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 4 out of
5
by
Elu_C from
Beginner Friendly if You Take Your Time
It's a crazy simple dress pattern that can be very beginner friendly. Just take your time and don't rush this!
I would recommend using the high bust measurement to make this dress instead of the bust measurement Joann recommends; Like other reviewers have said some of the smocked fabric is extremely stretchy and that might cause some frustration since just using the bust measurement may cause the dress to be a bit loose on the person you are making this for.
I would also recommend a knit/jersey needle if you are using a smocked fabric that made from rayon challis fabrics to make it easier to sew.
My main wish for these smocked dress projects is that there is an official Joann's video tutorial for each variation on these dresses so it is a bit easier to follow the instructions given, as those can be a bit vague/confusing. But there are a handful of helpful tutorials on YouTube that create beautiful smocked dresses from Joann's.
Date published: 2025-02-08
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