Making Shirr Gathers (4688 Views)

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In this particular pattern, the instructions call for several rows of shirring since gathers would not work to get a particular gathering effect. To achieve this look I used elastic thread (shirring elastic).

1) I marked the lines with tailor's chalk (to help keep everything straight).

2) I laid the shirring elastic over the chalk lines, allowing 1/2-1 inch to peek over the lines.

3) Using a small zig-zag stitch, I stitched over the elastic thread - making sure not to catch any part of the stitches onto the elastic. (Basically you are making a channel that the elastic sits in).

4) After all the elastic and stitches are in place, pull up the elastic to the desired length and knot each end to keep elastic from stretching or moving out of place

The photo above shows the elastic and stitches in place and after the elastic has been pulled to make the gathers.

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COMMENTS (8)

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Katrena Ï Posted 15 June 2007 at 12:31 AM
Mirela Ï Posted 15 June 2007 at 8:43 AM
http://mirela.etsy.com

Great tip!

Also, if you are afraid not to pierce through the elastic thread while sewing over it, you can hand wheel it on the lower bobbin, not too tight! and adjust the lower thread tension to be looser. Then simply sew like with a regular thread. Depending on how tight you hand wheeled the thread, the fabric will gather itself as you sew. This way there are some disadvantages also, changing the thread tension on the lower bobbin and wheeling it too tight...

Usually I test sew both these methods before doing the gathers.

P.S. the top is amazing!
MarmotaB Ï Posted 16 June 2007 at 2:51 PM
working on Steffi

Thanks for this, it looks very useful! And I surprisingly probably even have that thread...
nayantara Ï Posted 18 June 2007 at 2:20 PM
going on vacation!

Thank you for this How To! What a marvelous tip!
julimonster Ï Posted 8 December 2007 at 6:41 PM

brilliant I love this! now I wont have to mess with my lower tension. thanks so much
efran Ï Posted 5 March 2008 at 2:58 PM

I'm wondering if I did this with a non-stretch woven cotton, would the smocking w/ the elastic thread give my garment stretchiness in that area? Make sense?
camilaustral Ï Posted 19 April 2008 at 8:45 PM
yeah, i'm from Chile...

i was going to ask about putting the elastic thread in the lower bobbin (my mom sugested it) and mirela solved my problem

thank you sooo much!!! i love shirred clothes ;)
ReneeBeth Ï Posted 11 May 2008 at 6:22 PM
nightgown to dress to shirt...

I'm also wondering the same thing efran was...