Learn machine smocking techniques you can do with your sewing machine in this expert guide from Lorna Knight.
Learn how to use elastic thread to make your own smocked fabric! It's easy to do, and smocked fabric makes adorable dresses + skirts.
Shirring is an old technique, I know. (Shirring and smocking aren’t actually originally done with elastic…..but it sure makes things easier. And faster.) Sometimes I assume everyone knows how to do it. But then I get another email asking how to shir (or smock) fabric. So it reminds me I shouldn’t assume…………..because it is …
Alrighty...I'm by no means an expert at this technique, and to be quite honest, this was my first attempt at machine smocking . I'm wor...
Alrighty...I'm by no means an expert at this technique, and to be quite honest, this was my first attempt at machine smocking . I'm wor...
Learn how to do smocking with easy photos and instructions. Learn pleating for smocking & embroidery stitches. Easy tutorial for beginners.
Smocking with shirring elastic can be done on a standard sewing machine and is unbelievably quick and easy. It gives you an attractive stretchy gathered panel or line. These days it’s mostly used on children’s clothes but I have found it great on my women’s clothing for a bit of detail and to give clothes a closer fit that moves comfortably…
*Since there were so many requests for this tutorial after the Ruffled Scarf post , I thought I would post one on the main page, so no one m...
Shirring fabric and sewing with elastic thread are easy with this step-by-step tutorial. Learn how to sew with elastic in the bobbin.
Below is a tutorial on how to shirr with elastic thread. Before we begin, I must mention that this is a compilation of shirring techniques which I have learned from 3 specific resources: Portabellopixie, Craftstylish, and Heather Ross's book Weekend Sewing. And away we go....... Supplies ~ 1 spool of elastic thread ~ matching thread (must match your fabric) ~ fabric (i used Robert Kaufman's Kona Cotton Celery) ~ 1/4" elastic (optional) Instructions 1. Finish the upper raw edge of the bodice. I like to finish it by making a casing for a 1/4" elastic band. If you have 2 separate pieces (bodice and skirt) sewn together, you can turn the seam allowance into a casing for an additional band of elastic at the waist line. Simply finish the raw edge of the seam allowance and sew the edge of the SA to the bodice. After I have shirred the fabric, I then thread the elastic through the casing. This helps maintain and reinforce the shape of the garment. For now, just make the casing or finish the raw edges. You may want to mark your shirring lines on the fabric before you begin. Its recommended to mark every 1/4" to 1/2". I use my sewing foot to mark it (eyeball it), which works just fine for me and eliminates a step. If you are going to mark your fabric, mark the right side of the garment (visible side of the garment). Also, use tailors chalk, disappearing fabric ink, or some sort of erasable mark. 2. Wind the bobbin by hand with the elastic thread. It is very important not to stretch the elastic thread as you wind it. This is why you must do it by hand. There can not be any tension in the elastic thread. 3. Insert your bobbin into your sewing machine as you normally would. 4. Pull up the elastic thread as you normally would for regular bobbin thread. 5. I like to shirr with my walking foot. If you do not have a walking foot, then a regular foot will be just fine. With the right side of your garment facing up (elastic thread should be on the side that will not be visible on the completed garment), begin to take a few stitches, then back stitch to secure your thread. Stitch from one end to the other. 7. When you get to the end of your first row of stitches, back stitch and clip the threads. Turn the garment and begin sewing your next row the same way you did the first row. Another option (which is quicker) is when you get to the end of your first row of stitches, lift the presser foot, move the fabric over so that the needle is positioned over the next row. Lower the presser foot and needle. Pivot the fabric. Begin sewing the next row of stitches. Always back stitch when you come to the end of the elastic thread and make sure you have enough thread to complete a row. You may notice your first couple of rows don't gather as much as you'd like. Don't worry. As you continue to stitch more rows, your garment will gather more. 8. When you have completed shirring/smocking your garment, spray it with water. You will see your garment gather up nice and tight. Press your garment gently. Do not smooth the iron over the garment. Lightly press the gathers. 9. Thread your elastic through the casing/casings. 10. Stitch the elastic band ends to the garment. That's it! You're a shirr genius! Happy Creating =) Jamie Update: The Honey Girl Dress/Top sewing pattern (shown above) is available at Phat Fabric. Here's the link.
Make entredeux trim with this heirloom sewing tip using your sewing machine and a wing needle.
Learn how to do smocking with easy photos and instructions. Learn pleating for smocking & embroidery stitches. Easy tutorial for beginners.
Want to make your sewing projects last and look professional but can't afford a serger? Check this genius serging without a serger methods!
