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How to Gather Fabric with a Serger

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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.

Learn How to Gather Fabric with a Serger

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.

Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!

Step 2: Differential Feed

Increase your Differential Feed to the highest number ~ mine is a 2.

Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!

Step 3: Stitch Length

Increase your Stitch Length to the highest number – mine is a 4, but some sergers go up to 5.

Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!

Step 4: Serge

Serge along the raw edge. You will notice that it does a little gathering. This is normal.

Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!

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.

Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!

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.

Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!

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!

Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!
Did you know that you can easily gather fabric with your serger? No rethreading, no complicated change ups. Just two easy steps and your fabric is gathered!

Sew, sew easy!


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