I posted yesterday about the great deal on elastics at Joann's. (Really, if you have any need at all for elastic, you should go get some today or tomorrow... The stretchrite stuff is clearanced out and then an additional 50% off because of the notions wall sale -- elastic is priced now from $.07-$.13 for regular stuff. AND I had a look at the new "Joann's Essentials" brand elastic and the 1" non-roll stuff looks like CRAP *and* it's $1.29/yd. :eek: I paid $.13/yd yesterday for the 1" non-roll that was on clerance!!!)

At any rate, my point is this coolio elastic/shirring stuff. After the addtl 50% off and then the 10% off your total order coupon it comes out to around $.35 per yard). It's soooooo easy and although I know shirring in and of itself isn't terribly hard, my machine hates it so this may well be *my* easiest option. :)

It looks like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/patchymama/shirring3.jpg

And you just stitch it on, following the blue lines that are ALREADY on the elastic = perfectly placed rows!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/patchymama/shirring.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/patchymama/shirring2.jpg

Neat :)

Smart! What a great idea, I hadn't thought of it for shirring. I went to JA's yesterday and cleaned up on the notions too. Some of the stablizers were on clearance plus 50% plus 10% can't beat that!

ohhhh! That looks simple enough!! Cool!

Oh very cool Meagan! I went to JA's late last night and none of our elastic was on sale :0( Oh - I guess it would have been 50% off though, right?

I like your method...especially with the lines right there for you...but I think the elastic would bother Emma on the inside...she's so particular about stuff touching her. But it looks like that soft brushed stuff right? Maybe I can make her a shirt with fabric that I don't care about...

Oh, and another thing is that with this you can very easily control the width of the finished garment, unlike traditional shirring. Just stitch it on, pull the elastic threads a bit, try it on and go from there. Controlling the amount of gather is a huge plus IMO. The only downside I can think of is that some little girls might not like the feel of that panel against their skin. An easy way to remedy that would be to line it. Just shir the piece to how you want it and then use it as a pattern to cut the lining piece.

Oh very cool Meagan! I went to JA's late last night and none of our elastic was on sale :0( Oh - I guess it would have been 50% off though, right?

I like your method...especially with the lines right there for you...but I think the elastic would bother Emma on the inside...she's so particular about stuff touching her. But it looks like that soft brushed stuff right? Maybe I can make her a shirt with fabric that I don't care about...

LOL Candy, we were posting at the same time. But yes, it is kinda brushed and it actually is pretty soft.

About the elastic ~ if they didnt' have any of the old stretchrite stuff on clearance, then yes at least the new stuff would have been 50% off because it's on the notions wall. Did they not switch out the stretchrite stuff for the new joann's brand at your store? Or maybe the clearanced stuff sold already? At my store, it's actully in baskets and bins in the clearance section.

I bought the rest of their no roll for pants. It came out to only 12 cents per yard. I did see the shirring stuff; I just didn't know what it was for LOL.

Oh, and I had another thought... I'm thinking you could use it to gather the skirt part of a dress. KWIM? Obviously you wouldn't need to use all five rows of elastic, but you could cut and use two or even one. I know a lot of people dislike gathering (myself included although I do it a lot) and it seems this might take most of the work AND the guesswork out of it. Plus, no breaking threads...

That's a good idea............I may actually give that a try. You are using your noodle today Miss M!

I bought some of that a few months ago...and it fell apart on me. I was so disappointed. Glad it worked out for you. Looks great!!!

I bought some of that a few months ago...and it fell apart on me. I was so disappointed. Glad it worked out for you. Looks great!!!

Okay Heather! LOL I'm going to need some more details as I bought a lot of this... How exactly did it fall apart? Before or after construction? I'm guessing before by your wording, but just want to check... This stuff is pretty darned sturdy from what I've seen so I'm curious!

i went yesterday and walked right past the elastics. didn't even think of looking b/c i have enough right now. :rolleyes:
i love that shirring elastic!!

LOL ...I can't even remember where I bought it but...the elastic part of it broke. I wasn't using it for shirring, I was using it for experimentation when I was making diapers..LMBO (insert ebarassed face here)...so it could have just been the WAY I was using it. So I guess I was just sour to the whole thing. :)

Oh, and I had another thought... I'm thinking you could use it to gather the skirt part of a dress. KWIM? Obviously you wouldn't need to use all five rows of elastic, but you could cut and use two or even one. I know a lot of people dislike gathering (myself included although I do it a lot) and it seems this might take most of the work AND the guesswork out of it. Plus, no breaking threads...


What a great idea! I bought some of this elastic last time elastic was half off, but I still haven't used it. I do with I had bought more thent he 10 yards I did. Now we only have it in pacakges instead of on rolls.

What a great idea! I bought some of this elastic last time elastic was half off, but I still haven't used it. I do with I had bought more thent he 10 yards I did. Now we only have it in pacakges instead of on rolls.

I looked today at the "new" elastic selection and they had it (in the new boxes). It's $1.99/yd! :eek:

at the risk of sounding stupid and having everyone laugh at me - i must ask questions about using this...

I stitch it onto the fabric following the blue lines.

then - do I pull on the elastic to get it to scrunch up???

if that's it, after pulling the elastic is there something else I have to do to it to make it stay that way?

can i cut along the blue line to adjust how many i get, or will that cause it to all unravel and /or be ruined beyond repair?

also, other than the tank dress/shirts I've been seeing here, what can I use shirring on?