The Bernina #16 Gathering Foot (02.0084607300) is an accessory that automatically gathers fabric as it is sewn, eliminating the need for hand-making or pre-marking the gathers. It is suitable for light to medium-weight fabrics such as cotton, poplin, or fine linen, creating even gathers along the entire seam. A special recess in the foot's base allows the gathered fabric to be sewn directly onto a flat piece of fabric in a single operation: the flat piece is inserted into this recess, protected from the gathering, while the other is gathered normally. It is widely used for skirts, curtains, ruffles, and other decorative sewing projects requiring uniform gathers, saving a time-consuming and laborious manual step in garment making.