Why is my shirring not stretchy?

Make sure that your bobbin is not too full of the elastic thread. Try re-threading your whole machine. Make sure your elastic thread isn’t too tight or too loose on the bobbin. Make sure you didn’t mess with the tension (or any other settings) of your machine while adjusting your stitch length.

Can you do shirring without elastic thread?

Shirring without elastic thread allows for a bit of movement and room to breath, while also making the garment last much longer than when using elastic thread. For best results, it is better to use 1/4″ or 3/8″ elastic. You can use thinner, of course, but that will depend on your fabric and the design you have in mind.

Can you Shirr any fabric?

The thin elastic thread on the backside of the fabric creates the shirring, so if the fabric is too thick, the elastic will be too weak to gather it. Great fabrics to shirr include voile, double gauze, lawn, and rayon challis. Avoid heavier fabrics such as flannel, canvas, and wool suiting.

Can you Shirr two layers of fabric?

While shirring can be done through two layers of fabric, we will be shirring the main and lining fabric separately for this tutorial. This will allow us to have a beautiful finish on both the outside and inside of the dress.

How do I choose the best shirring fabric?

The lighter the fabric, the more effective shirring will be. The thin elastic thread on the backside of the fabric creates the shirring, so if the fabric is too thick, the elastic will be too weak to gather it.

How do you do shirring with a sewing machine?

Now we mostly hear of shirring done with elastic thread as this creates beautiful gathers rather easily. Elastic thread is wound on the bobbin and then several parallel rows of stitching are done across the fabric. The resultant fabric panel will be beautifully gathered. Another method is to use the gathering foot of a sewing machine.

How to choose a smocked skirt with shirring?

Tory Birch smocked skirt with shirring at the waist. When selecting a pattern, look for at least 10″ of ease in the area you will be shirring. Depending on the fabric, shirring will reduce the width of the garment by approximately half of its original size. If the garment has ample ease, there will be enough fabric to gather attractively.