Shirring Elastic Band

Definition and Overview

Shirring elastic is a stretch tape used to gather textile at the sewn area to make it look shirred. It is used not only in constructions where elastic is threaded through, but also in constructions where the tape itself is stretched and sewn onto the textile.

The name comes from the shirred finish, and does not uniformly indicate the material or structure. Depending on the product or trading partner, it may also be called shirring tape.

Materials and Structure

The stretchable core is made of natural rubber or polyurethane-based elastic material, and the surface is often covered with fibers such as polyester or nylon. The surface material affects skin feel, durability, dyeability, and ease of handling during sewing.

Tape structures include woven elastic, knitted elastic, and braided elastic. Woven elastic tends to have a firmer feel, knitted elastic is softer, and braided elastic can also be made into a round shape. However, the shape and suitability of shirring elastic should be confirmed against the individual specifications.

• Woven elastic: a flat elastic tape with a woven structure on the surface.
• Knitted elastic: a relatively soft elastic tape made with a knitted structure.
• Braided elastic: elastic made by braiding yarn, and can also be made into round or square shapes.

How to Check Width and Stretch

Width is generally indicated as the finished width in the unstretched state. The appearance after sewing and the amount of gathers depend not only on the elastic width, but also on the textile thickness, the length being sewn, and how much the elastic is stretched.

Stretch is expressed as elongation rate or stretch rate. Because the notation varies, it is important to check how many times the original length it can stretch to, or by what percentage it stretches, and to confirm the required finished dimension and tightness through prototypes.

Main Applications

It is used for blouse and dress cuffs and waists, skirt waistbands, and children’s clothing cuffs and hems. If multiple rows are sewn in parallel, a shirring finish with continuous fine gathers can be created.

For areas close to the skin, in addition to stretch strength, check thickness, edge stiffness, and surface smoothness. On lightweight textiles, puckering caused by elastic contraction and the visibility of the stitching also affect the finish.

Selection and Handling Precautions

Select it according to the dimensions of the area of use, the required amount of contraction, and the thickness and stretchability of the textile. Even elastic with strong stretch can sag during wear if its recovery force is weak. Conversely, if the recovery force is too strong, tightness and sewing shrinkage become greater, so caution is needed.

Elastic materials may gradually change performance due to heat, ultraviolet light, sweat, detergents, and other factors. Do not apply the heat of an iron directly for a long time, and confirm that the washing and drying conditions match the product care tag. Before mass production, conduct washing tests and wear tests with the textile combination.

• During sewing, stretch the elastic evenly and sew it in place.
• Give the sewing thread and stitches enough ability to follow the stretch.
• Check the width, stretch, and recovery feel for each lot.

Differences from Similar Terms

Flat elastic is a general term for flat elastic tapes and is not necessarily for shirring. Shirring elastic is a name that focuses on the application and specification for gathering fabric.

Stretch tape is a broader term that includes tapes used to support textile stretch or stabilize seam allowances. On the other hand, stay tape is intended to suppress textile stretch, so its application differs from shirring elastic.

Frequently Asked Questions