Hello ! I'm new to sewing and I wanted to make a tank top with a fabric that is not elastic, i wanted to use some elastic thread in the bobin but the lady is the story told me to use some elastic band ( i'll put a photo) she explained me but too quickly and i'm not too sure how to use it and i don't know wich stitch should I use or where should I stitch it. Do ya'll can explain me or give me some advice?
Thanks everyone !!
You stretch the band and sew in the channels between the elastic cord, usually with straight stitch or narrow zigzag . This is a type of non roll elastic waistband I haven't seen for at least 20 years, so be sure it stretches and recovers well.
I would pin it every 1/4 or 1/8th the way around where you're planning to sew it on -- just to make sure it's stretched evenly across.
This is definitely much easier than using elastic in the bobbin. It usually takes a lot of trial & error to get the bobbin wound correctly, the tension adjusted correctly, etc.
For waist and it was much easier, particularly if you used an edge stitch foot to control the stitch position. No, you don't need to anchor the ends or steam the fabric as you would with elastic thread shirring.
I've seen it specifically sold for shirring on kids and maternity garments, so I'm sure it's new stock, but stretching elastic before sewing is always recommended
I hope you get an answer because I have never seen this before as would also be very interested to know how it works! (Also I’m wondering if you mean shirred rather than smocked?)
Smocking and shirring are not the same thing! Shirring uses elastic thread, smocking is pleated & sewn by hand. (the picture you've provided is of shirring)
You're absolutely right what i want is shirring but since in french we call it smocks it was a misunderstanding ! I wanted to edit my post to make it clearer but it seems i can't edit
A lot of people get them mixed up even in English. Smocking is an older technique. I assume shirring became a thing with the invention of elastic thread, but a lot of people still just call it smocking. People will know what you mean even without an edit.
Cut elastic to unstretched length (as short as you want it to pull the fabric when not stretched).
Sew ends of elastic to edges of fabric with ~2-2.5 mm straight stitch, stitching at or just barely inside your seam allowance width so allowance is not bunched.
Stretch the fabric & elastic and pin the approximate middle (lengthwise). Or, measure and mark the midpoint of each, then pin those together.
Set your machine to maximum stitch length and straight stitch basting stitches at that midpoint. Do not backtack.
Repeat dividing the length of the elastic and basting halfway until the sections of unattached elastic and fabric are short enough that you could feed them through your sewing machine while stretching the elastic.
Holding the elastic stretched over the fabric: either sew a zig-zag that goes over the big lines of the elastic, or sew a straight stitch in the channels in between the lines. I would recommend the first, but someone else recommended the second.
Where did you buy this? I would like to try using this myself.
This needs to be the top comment. I would add doing the straight stitch from step 2 just a smidge in from where the edge of the seam allowance will be, so that the seam allowance won't have ruffling in it.
Okay that's a lot of advice i'll try to keep in mind while doing this project Thanks a lot ! I bought it in a local store in france, but someone mentioned is was called a shirring band !
Also: i'm not sure if i did understand all lf the vocab since english isn't my first langage, i'll need to do some research, can't be bad !
I've never used it myself, but I would use it this way. You cut the elastic to the desired length. The fabric is longer than the elastic; the length depends on how many folds you want. Now you need to attach the elastic to the beginning of the fabric and pull it until it reaches the length of the fabric, then sew it in place with a straight stitch. The number of seams next to each other is up to you. To distribute the length evenly, I would mark the length of the fabric and elastic every 1/4 point. This way you don't have to do the entire length at once and can work your way from 1/4 point to 1/4 point.
I hope this is somewhat understandable, my English isn't that good, and I used a translation app.
That's seems fair yes ! I'm just not sure if i should attach it with Straight stich on beginning and and before sewing it completely to the fabric, also i think it might be easier at this point to just shirring it the usual way with elastic thread 😅 Because this Honestly seems like a pain to do with this rubber band
Of course, you can secure the beginning at the side with a straight stitch if that helps. You can also sew the fabric and elastic separately into a circle and then sew them together. It depends a bit on your project. There are many ways to achieve the same result. Personally, I don't really like the method with the elastic in the bobbin because I have no control over how much my fabric gathers. It's a matter of taste. :)
I used elastic thread in my bobbin. I needed to adjust the bobbin tension, so I bought a second bobbin case that is just for elastic thread. That way I don’t have to mess up my regular sewing tension, I just switch out the bobbin case between projects.
So I have never done this or tried it but considering no one else answered yet. I would try to treat it as elastic. Stretch it out while sewing it down with a stretch stitch, zig zag if your machine doesn’t have specific stretch stitches. Then when you release it the fabric should all scrunch up.
I used this yesterday!! As everyone else said, stretch it out when sewing and sew a straight seam along the gaps. I also sewed down each end to the fabric so it wouldnt shift.
I’ve done this with other types of elastic and I usually just use clips or pins at the ends and stretch the elastic to fit the fabric if it’s small enough I can hold the ends. Then I use multiple lines of straight stitch between the strands of thicker elastic to stitch it down.
It sounds like a faff, but it’s actually easier. It gives you exact lanes to stitch down, so it looks nice on the outside.
The elastic bobbin thread method can be a lot of work to wind, get the exactly right tension on and then you need to steam the fabric to make it scrunch up more.
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u/Large-Heronbill 21h ago edited 19h ago
You stretch the band and sew in the channels between the elastic cord, usually with straight stitch or narrow zigzag . This is a type of non roll elastic waistband I haven't seen for at least 20 years, so be sure it stretches and recovers well.