Center Gather (Hand Running Stitch)
Technique: Center Gather (Hand Running Stitch)
Materials: Cotton (unbleached) muslin, unwashed
Spacing/Size: Small gathers about 1/16" - 1/8" apart from one another across the center of the fabric where the gathering occurs
Gathering Methods: Hand running stitch (approx. 1/8") with polyester sewing thread; Leave long tails; Tie one end of thread; Pull opposite end to bunch up fabric
Anchoring methods: Tie know (double)
Notes and Reflections: Advantages, Disadvantages, Ideas, Evaluations
• Center gather pulls fabric on both sides of anchoring point as opposed to one end where seam is on side stitched gather
Advantages:
• Gathers can pull a lot of fabric in to a small space at anchoring point
• Gathering with a single hand running stitch is much easier to pull - most likely because of the longer stitches and no bobbin thread
Disadvantages:
• Gathers require lightweight fabric - heavier fabric would cause pleating to happen instead of gathering
Ideas for Exploration:
• Could begin to experiment with other types of thread used for basting stitch
• Try less or more stitches per inch
• Running stitch could be applied at multiple points in single piece of fabric creating more gathered lines
• Try another line besides straight stitch - i.e. pattern, curve, wavy, angular