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A Little Gathering Tutorial

Here is another video tutorial on how to make pretty gathers. We all have different techniques that we like to use and this is mine! I hope you enjoy it! If you don't learn anything maybe you will at least have a good laugh out of it! LOL! I really don't enjoy hearing myself on video!

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Anonymous said…
I couldn't agree more with having two gathering threads. Not only do the gathers stand nicely at the seam, but it makes your day when a thread does break!
March 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Unknown said…
Thanks so much for that.. I started to peak into sewing last week and it's a bit hard for me... this really will help me!

Cristhiane from California!
March 23, 2009 at 11:49 AM
gatornic said…
What a nice tutorial! I gather a LOT (sewing for a girl will do that lol) and this actually helped me iron out a few kinks I've encountered. Thanks for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to make it!
Nicole
March 23, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you for the very helpful tutorial! I just found out that I'm having a little girl this summer, so I'm going to be sewing a lot of gathers in my future!
March 23, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Katie said…
That was great! Your tips of pinning before gathering and the way you even them up with your swizzle stick are going to be so handy. Thankyou for sharing! Oh and I love your accent, so sweet.

Thanks again
Katie
March 23, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Sarah said…
So did I see that right? Did you sew the regular seam through the middle of the two gathering seams? Genius! Thanks for the tutorial!
March 23, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Anonymous said…
I think everyone hates how they sound on video. I have a very childlike voice. More than once when someone calls me on the phone, they ask, "Is your Mommy home?"

I received my pattern today. I'm going to start on it tonight. :)
March 23, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you so much!! I just finished cutting out all my fabric for my Miss Molly dress! What perfect timing! I was just telling my husband I wanted to order a gathering foot for my sewing machine, but now I don't feel like I need to:) And I can spend that money on some more FABRIC!! Gathers are so hard for me. I am so excited to try it out tonight. Thanks again!
March 23, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Anonymous said…
thanks for the tutorial! it is so helpful! you sounds sweet ;)
March 23, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Jaime said…
That was very helpful, that will make my sewing much better quality. I want more like this, I never had anyone to teach me sewing clothes so I just wing it. I was wondering what your tool was that you were using and you did finally say, a Shish-ka-bob stick, awesome, I am glad I don't have to go spend $10 on a special stick for sewing!
March 24, 2009 at 8:01 AM
Samantha Caffee said…
*********************

Jamie,
What other techniques would you like to learn? I don't mind doing a video every now and then, but I would like to know what everyone could use the most.

xoxo,
Samantha

*********************************
March 24, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Anonymous said…
Great tutorial! I learned some good tricks. Thanks for taking the time!
What is next? hahah! It is so helpful sometimes when you can really see what your doing.
Thanks so much!
jenn
March 24, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Anonymous said…
AMAZING!! Thanks for the tutorial! Great timing as I've been trying to gather evenly with sad sad results. After watching your tutorial just once I went to my machine and tried it. It worked perfectly, the first time!! I can't wait to use it in my daughter's next dress.
March 24, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Molly said…
You would think after 10 years of sewing for 3 girls that I would have this gathering thing down, but I have found myself avoiding patterns with gathers and going for simpler styles lately. your tutorial has spurred me to try some again. Some of your tricks made me think, well, duh, why didn't I ever think of that?!?! :) It was so clear, concise and helpful! (And I loved hearing your kiddies voices in the background, so sweet!) And, by the way, I hate to hear myself on video, too. I always think, "That CAN'T be what I really sound like, can it?!" :) Thanks for posting this!
March 24, 2009 at 5:13 PM
kris said…
great tutorial! i finally made a miss molly and kinda jacked up the gathering bit, so this will be super helpful for my next go! i love the pattern though, so great for even new sewers (i started sewing last may, when i decided that all of the trunk show clothes i was buying for my girl were pretty basic and stupid expensive, lol!)

(oh, and pics of the not-so-perfect miss molly are on my blog, thejohnsons78.blogspot.com, if you want to see, lol!)
March 24, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you so much for the clear clear and did I say clear instructions. I have read how to make ruffles and I tried it, only to get frustrated when my string would break. Now, I was able to make a dress and the ruffles are beautiful! Thank you again!
Jen
March 25, 2009 at 7:53 AM
pfarmwife said…
And HOW, Samantha, did you know I was up at 3:00am sewing for the next day???? LOL!! I did that last year, the night before Resurrection Sunday because my darling little girl did all the kitchen work that day so mama could finish her dress. I was not about to let my sweet girl down. Of course, this year, my husband has graciously taken off from work the week before, so that doesn't happen again....I'd better go sew!

