I was struggling to shirr with my machine with the elastic in the bobbin. I finally thought to read the machine manual. I bought my machine from an interstate dealer so didn't get to attend any lessons.
It pays to read your machine manual. I've always struggled with gathering fabric. My threads break or I forgot to loosen the tension so the threads won't pull. Now I find it easy and simple using my machine. You need to use stitch 27 ( gathering stitch) and buttonhole foot 3.
I'm going to gather this fabric.
To do it:
- I cut a length of crochet cotton twice the length of the fabric I'm gathering.
- I fold the crochet cotton in half and hook the center over the front center prong of the No.3 foot.
- The thread lies under the foot and falls behind the machine.
- I place the fabric to be gathered under the foot and using a gathering stitch stitch along the edge to be gathered. Going slowly and making sure the crochet thread is feeding under the foot and not tangled.
- I find I need to stop a few times to stretch out the fabric, as it will gather as you go. I like to stretch the gather out to pull the crochet thread through this keeps the crochet thread from breaking.
Here it is before I pull on the crochet thread to gather the fabric.
I've pulled on the crochet thread here to gather the fabric. I get a really nice even gather. The crochet thread pulls easily. This method is used with shirring elastic. I find this easier than placing the shirring elastic into the bobbin. I get a more even shirr using this method.
If you have a newer machine you may find you too have this handy stitch for gathering. Read the manual.
If you have a newer machine you may find you too have this handy stitch for gathering. Read the manual.
