About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 2h00

Great Vintage Inspired Print Dress
I made this dress ages ago but haven't gotten around to posting the tutorial for it yet (I'm always thinking I'll do more with a tutorial than I actually do). This is a super simple dress to make- anyone beginning sewer should find it a cinch (pun intended). All you need to be able to do is sew in a straight line.

Posted by PinkWeeds from Omaha, Nebraska, United States • Published 1st September 2011 • See PinkWeeds's 173 projects »

Tags

Print • Embed

Alma added Shirred Print Dress to Dresses 21 Jun 12:08
Alma added Shirred Print Dress to Dresses 29 Dec 00:18
Emma H. favorited Shirred Print Dress 27 Jun 22:57
MaybeAViking added Shirred Print Dress to Dresses 27 Sep 16:20
bemeself favorited Shirred Print Dress 15 Jun 18:18
Debi added Shirred Print Dress to Dress Ideas 27 Oct 21:15
Shantelle t. added Shirred Print Dress to how to clothing 23 Oct 18:07
Evelyn M. favorited Shirred Print Dress 02 Sep 03:08
Rhonda G. favorited Shirred Print Dress 08 Jul 18:17
charlotte.williamsgreywolf favorited Shirred Print Dress 04 May 07:07

Step 1
So anyway what you'll need is some fabric with a great print, elastic thread, regular thread, a sewing machine, measuring tape, iron, tailors chalk, a straight edge and a pair of scissors.
Step 2
You'll want to begin by measuring around the widest part of your body and doubling that measurment. That's how wide you'll want to cut your fabric. I cut my fabric in two so I had two side seams but if you just cut one seam and have that go down your back that might even be better (there are days when I can't figure out which way is the front of my dress) and that will at least give you an idea of the front vs. the back.
Step 3
Next sew your side seam or back seam together.
Step 4
Next hem the top and the bottom of your dress.
Step 5
Your dress thus far should look something like this.
Step 6
Get out your elastic thread and thread your bobbin case with it. Using a wider stitch length thread your machine with regular thread on your needle and the elastic thread in the bobbin. Begin to sew along the top part of your dress. This will gather your dress in the elastic and create shirring. Do several rows of the shirring (I did 5) along the top.
Step 7
The top of your dress should now look like this;
Step 8
Put your dress on and determine where you would like your waist to be defined at (generally the smallest part of your body). Mark that with your tailors chalk and remove your dress. With your straight edge draw a straight line across the front and back of your dress at that point and begin shirring along that line. Shirr about 10 rows with your elastic thread.
Step 9
Next make your straps for your dress. You can do a lot with straps to change up the look of your dress. Originally I made wide straps with the following steps;

Begin by deciding how wide you want your straps to be and how long they need to be. Measure the length and double with width. Cut out your straps from those measurments being sure to leave a little extra seam allowance.
Step 10
Fold your straps in half width wise so that your right sides are facing together and sew.
Step 11
Turn your straps inside out and press flat with the seam in the center back.
Step 12
Attach your straps where you like them on your dress.
Step 13
I later went back and adjusted my straps (I didn't get pictures of this). I simply cut my original straps in half width wise so I had 4 straps instead of two. I then folded them in towards each other like bias tape and sewed them down straight. I tied knots on the ends and sewed them on so that they tied together at the center.