I have been trying to get the hang of this shirring thing for a little while now. I upcycled a t-shirt recently doing some shirring, and managed to conduct sewing machine surgery in the process. Ugh! Always upsetting having to take your new machine apart for the first time to untangle all the threads! Well, the last few days I have been trying to work out how to shir a new pillowcase dress for Maia. Nothing I was doing worked. I had been staring at a thread on the Crafty Mamas forum that had been started last year, of various people trying to work out their shirring problems. There seemed to be a similar link with shirring problems - Brother machines. Well, I like to think that I solved the problem... Well, I solved mine anyway, and since I could not find this solution on the net, I thought I might share what I discovered with others, hoping that I might help another shirring soul out there. I decided to take a trip to the shop where I bought my Brother Innovis 600. The technician said that the problem is in the tension of the bobbin. I needed to tighten the bobbin tension. So, I asked, "How do you do this?" There is a very, very small screw at the front of the bobbin casing. This needs to be screwed tighter so that the elastic thread catches and is quite tight as it pulls through. Firstly, take off the needle plate cover & take out the bobbin casing. Use a very small screwdriver to tighten the screw in the front of the bobbin casing. Mine actually has a bit of paint on the screw. Now, I was very concerned about getting it back again when I was finished. Take note of exactly how many turns you do. Otherwise, you take the lazy way out. I decided to buy a second bobbin casing while I was at the shop as the technician there changed the screw so that it was at the perfect shirring tension. He placed a small dollop of nail polish on it for me so I can differentiate between my 2 bobbin casings (very important). This set me back $34 AU. Now, test the elastic thread in the bobbin casing to ensure that the tension is quite tight, so that it pulls once it is linked in. Notice how I am pulling the elastic with my fingers. Hand wind the elastic on to the bobbin without stretching it, as the bobbin casing will do the stretching with the tightened tension. Place the bobbin into the bobbin casing, while the needle plate cover is still off. Link the elastic thread into the casing. This was another problem that I was having, that I eventually figured out on my own. If I threaded the bobbin with the needle plate cover on, the elastic thread was not linking in correctly to the casing and I could not shir. **Note: I actually tried my old bobbin casing once I figured this out. It worked but the shirring was much looser than with my new tightened bobbin casing. Now, use the needle to pick up the elastic thread. Place the needle plate cover back on. I didn't bother putting the screw back in, as I was taking it on and off quite a few times. Now, holding the thread and elastic thread with one hand, place your fabric in position and start to shir. Perfect shirring! I made the shirred pillowcase dress at the top of this post using this tute. The only difference is that I sewed down one side to secure the ends of the shirring, as recommended in this tute. Another 50 cent dress thank you very much! I love it and can't wait to do more shirring. Well, I hope I have been able to help any needy shirring souls out there, as I feel lucky to have solved my own shirring problem. Happy shirring!!!!!!
Make entredeux trim with this heirloom sewing tip using your sewing machine and a wing needle.
Stitching lace insertion to fabric is the first technique that we learn when I teach heirloom sewing by machine. This is not a strong applic...
5 Tips to help pleat multiple items efficiently for smocking.
After making my emerald shift dress I found I was left with about 70cm of fabric, so I thought while the sewing machine is still threaded up with green thread, I would put this remainder to good us…
Stephanie Hung of The Crafts Dept. (MarthaStewart.com) suggests smocking on gingham for beginners. She says, The squares in the gingham pattern act as sewing guides so you can make perfectly spaced…
Gesmokte Nähte finden sich an vielen Kleidungsstücken, mit ihnen lassen sich schöne Effekte erzielen und tolle Designs kreieren. Wie ihr solche Nähte ganz einfach selber machen könnt, zeige ich euch heute in einer Nähanleitung mit dazugehörigen Nähvideo.
Want to give your quilting some added texture and depth? Try machine quilting with 12 wt. thread! It's not difficult, but there are 5 secrets you must know.
A simple tutorial to cover your Brother 1034d serger!
I only took one picture of the smocking step when I learned how to smock in the embroidery hoop, but I think words will explain the rest of the process well enough for you to play around with it. …
I am looking for a pattern to make a smocked gingham pillow.
This week's technique is the scallop stitch . Many of you probably have this stitch built into your machine. It is a satin stitch tha...
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I had several people e-mail me and ask about pin stitching after reading my last journal entry , so I decided to create a tutorial and show...
This sewing basic tutorial will teach you how to sew a gathering stitch for perfect ruffles every time.
A video and blog tutorial on how to alter a pattern to add a smocked insert.
Learn the best kept secret on your sewing machine!
my dear friend divya likes to make food, i like to make things...so an apron seemed the most appropriate gift. this apron was inspired b...
Il est tout à fait possible de faire des smocks facilement en utilisant du fil élastique et un simple point droit.Je vous montre en image
Smocking is done by using small stitches to gather fabric in a pattern. You can use it to create little rows of pretty pleats with colorful stitching, the perfect detail for a child's dress or the bodice of a blouse. See Step 1 to learn a...
