What is the purpose of gathering stitches?

• A. To create fullness along a seam by drawing in extra fabric.
• B. To reduce fabric usage along a seam.
• C. To finish raw edges of a seam.
• D. To align the grain of the fabric at the seam.

Answer: (A)

Gathering stitches create fullness along a seam by drawing in extra fabric so a larger piece fits into a smaller seam line. The technique uses longer basting stitches that are eased or pulled to gather the fabric evenly before the final seam is sewn, allowing soft fullness in areas like a sleeve cap, waistline, or yoke without pleats. This is different from finishing raw edges (which uses serging or zigzag stitches) or aligning grain (which happens during cutting and aligning fabric before sewing). It also doesn’t reduce fabric usage; instead, it distributes extra fabric strategically where fullness is desired.