What pattern are you using and did you read the pattern directions?

if the pattern is made for a top to be shirred, it will give you alot of fabric for the gathering. So follow the pattern. If you are adding shirring to a top that does not call for it in the pattern you can shir first, stay stitch the fabric piece and then lay it out and cut.

The pattern does not call for shirring. I did decide to shir the fabric first before cutting. After I cut it I laid a paper pattern on the fabric and pinned, then I stitched around the pattern intending to cut the fabric outside the stitch line but when I did cut the fabric, most of the elastic let go. I did not cut through the stitch I put around the pattern. It was a standard size stitch but did not hold the elastic in place. Maybe a zig zag stitch next time? Any ideas????

Thanks for the response!

I think the mistake was using the elastic thread with all that tension on it.

Try zigzagging over dental floss or if you have a gathering foot or ruffler for your machine, use that. I always found that to be effective.