Page 210 - CTS - Dress Making - TP - Volume - 1

DRESS MAKING - CITS

Gathers and Shirrings

Objectives: At the end of this exercise you shall be able to
• state the features of gathers
• explain the importance of shirring.

Gathers: Gathers are more popular method for controlling fullness in a garment. Gathering is one or two rows
of stitching drawn up to form very tiny pleats in the fabric. It is important that the fullness must distributed evenly
through out the entire area. If the fabric is very wide for gathering, work the gathering stitches in batches to prevent
the thread snapping as it is pulled up. The gathered section of a piece of fabric often looks completely different
from the actual fabric. Fabric is usually gathered to one-half (½) to one-third (1/3) the original width. The effect of
gather may be soft and draped, or crisp and billowy depending on the fabric. Gathers is done after construction
seam have been stitched, seam finished and pressed. Gathering most often occurs in a garment at waist line,
cuffs, yokes and children clothes etc.
Shirring: Shirring is the most popular method of controlling fullness in a garment. Gathering is one or two rows of
stitching drawn up to form very tiny pleats in the fabric, but shirring is more than three rows of gathers. In shirring
the fullness is distributed evenly through the entire area. It is primarily a decorative way of controlling fullness.
Shirring by machine is the easiest and quickest method than by hand. Shirring is formed with multiple row of
gathering. Light weight fabric are most appropriate for shirring; they may be either crisp or soft voiles, crepes and
jerseys are excellent choicer. Non iron fabrics are good because it is difficult to press shirring without flattening.
Rows of shirring must be straight, parallel and equidistant. Pressing done with tip of iron directly into the fullness.

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CITS : Apparel - Dress Making - Exercise 48