Shirring with a Brother Sewing Machine

If you don't know what shirring is, its a fun way to sew with elastic thread to make something nice and stretchy. If you do not have a brother sewing machine, Ashley from Make It-Love It has a great tutorial with some fab tips here

Brother sewing machines are a bit different though. Every tutorial you read about filling your bobbin says not to wrap the elastic thread on tightly. Brother likes to break the rules though, and instead, you are going to stretch it on nice and tight. Wind your bobbin completely full, because it will run out fast.

Adjust your stitch length to the longest stitch (mine is 5).  Like my sweet photoshop drawing skills? I've been brushing up on them with the "draw something" :)

Drop in your bobbin as you normally would, while keeping elastic thread tail pulled out.

Turn the wheel until the thread pulls the bobbin thread out. Leave a good two or three inches out before sewing.

Now sew a straight line, and your sewing should be stretchy and gathering. Do a second line. I use my sewing machine foot as a line guide for each row.  Repeat until you have enough rows. 

Steam the elastic thread with your iron and watch it shrink.

I did both cotton and knit here to show the different types of materials. I did the bottom edge of a dress from a tshirt I made using the Sienna pattern from Lil Blue Boo. It made it into a cute little tunic!

If this doesn't work for you and your brother sewing machine, try this tutorial on things to tweak. I didn't need to do mine, but it might help for you.
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