Shirred Print Dress

I made this dress ages ago but haven't gotten around to posting the tutorial for it yet (I'm always thinking I'll do more with a tutorial than I actually do). This is a super simple dress to make- anyone beginning sewer should find it a cinch (pun intended). All you need to be able to do is sew in a straight line.

So anyway what you'll need is some fabric with a great print, elastic thread, regular thread, a sewing machine, measuring tape, iron, tailors chalk, a straight edge and a pair of scissors.






You'll want to begin by measuring around the widest part of your body and doubling that measurment. That's how wide you'll want to cut your fabric. I cut my fabric in two so I had two side seams but if you just cut one seam and have that go down your back that might even be better (there are days when I can't figure out which way is the front of my dress) and that will at least give you an idea of the front vs. the back.




Next sew your side seam or back seam together.



Next hem the top and the bottom of your dress.



Your dress thus far should look something like this.



Get out your elastic thread and thread your bobbin case with it. Using a wider stitch length thread your machine with regular thread on your needle and the elastic thread in the bobbin. Begin to sew along the top part of your dress. This will gather your dress in the elastic and create shirring. Do several rows of the shirring (I did 5) along the top.





The top of your dress should now look like this;



Put your dress on and determine where you would like your waist to be defined at (generally the smallest part of your body). Mark that with your tailors chalk and remove your dress. With your straight edge draw a straight line across the front and back of your dress at that point and begin shirring along that line. Shirr about 10 rows with your elastic thread.



Next make your straps for your dress. You can do a lot with straps to change up the look of your dress. Originally I made wide straps with the following steps;

Begin by deciding how wide you want your straps to be and how long they need to be. Measure the length and double with width. Cut out your straps from those measurments being sure to leave a little extra seam allowance.



Fold your straps in half width wise so that your right sides are facing together and sew.



Turn your straps inside out and press flat with the seam in the center back.



Attach your straps where you like them on your dress.




I later went back and adjusted my straps (I didn't get pictures of this). I simply cut my original straps in half width wise so I had 4 straps instead of two. I then folded them in towards each other like bias tape and sewed them down straight. I tied knots on the ends and sewed them on so that they tied together at the center.

Shirred Rockabilly Rosie Shirt

Things you'll need:

1 Man's Large or XL button down
Elastic thread
Sewing machine
Scissors
Seam ripper
Sewers chalk

Start by cutting the sleeves off of your shirt.

Most men's shirts have a pocket on the side, remove that pocket using your seam ripper. Don't worry if it appears dirty or darker where the pocket was, (you'll wash your shirt before you wear it).

Measure around your bust and from the top of your shoulder to under your arm where the seams would go.

My measurement is 11 inches, I wouldn't go much further down than that because you will be adding sleeves later.

Measure half in inch in from where you cut off your sleeve and however many inches you measured down from your shoulder to your underarm. Next take your bust measurement, divide it by 2 and add 2 inches to that. Draw the shape of your shirt using this new measurement. Draw straight down from your bust measurement so that there is no definition between your bust and waist.

Cut out your pattern- do not worry about seam allowance, that extra 2 inches will give you plenty of room to work with. Draw a straight line below the last button and cut along that line.

Flip your shirt inside out and pin the seams together. Sew along the seam line using a 1/8th seam allowance.

Try your shirt on and mark under your bust.

Draw a straight line across where you marked as your under bust.

You'll draw this line across the front and the back. A good way to know where your line should be on the back is to turn your shirt over an inch continue to draw the line.

I don't have a photo of this next part. First decide how short you would like your shirt to be. I wanted mine to be a mid drift so I went one button down from my under bust line. Of course I didn't decide this until after I shirred my shirt so I had to attempt to cut and hem my shirt after it was shirred. Learn from my mistake and decide how short you want your shirt, cut with enough seam allowance to allow you to hem your shirt and hem it now.
To Shirr your shirt load your sewing machine with elastic thread in the bobbin casing and sew a straight line across beginning with your under bust line. You will not be sewing where the button casing is so I suggest unbuttoning your shirt and running it through your machine that way. If you are still confused on how to shirr, follow this instructional video.

Once you've finished shirring your shirt go back to your sleeves and using the bottom seam measure 8 1/2 inches in and mark a straight line across. Cut at that line.

sewing can be a learning experience- I learned measurements are important. My arm hole wasn't quite as big as my sleeves so I made a pleat on the top shoulder of my shirt. This worked for me because I am petite on the top but it might not work for you. Anyhow pin in your sleeves and sew.

This is how the pleat looked after. Hem your shirt sleeve. and wear.

Voila' Cést Fin

Salut!