Shirring: How to Use Elastic Thread

You can sew using elastic thread if you want to gather the fabric on whatever you're making (also called shirring).  It's usually applied around a wide neckline, or at the edge of puffed sleeves, or the bodice of a top (like on a tube top or something). This stretchy gathering technique adds a fashionable touch to whatever it's applied. I'm at the moment applying this to a couple of blouses, so of course it's time to share how to do it lol.

Elastic threads are commonly found in the colors of black and white, but they are also available in a few other colors. I never made a big deal about using the other colors because the elastic thread will be on the inside of what it's applied to.

The first thing you'll need to do is wind the elastic thread onto the bobbin by hand.  

Note: It's a thick thread and will strip itself if you try to use your machines winder.  

It takes less than a minute to do this and stretch it a little (not too much) to tighten the threads while you're winding it.

Next, place the bobbin into the machine as you would a regular threaded bobbin.  Then, thread your machine using regular sewing thread.  Pull up the bobbin thread as you would do normally  to begin sewing.

  Now begin sewing the areas you want to apply the shirring and watch the gathering begin.  

Yup, that's all to it.  Done.

Tip: It's always best to toy around using some scrap fabric first to practice this technique on before trying out on the intended project.  All machines are different and so are all hands.  Sometimes I have to adjust my machine tension a little tighter in order to achieve the affect I want.

It's really easy and fun to apply once you've gotten the hang of it.