Gather (knitting) Information & Gather (knitting) Links at HealthHaven.com

In knitting, a gather is a generic term for several methods that draw stitches closer together laterally, i.e., within a row of knitting. Common methods include:

In binding, a yarn loop is passed over 2 or more stitches in the same row (usually adjacent to the binding loop); also known as a pullover stitch.
In clustering, the yarn is wound laterally around a set of stitches in the same row, possibly several times; also known as a wrap stitch.
Smocking is a sewing or embroidery technique in which the tiny pleats are drawn together with thread or yarn. Before the development of elastic, smocking was used to provide a stretchable, flexible panel of fabric.

[edit] Related techniques

In ruching, a large number of increases are introduced in one row, which are then removed by decreases a few rows later. This produces many small vertical ripples in the fabric, effectively little pleats. The technique of shirring produces a similar effect by gathering the fabric in two parallel rows (not necessarily horizontal), usually by smocking.

[edit] References

June Hemmons Hiatt (1988) The Principles of Knitting, Simon and Schuster, pp. 55-56, 82-83. ISBN 0-671-55233-3

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