SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Pre-Shirred Smocked Fabric Amount Varies by Size
- Fabric Scissors
- Basic Sewing Supplies
- Sewing Machine
Use Bust Measurement to Determine Quantity Needed
DIRECTIONS:
-
MEASURE & CUT FABRIC TO SIZE:
- Measure high bust.
- Subtract 3" & mark this width on the shirred part of the fabric.
- Cut fabric at these marks, cutting straight through the shirred portion, then re-adjust the fabric to lay smooth before cutting into the skirt portion of the fabric.
- This ensures the fabric is straight through the skirt.
- Determine the dress length by measuring from the under arm to desired hem location.
- If adding a ruffle to the hem, subtract 10" from this amount & measure down from the top edge of the fabric.
- From the scrap fabric, cut straps & ruffle.
- Cut rectangle 12" high x width of the dress hem x 1 1/2".
- 2 panels may need to be cut to achieve this amount.
- Cut 4 rectangles, 2 1/2"x 16"
- Match the main dress piece right sides together.
- Pin & sew along the seam using 1/4" seam allowance.
- Finish seam as desired (a zig zag stitch works well to reduce frayed edges).
- Finish the cut edge of the skirt with a zig zag or serged stitch.
- Sew straps; match 2 pairs of rectangles together.
- Sew long sides with 1/4" seam allowance.
- Turn right side out & press flat.
- Topstitch if desired.
- Set aside.
- Prepare ruffle.
- Connect panels of the ruffle together at their side seams, using 1/4" seam allowance.
- Hem one edge of the ruffle (now in a loop) by pressing the edge up once by 1/4" & then again by 1/2".
- Top stitch close to the top folded edge.
- Press the top edge of the ruffle into the wrong side by 3/4".
- To ruffle the fabric, stitch two long-basting stitches along the top folded edge, one at 3/8" seam allowance & one at 5/8" seam allowance.
- Gently pull at the bobbin thread of the basting stitches to gather the ruffle.
- Continue until ruffle is the same length as the skirt hem.
- Once ruffle has been gathered to size, evenly distribute the gathers.
- Set the gathers with a bit of steam from an iron (this helps the gathers lay flat before the next step).
- Overlap the gathered edge of the ruffle with the hem of the skirt & pin carefully in place.
- Sew the ruffle to the skirt 1/2" down from the folded edge of the ruffle, catching the skirt hem underneath.
- Once ruffle is sewn to dress, remove the basting stitches.
- Lay dress flat with the seam centered on the back.
- Pin straps on the back of the dress about 3" in from the sides.
- Try dress on, pulling straps over the shoulder to the front & pinning in place to the correct length.
- Adjust placement of straps in the back as desired.
- Sew straps in place as marked.
FOR RUFFLE:
FOR STRAP:
SEWING DIRECTIONS:
Rated 2 out of
5
by
newport31 from
Instructions too vague and frustrating
As someone who’s sewn before but never seen a dress like this, these instructions were frustratingly vague and confusing. Specifically this part:
“Hem one edge of the ruffle (now in a loop) by pressing the edge up once by 1/4" & then again by 1/2".” Which piece is the “ruffle”? You say it’s now in a loop, but I can’t tell by the sentence before it if I was supposed to sew this into one long strip or sew it into a loop yet. I assumed gathering would be easier if it wasn’t looped yet.
So I did all these instructions on the upper dress part and now I feel like I wasted my time.
“Top stitch close to the top folded edge.
Press the top edge of the ruffle into the wrong side by 3/4". “ (Again at first I thought this step was done on the upper dress part. I didn’t know why we were doing it but I’m trusting the process. Then I consider maybe I read these instructions all wrong and I was supposed to do this on the bottom piece.
Ok fine. I redid all the folding of the hems and ironing on the bottom piece. Now that I’m rereading this, I don’t understand which side is considered “the top”. Is it the side I just folded over and top stitched or the other raw edge?
I wish this part specified at what point were working on the bottom piece, the upper dress piece, and which side is considered the top and which is bottom.
Date published: 2024-07-16
Rated 4 out of
5
by
lphiggins from
Double check measurements!
I made a tube dress for my daughter before trying this pattern for myself. Be aware the stretch on the smocking is substantial! I used 8 inches of negative ease (high bust -8 inches.) Baste and fit before finishing. Super quick cute summer dresses!
Date published: 2024-05-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Julieannsew from
One Question
This pattern is wonderful and exactly what I need. I do have one question: It appears that the dress top on the model haas the underarm curved in a “U” shape rather than straight around. I certainly would prefer my underarm part to be curved downward in a “U” shape rather than straight around at the same height as the front and back of the top. Please instruct. 8^)
Date published: 2024-02-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
SewingNRadio from
Fun project!
Love the fabric but the ‘how to make’ instructions should include a way to fasten off the smocking so it doesn’t unravel after you wash the garment- I knotted each row because I didn’t know what else to do and that seemed to work fine
Date published: 2023-05-17