---
title: "Shirring"
description: "Shirring gathers fabric with multiple parallel rows of stitching, usually machine stitching with elastic thread in the bobbin, and is often confused with smocking."
type: Glossary
url: https://teazle.art/glossary/shirring
published: 2026-10-14
updated: 2026-10-14
author: "The Teazle editors"
---

# Shirring

*Shirring gathers fabric with multiple parallel rows of stitching, usually machine stitching with elastic thread in the bobbin, and is often confused with smocking.*

Shirring is a stretchy gathering made by sewing several parallel rows of straight stitches, most often with elastic thread in the bobbin and ordinary thread in the needle. One row is simply a gather; two or more are shirring.

## How is it different from smocking?

[Smocking](https://teazle.art/glossary/smocking.md) uses embroidery stitches over pleats to hold the gathers and decorate them, without elastic. Shirring is a utility stitch. One guide gives the cut-width ratio as about 2:1 for shirring and 3:1 for smocking.


## Sources

1. [A guide to elastic shirring](https://www.seamwork.com/articles/a-guide-to-elastic-shirring). Seamwork

Canonical: https://teazle.art/glossary/shirring