Smocked Dress

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Pre-Shirred Smocked Fabric
Amount Varies by Size
Use Bust Measurement to Determine Quantity Needed

• Fabric Scissors
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• Sewing Machine

DIRECTIONS:

MEASURE & CUT FABRIC TO SIZE:

1. Measure high bust.
2. Subtract 3" & mark this width on the shirred part of the fabric.
3. 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.
4. This ensures the fabric is straight through the skirt.
5. Determine the dress length by measuring from the under arm to desired hem location.
6. If adding a ruffle to the hem, subtract 10" from this amount & measure down from the top edge of the fabric.
7. From the scrap fabric, cut straps & ruffle.

FOR RUFFLE:

8. Cut rectangle 12" high x width of the dress hem x 1 1/2".
9. 2 panels may need to be cut to achieve this amount.

FOR STRAP:

10. Cut 4 rectangles, 2 1/2"x 16"

SEWING DIRECTIONS:

11. Match the main dress piece right sides together.
12. Pin & sew along the seam using 1/4" seam allowance.
13. Finish seam as desired (a zig zag stitch works well to reduce frayed edges).
14. Finish the cut edge of the skirt with a zig zag or serged stitch.
15. Sew straps; match 2 pairs of rectangles together.
16. Sew long sides with 1/4" seam allowance.
17. Turn right side out & press flat.
18. Topstitch if desired.
19. Set aside.
20. Prepare ruffle.
21. Connect panels of the ruffle together at their side seams, using 1/4" seam allowance.
22. Hem one edge of the ruffle (now in a loop) by pressing the edge up once by 1/4" & then again by 1/2".
23. Top stitch close to the top folded edge.
24. Press the top edge of the ruffle into the wrong side by 3/4".
25. 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.
26. Gently pull at the bobbin thread of the basting stitches to gather the ruffle.
27. Continue until ruffle is the same length as the skirt hem.
28. Once ruffle has been gathered to size, evenly distribute the gathers.
29. Set the gathers with a bit of steam from an iron (this helps the gathers lay flat before the next step).
30. Overlap the gathered edge of the ruffle with the hem of the skirt & pin carefully in place.
31. Sew the ruffle to the skirt 1/2" down from the folded edge of the ruffle, catching the skirt hem underneath.
32. Once ruffle is sewn to dress, remove the basting stitches.
33. Lay dress flat with the seam centered on the back.
34. Pin straps on the back of the dress about 3" in from the sides.
35. Try dress on, pulling straps over the shoulder to the front & pinning in place to the correct length.
36. Adjust placement of straps in the back as desired.
37. Sew straps in place as marked.