How to Sew Shirring

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Shirring is a great sewing technique to master and is actually very easy to sew for such an effective sewing detail. It is a great way to customise and refashion charity shop finds cinching them in at the waist or bust or adding a decorative detail to cuffs or necklines perhaps. You could also add a section of shirring into a sewing pattern with a cheeky hack or use one of our many, many sewing patterns designed with a section of shirring built in such as the one I'm using today - the Viki Sews Gloria dress pattern with gorgeously dramatic deep shirred cuffs. I also love the New Look 6692 dress pattern, McCalls 8200 blouse pattern or the Style Arc Asha dress pattern. I've also linked the supplies used in the video in the description, they are all available on our website.
00:00 Introduction
02:40 Preparing the Fabric
06:54 Elastic thread and winding the bobbin
09:46 Inserting the bobbin
10:52 Sewing machine settings
11:41 Sewing the shirring (ladder method)
16:59 Sewing the shirring (without marking the fabric) using start and stop needle positions method
21:14 Steaming the fabric
22:25 Conclusion

[@maryalgar8779]

I've always loved the look of shirring. Glad it has made a come-back. You are too young to remember when it first appeared in 60's or 70's? Those Chaco pens look great.

[@SewEssential]

Yes I'm an 80s baby, but I LOVE the 60s and 70s fashions, 70s is my absolute favourite. The chaco pens are fab I use mine all the time, so precise

[@maryalgar8779]

@@SewEssential It seems bell bottoms / flared pants are returning, so perhaps you will get to experience those "crazy and wonderful years" :)

[@grumpy_poo]

I do not have the dexterity to hand wind shirring elastic.... what I do is, use the bobbin winder on my machine without threading it hold the shirring thread between my fingers letting it go through using a bit of tension and I have the machine on the slowest speed the bobbin winds itself , works for me..... My Brother machine also needs the bobbin case tension adjusted too.. some machines need this, my Elna doesn't. I love shirring.

[@SewEssential]

Great tips thank you

[@hattiedraper1061]

That’s helpful. Thank you, Grumpy.

[@SusanSmith-hl3iv]

❤ Great idea! Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@lunasmum6869]

Thank you so much!! I have always avoided shirring as I have seen so many videos which have left me with more questions than answers. Seeing you explain every step has made me feel more confident about shirring and all my questions answered! I have been sewing for many years but now I feel I could tackle some shirring. The best tutorial I have ever seen on this!

[@janetlink9756]

Thankyou for the tutorial, it looks easier than I thought it was, but, maybe it's just you making it look easy and effortless as you have mastered it.

[@michaelgracewatts2943]

Thank you Lucy. A good reminder of a technique I have not used for years. Will have to have another go now....Grace

[@SewEssential]

It is so much fun i hope you enjoy rediscovering it Grace

[@jentaylor5010]

Learning so much from your clearly explained tutorials every Friday - starts my weekend - cheers

[@colettelee3391]

Really useful video for someone who failed at my one and only attempt at shirring, but I will be giving it another go. Thank you

[@SewEssential]

It's a pleasure, I hope it goes better this time, I'm sure persistence will pay off

[@jignapatel75]

Thank you. This is one of the best tutorials I have seen on this technique. I have the new look pattern and can’t wait to try this out.

[@lynnshepard7485]

Thanks so much! You’ve given me the courage I need to try this! I had no idea the shirring thread came in colors. 😂 I’ll use my white and black for practicing first.

[@SewEssential]

It's a pleasure, it is so much fun I promise and, yes, a lovely easy technique to try.

[@victoriamyatt1709]

I still stitch ladder style even when using the foot as a guide rather than marked lines. Once you get to the end and pivot to do the 5 or 6 stitches to turn and come back, just check the foot is in line. (under estimated is better than over estimated) If you're foot is not quite lined up the just pivot back and do an extra stitch or two to line it up and continue. The trick is to firstly remember that you need ie 6 stitches at the end before turning and secondly to go slow enough to count the stitches. That way you don't have to keep stopping and starting and have lots of tail threads hanging. Hope this makes sense it's hard to explain.

