Shirring Tutorial
Shirring is a sewing skill that is much easier than it looks and it can really take your projects to the next level!
First we will give you the basics and then you can watch either the 1-minute TikTok video or the 10-minute YouTube video. Or both!
SHIRRING BASICS:
* First of all, you will need elastic thread. It is thicker than regular thread but easy to find at stores.
* The elastic thread is only used for the bottom thread, which means it goes in the bobbin. It is generally best if you wind it onto the bobbin by hand, pulling just enough to hold it in place but you don't want to stretch the thread much as you wind.
* The top thread will just be your regular thread.
* Machines have different settings for shirring so you should check your machine's recommendations. It is usually helpful to set your tension as high as it will go and your stitch length as long as it will go. A lot of machines recommend setting the stitch length to about 3.
* A shirring panel is usually made up of rows of stitching that are 1/4" to 1/2" apart, depending on the pattern. As far as sewing goes, you really are just sewing straight lines!
* When sewing, be sure to hold tightly to the threads and always cut the tails a little longer than usual so they don't bounce out of place.
* If you can, backstitch at the beginning and ending of each row of stitching. Please note that some machines (like mine) don't like to backstitch with elastic thread. Most, however, work great with backstitching and its a good way to secure your stitching on each end.
*If you are unable to backstitch at the beginning and end, you can tie the threads at the ends so they will not come undone. The ends will generally be sewn into seams before you're done, but you still want to make sure they are secure.
*The first row of stitching may not seem very gathered. As you shirr more rows, the fabric really gathers and it looks so good! As you sew subsequent rows, you still want to feed the fabric through with it flat rather than bunched up. The later rows should not be any more gathered than the earlier rows.
*When you're done, you can use an iron to give it steam close to the elastic thread and that helps pull the shirring in tighter.
*The shirred fabric will end up approximately half the length that it was before you shirred.
My most important tip for you is... to practice on a scrap of the project fabric every time! Thicker fabrics shirr differently than thin ones. If you sew a few practice rows it helps you get the settings just right you won't have any surprises when you start on your main project. Testing on scrap fabric also takes away the stress of messing it up. It's normal to need to adjust things, and you won't mind if it's just a scrap that's going in the garbage! One minute of testing will save you from lots of minutes with the seam ripper!
Alright, I think you're ready to see it in action!
Above is the ten minute video on YouTube, where I talk you through the process. Sometimes it helps to see it in real time. If you don't have time for that, you might prefer the one minute speedy version below.
@kristen_polkadotumbrella speed version! full video with real time explanations also available #sewingtiktok #shirr #shirring #tutorial #youcandoit #beginnertips #makecutestuff ♬ original sound - Kristen🪡 Sewing
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