Gathering is one of the most useful and easily worked methods of creating fullness in a garment. It draws a given amount of fabric into a predetermined, smaller area, along one or several machine stitching lines. This creates soft, even folds of fabric. Gathering is typically achieved by stitching the fabric in a controlled manner, either by hand or using a sewing machine. Gathered fabric is often used in areas such as sleeves, waistbands, or skirt hems to add texture, shape, or decorative detail to a garment.