By Cher
Use Elastic Thread in a Sewing Machine
Smocked fabric by the yard is very popular… It is so easy to purchase it, make a seam, and voila – a cute little dress or top. The downside is that these fabrics are expensive and sometimes the selection isn’t that great but it really isn’t that hard to create your own! Let me show you how to use elastic thread to make smocked fabric!
The style of the tops can be very versatile, too! Babydoll or form-fitting with sleeves, straps or just a tube… So simple! A piece of fabric can be smocked and inserted into another top at the neckline, or sides, or wherever!
Supplies:
- Elastic Thread (<– affiliate link!)
- Cotton Thread to match the fabric
- 1 yd of Cotton Fabric
- Sewing Machine
- Several Empty Bobbins for the machine
- Scissors
Start by prewashing and drying the fabric to remove any sizing and to shrink the fabric.
Square up the cut edges by using scissors or a rotary cutter, or by tearing a small strip off the edge. Determine the top edge of the fabric and make a small hem.
Hand wind the elastic thread around the bobbin without stretching it. It is helpful to have several bobbins with the elastic thread before beginning to sew. Because of the thickness of the elastic, the bobbins tend to run out very quickly!
Load the bobbin into the machine as usual and thread the machine with the thread chosen to match or contrast with the fabric…
Determine the width of the gathers – in other words, if you want them to stop at your waist, hold the fabric up to your body and place a pin where the gathers will stop. Start sewing a straight line. Do not pull the fabric or force the fabric to feed. Let the feed dogs do the work. The elastic thread will stretch and create the gathers.
If the bobbin runs out, carefully pull the thread and elastic to the wrong side. Start a new row and continue to sew. When the rows are completed, pull all of the thread and elastic tails to the wrong side.
They can be tied together and sealed with a little bit of Fray Check to keep it from unravelling, them trimmed away.
Sew multiple rows by stitching to the end of the fabric, turn the fabric and make a few stitches, turn the fabric again and using the foot as a guide, stitch the next row. Continue stitching the rows until the stopping point (pin mark) is reached.
Sew a seam along the selvedge edges …
and hem the bottom of the fabric.
Add straps or cute flutter sleeves and there you have it – a cute, easy, inexpensive top!
Making smocked fabric is so cheap and easy, and using elastic thread in a sewing machine is very simple! Have any questions on how to use elastic thread to make smocked fabric? Let me know by leaving a comment below!
Originally posted 2012-05-30 08:00:48.
Cher 
Cher 
Cher 
Thank you, I can’t wait to try this! you make it look easy.
Thank you so much! I hope you have fun with it… Stop by again soon!!
How many spools of elastic thread will you need and how many yards of material for a little girls size six dress?
Hi, Paula! One spool of the elastic thread will suffice. As far as the yardage of the fabric, it would depend on the chest measurement and the length of the dress. I would think that one yard should be plenty… Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve never used a sewing machine in my life – would I be foolish to try doing this as a first attempt? It seems fairly easy?