[@gerriebell2128]

I used to use this method to make little tops and sundresses for my daughter when she was two, and until she went to primary school. I just cut a piece of fabric the length of dress I wanted, hem the “top and bottom” of the dress, and then starting near the top, sew as many rows of shirring as it took to gather the fabric to fit around her properly. Then I would make two inch-wide straps for the dress and sew them on at the top. Dress length or top length. If it wasn’t warm enough for a sundress, I would have her wear a top underneath it. The number of rows I had to sew depended on the fabric I was using, so I would measure her circumference and measure the fabric piece to get it right, and try it on her too. After it was the right size I could sew the vertical back seam. Thank you for teaching this so clearly! It’s been a long time since I did this (my daughter is now 47 and sews for herself), and this video was a great refresher and showed applications for it that I had not thought of.

[@sylviarichardson6481]

Thank you Lucy. I didn’t know thread elastic came in different colours 😊

[@SewEssential]

Yes some really pretty ones too, you can find them all on our lovely website

[@music7935]

I love your tutorials.

[@SewEssential]

Thank you so much that's really kind

[@rubyjenkins1738]

You gave a very clear explanation. Thank you.

[@SewEssential]

Thanks so much that's great to hear.

[@sandrinej5125]

Thank you very much Lucy for this useful and lovely video tutorial ! Cheers from France !

[@SewEssential]

It's a pleasure, glad you liked it

[@jentaylor5010]

Thanks so much for this, you make it look possible! Watch you every Friday for patterns, fabrics and tips, you are a fab teacher x

[@alison9725]

Thank you. That was such a helpful video.

[@SewEssential]

I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it thank you for watching

[@ruthieashton6565]

Thanks Lucy, I’ve just bought the Stylearc Belle dress pattern from you and I’m looking forward to trying the technique

[@clothingalterations]

Great tutorial. Loved your videos 👍🌹🌿🌺🌵🌻🍀🌷🍀

[@SewEssential]

Ahhh thank you so much that really means a lot

[@emmabuxton7971]

Brilliant video Lucy 😊

[@christineblair4078]

I totally needed this video! Thank you so much.

[@annettecowburn1096]

Great tips in your tutorial Lucy.

[@SewEssential]

Thank you so much I'm glad you liked it

[@doreenannafourie4125]

Thank you from South Africa. I was wondering how to do this. Now I know. I will use the ladder method for sure.

[@SewEssential]

Hi in South Africa, I travelled there and Mozambique when I was just 18 years old. I loved Cape Town, the coastline was so beautiful. My grandparents and Aunty and Uncle lived in Durban at one time too. Glad you enjoyed the lesson.

[@monaeskaran2635]

Great vid, TYVM! If I want to make a simple top (shirred over breast area only, with stomach and back area unshirred, how do I calculate how wide my fabric should be)?

[@thinkuthink]

Awesome instruction! Thank you ❤

[@ArlenePMCM]

Great video! I would like to shirr cuffs on a t-shirt type top. Thank you.

[@genevievegr7717]

Thank you for this tutorial! I have seen very cute pattern with sherring and I have one dress got from the store that I love it very much. I didn't dare to try this technic. Definitetely I will give it a try!

[@julionni4461]

Thank you this is what im looking for

[@elainebradleyceramist]

That was wonderful teaching.

[@connienash3666]

This is a beautiful technique and you made it seem so easy!

[@SewEssential]

Thank you, it really is easy I promise and a lot of fun too.

[@allisonjenkins5079]

Thank you so much Lucy..

[@SewEssential]

It's a pleasure thanks for watching and commenting

[@ksenijavojisavljevic2034]

Wonderful video, thank you. 😊 Would it be possible to have a tutorial on a simple little girl dress which would incorporate this technique?

[@zanpackard1423]

Can you tell me the pattern shown at the beginning - dress with a diagonal shirred drop waist? I’d love to make this.

[@user-sk9pz8ln6s]

How to put the thread on the bobbin ? Do I stretch the elastic thread while 0utting on bubbin?

[@dobbsiekoeman5593]

What steamer/iron are you using in this video? Thank you!

[@dobbsiekoeman5593]

What is the fiber content of the John Kaldor creepe?

[@user-sk9pz8ln6s]

How can I shirr elastic threads How can one roll the threads

[@sonyasew2]

What if you run out of bobbin in the middle of the row??

[@dobbsiekoeman5593]

How much fabric does it take to make the same view and size that you made? I looked at the pattern link and didn’t see the yardage requirement. Thank you?

[@marianstewart4449]

Great video, but I wish you had shown how to sew the cuff on now that it is shirred. I guess you have to stretch the fabric as you sew the seam, but would have liked if you included this in the video for this novice sewer!

[@irenamason1577]

Shirring is pronounced like the i in girl or whirl, not like shearing in removing fleece from sheep. Otherwise thanks for the video.