Kas

Anybody do this yet? I am seeing these cute shirts with the elastic on the back and it makes puckery flowers in the fabric. I want to do that, but don't know just how to start. Any ideas?

MadQuilter

I can't imagine that you use the elastic in the bobbin. I would think that you turn the shirt inside out and control the elastic on the top and a regular thread in the bobbin. In order to get any stretch factor, you'd have to hold and control the elastic.

Tallulah

I just bought the elastic to make a shirred sun dress for my little granddaughter. I am waiting on her mom to send me the length that she wants it. You do wind it on the bobbin. Some people hand wind it, but the lady at the LQS said she winds it by machine. I will probably hand wind it. It is called "elastic sewing thread." It came in white and black and I bought both. It was not expensive at all.

Haven't seen the shirts. Do you have a picture or know where to go to see one?

momymom

It's not to hard to do. Draw a straight (light) pencil or chalk line where you want the elastic to go. You use a smaller peice of elastic than the fabric. Pin the elastic to each end. Use a small zig zag stitch. Stretch the elastic to the size of the fabric, and stitch it down. It's like couching down yarn. When you finish, the elastic draws the fabric in.

lab fairy

I would talk to my sewing machine dealer but I vaguely remember doing this a long time ago. I wound the elastic thread very slowly onto the bobbin by hand. I have a second bobbin case for my machine that I adjust the tension on for specialty threads.

Some people call this a form of smocking and some will call it shirring. Here's a set of instructions I found from someone. I haven't used these particular ones myself but they might help.

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-...iew.pl?ID=1601

clem55

I use to do this a lot on shirt bottoms . I just wound the elastic thread as normal on the bobbin , long stitch and sewed as normal. Usually did at least three rows, with about 1/4 inch in between. I used my pressure foot as a guide after the first row.

Sadiemae

The elastic thread that I have says to hand wind on the bobbin.

sweet

Be sure to backstitch!

lindyline

My goodness, everything old is new again. I remember my mum doing this in the 60's, or maybe the 70's. And yes, the "shirring"elastic is wound on the bobbin. Over her, we can buy ready made lengths of this.

fabric-holic

Is this what you mean? (I do not own the website or am affiliated with it in any way. I'm posting it only for a visual example)
http://www.popcornshirt.com/
My DGD wants me to make her some but I haven't been able to find a good explanation or pattern yet.
I'll be watching this thread.