Burda Style For people who sew

And there you are! An evenly-gathered skirt/ruffle/cuff. This technique works great for straight seams as well as circular pieces. Just fold the flat pieces in half, and place a pin at the center of each. Join the pins, and then gather in sections between the pins.

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10 Comments

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  Dec 10, 2010, 09.10 PMby runningwithscissors1

  This makes so much sense! It will come in handy for the skirt I am planning… after the Christmas presents are done!
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  Nov 21, 2010, 09.28 PMby mirarisek

  thanks for this, sisterdiane. one thing that’s never clear to me when gathering: should the gathering threads (the two rows of basting that get pulled to gather the larger piece) be placed within the seam allowance or outside of it? i have tried both ways (accidentally), and can’t really sort out which is creating fewer tucks. anyone with an opinion on this?
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  Aug 18, 2010, 01.33 AMby bethangil

  Wow! This is so great and helpful— one of those hit-your-forehead-in-a-why-didn’t-I-think-of-this moments! Thanks!
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  Jul 20, 2010, 06.54 PMby littleredfox

  oh i wish i had seen this a week ago!! i should have known some brilliant burdastyle member would have posted the perfect how-to for even gathers :) thank you so much for posting. i’ll be doing this next time!!!!
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  May 15, 2010, 03.26 PMby lilcritter

  This is awesome. I have 3 dresses in progress not yet finished because I got fed up with gathering the skirts…Thank you so much
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  Mar 3, 2010, 10.24 PMby ladylola1611

  This is brilliant! I always get really fed up and frustrated with gathering my skirt to my bodice so I always end up just putting in pleats….problem solved!!!

  L x
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  Feb 17, 2010, 12.58 PMby nojallakuutamo

  This is exactly how I do it – very well explained, I’m sure that this will be useful to anybody in need of this.
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  Jan 25, 2010, 06.12 AMby sophie11

  Great tip – thanks so much! I’m in love with making ruffle skirts at the moment, so this will help make the finished product look even better!
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  Oct 10, 2009, 01.22 PMby reliablechef

  I am going to try this out today! Thanks for the insight.
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  Aug 18, 2009, 10.10 PMby mypuddlejumper

  This is really helpful. Thankyou so much! up until now i’ve been making tiny pleats because I didn’t know how to gather properly.

  :)