Warmly,
Stacey
March 25, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Anonymous said…
Okay, you have convinced me to use two lines of stitching when making ruffles ;)
March 25, 2009 at 3:10 PM
maribeth said…
thank you so much! i am a self taught sewer, so any help is greatly appreciated! i hate ruffles because i always wing the gathering. and, the gathers were always moving and then all ended up in one area. now, i know to smish it with something!! thank you again!!
March 25, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Anonymous said…
That was great! I've gathered I don't know many things, but I've never done it that way. Thanks so much!
March 27, 2009 at 8:05 AM
Anonymous said…
Thanks Samantha!
March 27, 2009 at 8:28 AM
elizabeth said…
Wow. Thanks! SEW helpful! Ha ha.
March 27, 2009 at 7:11 PM
jenny said…
great tutorial!
March 28, 2009 at 5:41 PM
cnydalynn said…
Thanks for the tutorial. I would love to see something on sewing arms - I always have so much trouble with that. I don't know what I am doing wrong but I do mess it up every time.

Oh and I love the accent. I have one too so don't feel bad. :)
March 29, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Serena said…
What a great tutorial! I tried your method on an Easter dress last night that I was working on, and it turned out perfectly! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your tutorials.
March 30, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Barbara said…
Great tutorial. Clear, easy to follow and you have a lovely, calm voice. I always struggle with gathers and wondered if there was a knack that I was missing. Better steal one of those sticks from the kitchen drawer and pop it in my sewing drawer for next time. Bx
April 2, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Anonymous said…
What about a SEW ALONG FOR MISS MOLLY??? I can't seem to get it put together right. I have ripped the bodice and skirt apart 2x's so far and its still not right! I bought the most beautiful fabrics to make the dresses, but I'm afraid to use them. And I am dying to get them put together and see my little girl in them!
April 2, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Jaime said…
I would love to see any video how to, but I don't even like following patterns, I just like to try something, so I don't even know how to put sleeves on. If I knew how to measure them out and the right way to put them on I think maybe I could come up with my own dresses for my girls.
April 3, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Leah said…
This is a great tutorial! I do 2 rows of gathering stitch but just hap hazardly sew the seam down after I have mucked around forever pinning, gathering, repinning because they are not even! I have just made 3 dresses tonight and couldn't get on the net to rewatch this tute, so frustrating!!! But now I want to know your tips for when you attach a skirt (with front and back seams sewn already) to a bodice that has the front and back seams sewn already as well! Please please. Love your accent, made my husband appear from another room to see what I was watching! xthanks Samantha. p.s. there are a few of your dresses on my blog!
April 17, 2009 at 6:48 AM
Tamarah said…
Thank you for your Tutorial. I am just a beginner and was getting very frustrated. I asked other sewers ( I work at Joanns Fabric) at work and they told me to stitch two lines and pull.... the thread would always break, which = frustration. Thank you again and hope to see more tutorials soon.
June 29, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Amy ~ (Life's Small Treasures) said…
First time here.

Thank you so much for this video!!!

I would love if you could show how to make bloomers for under a dress. You may have already~I will go check ;)
~Amy
September 22, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Alisha said…
This was very helpful!! I'm trying some gathering stitches out for a project!! Thanks for sharing!
September 29, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Pinklilyblossom said…
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this. It was really useful.

I wish I had you to teach me to sewing all the time - I need help.

I'm definitely going to buy your pattern after this.
:-)
February 10, 2010 at 4:33 PM
ezri.blue said…
Hi, I just found your blog today (and became a follower) because of a google search I did on how-to gather stitch. I just want to thank you SO MUCH for this tutorial; I am a complete novice and because of you I was able to finish my very first ever dress with skirt (similar to yours in your demo) for my 4yo. Thank you again, thank you thank you!!! :D :D
February 22, 2010 at 12:57 AM
Anne said…
Thank you thank you thank you! Just ripped my gathering stitch. Now time to pull it all out and do two lines now! So glad I found you!
May 3, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Andrea said…
Thank you! I linked to your tutorial in my own tutorial about making a little girls' nightie from a man's t-shirt.

I enjoy reading you!

Here's my tute:
http://northernlightsmama.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-first-tutorial-making-girls_17.html
May 17, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Lola said…
Love the idea of sewing between the two gather lines. I'm new to sewing and I made a skirt for my daughter last week, the gathers gave me such grief. Hopefully next time with this technique it will go smoother! Thanks!!
June 6, 2010 at 1:13 PM
FeatherBunkle said…
This is genius! I NEEDED this today--sewing miles of satin gathers for my 3 girls to be flower girls on Saturday. You are my new hero!
October 13, 2010 at 12:20 PM
The Hills said…
Looks like I'm late to the party, but thank you so much for this video! I'm about to sit down to make a dress I promised for my niece. It's only 8pm, but hoping I'm not up until 3 and I think your tutorial will help! ;-)
October 10, 2011 at 7:14 PM
Unknown said…
Please make a retro one piece swimsuit tutorial!!! I beg you!!!
May 20, 2012 at 8:32 PM
ichliebecookies said…
Your accent is adorable! Thanks so much for the helpful tutorial!
July 24, 2012 at 3:46 PM
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