Shirred Fabric

Hi Sewing Friends:

If you have been searching for pre-shirred fabric and can’t find it or don’t like the quality of fabrics that you do find, stop looking and start sewing.

Buy some elastic thread, wind it on your bobbin and sew your own shirred fabric.  It really is easy to do.

Someone commented on my sister blog, Sewing Success Sewing Blog, on the Midriff SunTop post, that she can’t find the fabric anywhere near where she lives.  That may be true for many of you.

I know that Jo-Ann’s, Wal-Mart and Hancock Fabrics did carry it, but it may be a seasonal thing that comes into the stores in the spring and is gone by the summer when you are looking for it.

The pre-shirred fabric in the stores is shirred on the lengthwise grain so they can sell it by the inch.  The fabric is not always the best quality and the designs are limited.

So, why not make your own?  You can chose a better quality fabric, anything you like, and do the shirring on the crosswise grain.  That way, you will achieve a nicer gathering effect than the lengthwise grain shirring. 

Click on this link to see a good tutorial on how to make your own shirred fabric sun dress

As the author suggests, test first.

Enjoy sewing your own shirred fabric for lots of different garments.  This fabric isn’t just for kids.  Make yourself a beach cover-up or quickie sun tops.

You may want just a shirred back or a shirred waist.  You may want a silky fabric.  Soft fabrics shirr best. 

Have fun with this sewing technique and make your shirred fabric.  It just makes sense!

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

1st Step To Sewing Success

Sewing Success Sewing Blog

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Shirred fabric

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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2007 at 3:16 pm and is filed under Sewing Techniques, Sewing Projects. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.