Shirring

Shirring is a technique in which fabric is gathered into even parallel rows of small folds using several rows of stitching (often with an elastic thread in the bobbin), giving the cloth a gathered relief and elasticity. Unlike decorative smocking, shirring is simpler and more functional: it lets a piece hug the figure nicely and stretch without fastenings. It is widely used in the upper part of dresses and tops (creating an 'elastic' effect), on cuffs, the waist and the back. Shirring adds soft volume, comfort and effortless femininity to clothing, so it is especially popular in summer dresses and sundresses. It is simple at its basis but requires evenness of the rows. Shirring is a technique of soft, elastic gathering of fabric, in which parallel rows of folds combine a comfortable fit, light volume and an effortlessly romantic look with no need for fastenings.