How to Gather Fabric with a Serger
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.
Serger owners: Did you know you can use your serger to gather fabric? Imagine the possibilities – no more knotted or broken threads when you gather fabric. It will be like you’ve died and gone to gathering Heaven. Now that I know how to gather on the serger, I will never go back.
Here’s a quick recap in case you don’t really know what a serger is or what it does. A serger is a unique sewing machine that cuts fabric and finishes seams at the same time. Most sergers will do additional edge finishes such as a rolled hem. Some fancy-schmancy sergers will do things like a chain stitch, wave edge, or cover stitch.
How to Gather Fabric with a Serger
Today, I want to show you how to use your serger to gather fabric. It is so unbelievably easy; you will never go back to sewing a double row of gathering threads. And, there are no special feet required ~ just your standard serger foot.
If you have a serger hidden away in the closet, now is the time to dust it off and put it back to work.
Step 1: Set Serger
Set your serger for 4-thread serging.
Step 2: Differential Feed
Increase your Differential Feed to the highest number ~ mine is a 2.
Step 3: Stitch Length
Increase your Stitch Length to the highest number – mine is a 4, but some sergers go up to 5.
Step 4: Serge
Serge along the raw edge. You will notice that it does a little gathering. This is normal.
Step 5: Find Threads
Notice the two needle threads (the black threads). Near the fabric edge, put a needle underneath the two parallel threads. Be sure not to catch either of the looper threads ~ it will knot if you do. Just the needle threads.
Step 6: Pull Threads
Pull the two needle threads out of the chain of threads. Do not let these get tangled. If you do this correctly, they will slip out easily.
Pull the two needle threads to gather your fabric.
Step 7: Done!
Voila! You have nice, even gathers that can easily be adjusted and then attached. No stray threads that end up on the outside of your project. What’s not to love about this!
Sew, sew easy!