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Elastic Sewing Thread

Elastic sewing thread stretches with the fabric. It lets you close stretchy seams without an overlocker – and above all it creates the gathered panels known from shirring.

5 items

For shirring the thread goes in the bobbin while ordinary thread stays in the needle. Little happens while sewing; the panel only draws together when you press it with steam afterwards.

Wind the bobbin by hand and without tension. Thread wound by machine is already stretched and loses exactly the power that matters later.

The stitch length should be a little longer than usual. Stitches that are too short barely gather, as the thread has no room to contract between them.

For straight seams in jersey it is only a stopgap. A stretch stitch or an overlocker holds better there, because they spread the strain.

Frequently asked questions

How do I shirr with elastic thread?

Wind the bobbin by hand without tension and sew several parallel rows with it in the bobbin. Then press with steam – only then does the panel draw together.

Why do I have to wind by hand?

Because the machine stretches the thread while winding. It then sits stretched on the bobbin and can no longer contract – the shirring simply does not happen.

Can I sew ordinary jersey seams with it?

As a stopgap yes, permanently no. A stretch stitch or an overlocker holds better, because the strain is spread across several threads.

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