Did you know elastic thread exists? As a relatively new sewist, elastic thread never really entered my realm until recently when I stumbled into a project that involved shirring. If you’ve ever wondered how shirring is done, elastic thread in your bobbin is the answer.
When using elastic thread in your bobbin, you have to treat it differently than you would regular thread.
- Do not stretch the thread as you’re winding it (which means your usual tension knob for winding bobbins is out.)
- You most likely will have to adjust your bobbin tension so the thread feeds properly once you begin sewing. It’s a good idea to test on some scrap pieces of fabric until you’re comfortable with how your machine is handling the thread. This will be different from person to person and machine to machine, but what worked for me was loosening my bobbin tension by 1/2 turn counter-clockwise. Whatever adjustment you make, make a note of your settings before you change them. I drew a quick diagram of how the screw was oriented before I made any adjustments, and made a note of each adjustment I made until I was satisfied.
Two Ways to Wind Elastic Thread on a Bobbin
- By hand. This is pretty straightforward. Just make sure you’re winding it in the same direction your machine would and don’t stretch it.
- On your machine. You have to bypass your usual tension knob. I demonstrate below.
- I set my speed to low and use my foot pedal to start and stop.
- I use both my hands to transfer the thread from the spool to the bobbin. I use my left hand to pull the thread off the spool and keep it loose and my right hand to guide how the thread is wrapping around the bobbin. Again, don’t stretch the thread.
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