This week’s blog is a BOGO. Make one block, get experience with two feet. I have to admit, while the gathering foot is easy to use, the hemmer is my favorite. This is purely because gathering is fairly rare, but having a quick way to finish a seam? That is downright amazing. I started making clothing when I figured out this foot, just to make professional looking finished seams. This foot made me feel like I could make things I was really proud of; polished and perfect.

The hemmer does take a hot second to master, so practice first. Start by finger pressing about 1/4 inch under, and with the fold up feed it into the spiral of the foot. Pull back and forth just a bit until you see the roll start, and take a few anchor stitches. After that it’s all about keeping the right angle on the fabric as it’s feeding in. I use my thumb to keep the curve started by the fold and hold the fabric very loose. Try some nice long strips because it’s easy to either pull too tight and stretch your edge, or not cup the edge enough and lose the nice roll. There will also be a seam in your strip, so make sure you try a rolled hem over a seam as well. Now you are ready to make about 50 pairs of pjs with finished seams, or aprons for every day of the month just because you love this foot.

The gathering foot, well it gathers. But seriously, you need to test this foot just a bit because you need to gauge the depth of the gather, and make sure you have enough accent fabric strips cut. You can change the amount of gather by increasing or decreasing stitch length, by increasing top tension, or by making a second pass of stitching.

Cut:

• (4) 4.5” x 32.5” grey #4
• (6) 1.5” x WOF teal

Trim selvage from teal. Cut two teal strips in half and pair each with an uncut teal strip. Join along short side with 1/4 inch reinforced seam to create a 1.5 x 66” inch strip. Finger press seam open.

Using the hem foot create finished edge along each long side, taking care the roll folds the same way on each side.

Use gathering foot and longest stitch length to sew down top of each strip. If desired, carefully repeat center seam to increase the ruffle effect.

Chalk center line down grey. Pin ruffle right side up centered along line. Use regular foot to top stitch ruffle to grey. Trim to 4.5 x 32.5.

The Singer Featherweight shop has more information on both these feet. Check out their blog on using the gathering foot for shirring here and on the narrow hem foot Here. (I am not in any way affiliated with them, they just have great service and are a wealth of information!)