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Dresses· sewing· The Vintage Crafter's Challenge

The LAST Vintage Crafter’s Challenge.

A maxi dress.  And a faux shirring tutorial.

I have one more to add to the mix of our FABULOUS guest posters.  Weren’t they amazing?  I am so inspired by all of them.

So, I have a confession.  I actually made two projects for The Vintage Challenge.  I made the dolls quilts and then the next day started second-guessing myself.  I always second-guess myself.  The quilts were not cute enough, not creative enough, not perfect enough.  You know, the whole nine yards.  So, I started all over.  And then I decided that my second project was all of those things—-ARGGGHHHHHHHH! (See how my self-esteem works on a daily basis? It’s a vicious cycle.)

And then I decided that it is okay.  They are probably not the most creative, best, or most perfect projects.  BUT IT’S OKAY.  They’re mine.  And I don’t need to measure up to anyone else. (Or so I keep telling myself. All.The.Time.)

Enough of that rant….let’s get on to the project.

I found this vintage tablecloth at a local thrift store and love it because #1 it’s gingham and #2 it has lovely embroidery on it.  So, I snatched it up.  And thought about the vintage challenge, and decided on a summer maxi dress.

And since it is already hemmed.  It was super easy.  I folded over the top at the right length, added a chocolate brown ruffle at the bottom and the sleeves….and then added the faux shirring. 

The faux shirring was made out of necessity a couple of years ago.  You see, I have had Brother sewing machines from the beginning.  And all of them have drop-in bobbins.  And some people (amazing people) can get shirring to work on drop-in bobbins perfectly well. But. I. Could. Not.

I tried and tried and tried and tried and tried.  And all I did was get more frustrated because it wouldn’t pull through the bobbin correctly, or it wasn’t tight enough, or it would break every couple of inches……or a million other things would go wrong.   So, I decided to find another way.

So, if you have drop-in bobbin-shirring problems–this tutorial is for you.  Faux shirring with 1/4 elastic.

 You will need:
4 pieces of 1/4 inch elastic (that are exactly chest measurement)
Thread

Step 1
Fold and iron the top of your maxi dress to the right height.  I wanted a ruffle on the top, so I left one inch at the top for that ruffle and then meaured and marked 5 lines.  Each line is 3/8 inches apart, so that the 1/4 inch elastic will fit through nicely.

Step 2
Sew on each of those lines.  The first line will be sewn all the way around but the other four need an opening at the back of the dress as shown below.
Step 3
Add your elastic to the top row using a safety pin.  Stitch both ends of the elastic together and then sew that top casing closed like below.
Step 4
Repeat for all other casings until you have a top that looks like this.
And you’re done! 
Happy Sewing!

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Comments

  2. Maggie @ Midwestern {Sewing} Girl says

    so fantastic!!! And how awesome! I, too, have trouble with shirring breaking in my kids clothes, so this will be perfect! Great job, Elizabeth! This series has been sooo much fun…thank you so much for allowing me to participate!!!

  3. liZ evans says

    I still think this is a GREAT dress but it makes me kind of sad…Hannah looks so grown up (and beautiful) in those pictures…what is happening? Where are our kooky little kids going?
    liZ

  4. Rachel says

    Awesome! That is so pretty! You’re braver than me . . . I’ve never even attempted shirring. It just sounds too scary, and I know I would get angry and violent and stay grumpy for like a week afterward. And sad as it is to admit that I’m taking pleasure in your misery . . . I’m totally taking pleasure in your misery. Hearing that you doubted your projects kind of made me a little delighted because I doubt EVERY. SINGLE. PROJECT. I have ever put online, and yours (both Elizabeth and Liz’s) are always, like, breathtakingly perfect 🙂 So I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has a minor panic attack every time I make a blog post 😉

    Rachel @ Maybe Matilda

  5. LB3K says

    cute! love maxi dresses, gingham and embroidery, too. and i am so glad that i am not the only one second guessing everything i do– and trying to hard to make what i think others will like. . .

    smiles!

    leisel
    brown paper packages

  7. Jessica@MakeItLovely says

    Honey, you do NOT need to doubt your projects. Both of you girls have great taste – and I would NOT just say that 🙂 Plus it’s great to have your own style – even if not everyone else “gets it”. Love ya!

  12. Prudently Painted Vintage says

    Its weird because when I tried to shir, it worked half way through and then messed up…..bad. Maybe because I have a drop in bobbin?? I have been wanting to try it again, so I will definitely be trying this. Just pinned it 🙂