Shirring elastic is used in the bobbin of your sewing machine. It allows you to create a smocked effect in your fabric. When using this elastic, you'll need to slowly wind it onto a bobbin by hand. Be careful not to pull or stretch the thread as you wind it. Then simply pop the bobbin into your machine as usual. Don't use this as the top thread on your machine, it's not necessary - just use your regular thread in the top. Put down the presser foot and (on a scrap piece of fabric!!) begin to sew... then sew another line about half an inch away from the first. Once you've sewn a few test lines of stitches you'll see it pulling together your fabric as it should, thus creating the "smocked" effect.
Shirring elastic is used in the bobbin of your sewing machine. It allows you to create a smocked effect in your fabric. When using this elastic, you'll need to slowly wind it onto a bobbin by hand. Be careful not to pull or stretch the thread as you wind it. Then simply pop the bobbin into your machine as usual. Don't use this as the top thread on your machine, it's not necessary - just use your regular thread in the top. Put down the presser foot and (on a scrap piece of fabric!!) begin to sew... then sew another line about half an inch away from the first. Once you've sewn a few test lines of stitches you'll see it pulling together your fabric as it should, thus creating the "smocked" effect.
Specific References
Shirring elastic is used in the bobbin of your sewing machine. It allows you to create a smocked effect in your fabric. When using this elastic, you'll need to slowly wind it onto a bobbin by hand. Be careful not to pull or stretch the thread as you wind it. Then simply pop the bobbin into your machine as usual. Don't use this as the top thread on your machine, it's not necessary - just use your regular thread in the top. Put down the presser foot and (on a scrap piece of fabric!!) begin to sew... then sew another line about half an inch away from the first. Once you've sewn a few test lines of stitches you'll see it pulling together your fabric as it should, thus creating the "smocked" effect.
