You know you have a problem when you look at your dog and think to yourself "she would look really cute in a smocked/shirred top." Even my family is noticing my shirring addiction. My husband walked into my crafting room and called me the mad scientist. Is there some sort of gum or patch that you know of? I didn't think so either.Seriously, shirring is my latest obsession. I made this top for my daughter and I made another top for myself, but I'll show you my top later .... it's a surprise (more to come on that). Anyways, I shirred the top and then made the ruffly shoulder straps. Very easy to do. I'll show you.
First, shirr your fabric (tutorial). Fabric link.
Next, prep the ruffle.
1) Cut out a half circle. I used my trusty tin coffee canister as a template.
2) Finish the raw edges of the curved part of the circle. I used red bias tape.
3) Stitch a gathering stitch (longest stitch) along the straight edge of the circle.
Your almost ruffle should look like this.
Next, prep the straps.
4) Cut out a strip of fabric that is 2.5" wide and long enough for the shoulder (use your measurements).
5) Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press. Unfold the strip and turn in the long raw edges of the strip (each side) a 1/2" and press.
Now, attach the ruffle.
6) With the long raw edges turned in, pin your ruffle to the inside of the strip (center). Notice I allowed a little slack in the ruffle. This will allow me to gather the ruffle.
4) Cut out a strip of fabric that is 2.5" wide and long enough for the shoulder (use your measurements).
5) Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press. Unfold the strip and turn in the long raw edges of the strip (each side) a 1/2" and press.
Now, attach the ruffle.
6) With the long raw edges turned in, pin your ruffle to the inside of the strip (center). Notice I allowed a little slack in the ruffle. This will allow me to gather the ruffle.
7) Gently pull on the thread, gathering the ruffle to the strip. Pin in place.
8) Machine baste (long stitch) the ruffle to the strip.
9) Close the strip and stitch down both sides of the strip.
10) Lastly, pin the straps to your garment and stitch in place.
The buttons are fabric covered buttons and are purely aesthetic.Here's the little shooga boog modeling her top.
Look at that! Hands on hips. Just like her mama =)
Have a wonderful weekend. I don't think I'll be able to blog for the next week or two, because I will be very busy wrapping up some BIG projects. I can hardly wait to share.
Cheers,
Jamie
Have a wonderful weekend. I don't think I'll be able to blog for the next week or two, because I will be very busy wrapping up some BIG projects. I can hardly wait to share.
Cheers,
Jamie
26 comments:
Oh my, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the ruffled sleeve. Now how to figure out a way to use it....hmmmm?
Beautiful! I linked to it!
so cute :P
If I hear about any gum or patch, I'm selfishly not going to tell you about it ;D because it is so fun to see what you come up with! Adorable top! Love the ruffle sleeve cap! Now, I can't wait to see your top! Please don't make me wait too long. Pleeeease :)
Love the swagger in the model's lower body. Attitude! Go Girl!
:)Gloria
We are so not going to stop you!! This is so cute!
Love the top! You are so talented! I can't wait to hear about your projects.
Oh how adorable! Shirred tops look so comfy and stretchy...I love how you put the red bias tape on the ruffle! And the fabric is so cute too!!!! I bet your daughter just loves her new top!
Thanks for the kind words everyone =)
I am in love with this top!! So cute and fun...i can't wait to see the one you made for yourself. :)
And yes im with the rest...im not gonna stop you either. hehe Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to yoU!
So so cute. I thought smocking was a thing of the past. So glad to know it has not died. My mother actually smocked little shirts for my brothers (year and year ago). Adorable.
That's so much cuter (and practical) than all the smocked dresses I had as I was growing up. Well done
Your opening line is hysterical! Great tutorial.
WOW-it's GORGEOUS! I'd love to link to this if you didn't mind.
Rachel, that would be great! Thanks =)
This technique is called shirring. Smocking is when there are embroidered designs stitched on the gathered fabrics. Great job on the top!
Yes, I do believe you're correct. However, the resources I use call it both???? Quite confusing, but I think I'll settle with shirring =)
Thanks.
Oh MY! That is such a cute top! I would love to make that for my lil 18 month old. Love the fabric! I will have to check your shop for that :)
So cute. Absolutely lovely. Hope you don't mind I shared your photo with my readers and linked it back to your site. I love to spread "sewing inspiration" around.
Jeannine - Thanks and I don't mind the link at all =)
I'll have to check out your blog for "sewing inspiration."
hello. i'm new to your awesome blog and i love it. you are so talented and such a great and creative seamstress. question for you. i was looking back on your posts and i saw the one about your "hutch makeover" well i just got myself a sweet old-school hutch {craigslist find} and i want to make it over. did you sand down the hutch completley or just paint over it. i loved the color of paint by the way...i'm thinking about copying you if that's okay...but yes, love the blog and all the projects you do. thanks for you time and inspiration!
denise from oregon
Hi Denise! Thanks for the kind words. As for the hutch, I did lightly sand it. The most difficult thing about making the hutch was letting go of any perfectionist ideas. The more mistakes you make, the better the hutch will look.
Good for you for finding it on Craigslist.
Best of luck!
Jamie,
I just wanted to pop in and say that I received my fat quarters. Thanks again. The colors are beautiful!
So funny to picture your dog in a shirred outfit. : )
Hi
Im a grandmom from India and am just smocking a frock for my granddaughter in the US. The one yu have sewn is simply lovely..Can i use that idea for my piece too?I love to smaock and have revived this craft only now after many years....Thank you..God Bless You for sharing....Love Hema
so cute and clever sleeves..and what a lovely dress you made.
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