Bernina Narrow Gathering Foot #16

The BERNINA Narrow Gathering Foot #16 is a specialized presser foot designed for creating professional gathers on lightweight to medium-weight fabrics. This tool automates the gathering process while you sew, eliminating the need for manual basting stitches and producing consistent, even gathers with minimal effort. The unique indentation in the foot's sole allows you to simultaneously gather one layer of fabric while sewing it to a flat piece, making it ideal for ruffles, skirts, curtains, and decorative accents.

Key Features

• Automatically gathers fabric as you sew, eliminating time-consuming hand gathering techniques
• Special indentation in the sole allows gathering and attaching to flat fabric in a single operation
• Produces characteristic, professional-looking gathers with consistent spacing
• Designed for thin and medium-weight materials including cotton, voile, and lightweight blends
• Narrow width is optimized for machines with 5.5 mm maximum stitch width
• Works with standard straight stitch for reliable, repeatable results
• Ideal for fashion sewing, home décor projects, and creating ruffled embellishments
• Compatible with BERNINA activa and 3 Series machines

Specifications

The BERNINA Narrow Gathering Foot #16 is an excellent choice for sewists working with BERNINA activa and 3 Series machines who want to add professional gathers to garments and home décor projects quickly and consistently. OSP Machines is an authorized dealer and provides free support for the life of your machine. Every purchase includes access to our expert team for guidance on using this foot to achieve perfect gathers every time.

Compatibility

Compatible with:

• 125 
• 125 S
• 135 
• 135 S 
• 145 
• 145 S 
• 210 
• 215 
• 220 
• 230 
• 230PE 
• 240 
• 330 
• 350PE 
• 380

• 150 
• 153 
• 153 QE 
• 155 
• 160 
• 163 

• 130 
• 140

• 430 
• 440 QE 
• B 555 
• B 570 QE 
• B 530 
• B 550 QE

• 165
• 170

• 630

• B 720

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the narrow and wide gathering foot?

The Narrow Gathering Foot #16 is designed for machines with a maximum stitch width of 5.5 mm, while the wide version is for machines with up to 9 mm stitch width. Make sure to choose the version that matches your BERNINA machine's specifications.

Can I adjust how much the fabric is gathered?

Yes, the amount of gathering can be adjusted by changing your stitch length. Longer stitches typically produce more pronounced gathers, while shorter stitches create subtler gathers. Experiment on scrap fabric to achieve your desired effect.

Will this foot work with my BERNINA 5 Series or newer machine?

No, this narrow version is specifically designed for BERNINA activa and 3 Series machines with 5.5 mm maximum stitch width. Newer BERNINA models require the wide version of Gathering Foot #16 designed for 9 mm machines.

Can I gather and attach fabric in one step with this foot?

Yes, the special indentation in the sole of the foot allows you to insert a flat piece of fabric while the bottom layer is being gathered. This lets you sew the gathered fabric to a flat piece in a single operation, saving time and effort.

What types of projects is this gathering foot best suited for?

This foot is ideal for creating ruffles on clothing, gathered skirts, curtains with ruffled valances, decorative pillow accents, and any project requiring consistent gathers on lightweight to medium-weight fabrics.