Burda Style For people who sew

My Mom taught me this trick. It's great for when you're gathering a skirt into a waistband, or a ruffle into a skirt, or a sleeve into a cuff. The gathers come out very even, with less effort.

Technique Materials

Pins, seam ripper

• Intro
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• Add to my toolkit
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• Get Instructions (PDF, 2.2 MB)

18 Comments

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  Oct 9, 2009, 02.42 PMby Almatinka

  That is a very good tip! Thanks!
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  Jun 9, 2009, 09.31 PMby twiggychic3

  learned this from my momma too. mothers are so useful hehehe!
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  Mar 12, 2009, 01.27 PMby Magnificent

  Thanks for the GREAT tip! I can’t wait to try it on the sundress I’m making my daughter!
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  Jan 30, 2009, 03.35 AMby christine_sarah

  Thanks so much – now my skirts will look so much neater and even!
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  Oct 16, 2008, 11.55 AMby freehold

  Just like jenshepard, I’m also a novice. Found this technique very helpful, I am sure I have been taught it before by my late Grandmother…. sorry Gran!!! But this stuff is all making much more sense with pictorial aids. Thanks.
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  Aug 18, 2008, 02.34 PMby jenshepard

  Thank you so much! I am a novice sewer, and this was very helpful!
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  Jul 29, 2008, 06.10 AMby pippinsworkshop

  wow, i use the same technique for attaching fabric to elastic and never even thought to use it to make gathering much simpler. Thanks :)
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  Apr 7, 2008, 07.35 PMby mark13

  i love this trick – thank you
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  Feb 2, 2008, 11.19 AMby Rosalia856

  I know that I was taught this many moons ago,but it was great to have a refresher course. Thanks
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  Jan 20, 2008, 02.23 AMby porxxxvida

  Wow!!! This technique is so simple, yet so ingenious!
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  Jan 10, 2008, 01.14 AMby shechosedown

  This is great. I have a tendency to do uneven gathering, but I always hope people just don’t really notice. This will really help.
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  Oct 21, 2007, 03.45 PMby Kaissa

  Thank you so much for this! My first attempt at gathering was miserable – I had no idea what I was doing. This helps me so much!
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  Aug 29, 2007, 06.36 AMby I-love-to-sew

  Fantastic. Thank you!
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  Aug 22, 2007, 08.51 PMby sewfresh_sewclean

  perfect, i’ll be putting this to good use :) thanks.
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  Aug 6, 2007, 03.51 PMby nayantara

  Oh- Also I use a similar technique when easing sleeves into the armhole. It works wonders!
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  Jul 27, 2007, 07.22 AMby admin

  Thanks for that tutorial. I did the pinning in fourths before, but did not clip the thread in between. I am going to try this next time (and since my daughter wants a tiered skirt, that going to be soon).
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  Jul 25, 2007, 04.42 PMby Meander

  Wow, I never thought of that. :) I just tried to judge it with my eyes. It usually turns out alright, but I’ll be this would make it all the better. I’ll be trying it next time I gather! n…n
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  Jul 24, 2007, 09.14 AMby nayantara

  This is a great technique! It always works great. (I think my mom taught me this, too!)