008 at 09:01 PM
For those without adobe here is a link for a free reader : http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Posted by: Linda | July 31, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Sandi-I can't wait to get my hands on your patterns! That little dress pattern looks too cute for words! xo Shannon
Posted by: Shannon | July 31, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I used the zigzag gathering for the 11 feet of ruffles I gathered up for the latest dress I'm making my daughter. If it hadn't been for that technique I'm sure I'd still be cursing and breaking threads. :)
Posted by: Tara | August 01, 2008 at 08:25 PM