@yourwildestseams (love that name!)--thanks for the tip! I have Bernina 800DL, and I'm not sure exactly where I would loop the needle thread twice, but I'd to try. At 9 and stitch length 4, and starting with a ruffle that's 47 inches, I'm getting down to about 42 inches. I'd like to get another ten inches off (these are ruffles for bird characters), but I may just live with the less gathered ruffle because that was SO easy, compared to the three basting rows and the pulling up, etc., etc. that I used for the first five dresses.

I wish I could use the serger to create a really gathered edge--my Bernina even with the tension at 9 and the stitch length at 3 only creates a small gather on a satin fabric I'm using for some costumes. If anyone has tips, I'd love to hear them. I've got about 17 costumes to make and any way to make the gathering easier and quicker would be a huge plus! I didn't try trimming off any fabric--I did it with the cutting knife disengaged--so maybe I should give that a shot.