What you need for shirring

Elastic, thread and light fabric.

• Shirring elastic, usually black or white.
• Regular all-purpose polyester thread for the needle.
• Lightweight fabric: lawn, voile, poplin, viscose or Tencel.
• A chalk pencil or washable pen for guidelines.
• Gingham or stripes give you ready-made lines.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Tilly and the Buttons: How to sew shirring
2. SewGuide: Shirring, sewing with elastic thread