Now that is absolutely adorable! As my grandmother used to say when she was giving me a compliment on something I'd done with my hands, "You're so smart!"
The proportions of the tiers, the bodice, and the ruffled straps are just perfect. Also, the fabric design was perfect for a shirred dress. So glad you think the work was worth it, because it is a beautiful dress. Thanks, Amelia, for sharing this make with us.
I absolutely love the dress, especially the self drafted sleeves, a beautiful design, I love your vlogs there a joy to watch, thank you for doing them ❤️
Really useful measuring tips Amelia. Loved all your preparation for this gorgeous dress. Now ready for a shirred dress for my 9 year old granddaughter! Thank you.
I love shirring since I had a shirred dress when I was a kid. I’m tentative about attempting shirring on my new sewing machine. I think I will try the gathering method using elastic thread, for shirring. I love your dress!
I made this dress in a digital printed linen fabric and it turned out really beautiful. I only have 3 tiers instead of 4 because I had only 2.5 metres of fabric. I'll probably make one more in rayon, soon. Thank you for the idea!
Thank you so much! I wanted a really gathered frill so I cut it 4" wide and 36" long in the end. I usually aim for a gathering ratio of x1.5 for a light gather and x2 or x2.5 for a heavier gather.
Loved your video, and love your dress! Thanks so much for sharing the process. I really enjoyed this type of video. Very useful information and a joy to watch.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. Your explanations are clear and detailed as are the pattern drafting. I'll be making a few of these cuties for daughter and granddaughter as soon as I finish the Bardon Dress by Peppermint Mag. I am going to sew the tiers of the Bardon using your brilliant "ruffle on the outside" method. Again, thank you.
Beautiful beautiful dress. You did an excellent job on your dress. I have a few patterns that call for shirring. I’ve been putting them off. But seeing how lovely your dress turned out I’m motivated to try at least one of the patterns. I’ll have to pack my patience and take my time. Shirring dresses and tops are so nice. Thanks for the video! Your garments always look so lovely on. See you in your next video. 👗🧵🪡🥰
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Sharon! I certainly did quite a few test rows on some scraps of fabric before I started on the dress bodice which really helped to make sure I had the settings correct on my machine. I hope your shirring turns out well! ❤
Well done that is a beautiful dress. I am part way through making a shirred dress, I hadn't figured out the sleeves yet and was thinking about making ruffly straps so thank you so much for sharing I will give it a go now (if I can face the extra shirring!). Watching your vlog I am quite relieved I didn't go for lots of tiers, I'm not sure I could face the gathering as well!
I am so glad the tutorial helped! The sleeves were really quick actually - or maybe they just felt that way after shirring the bodice! 😂 I hope you are loving wearing your shirred dress too. Thanks so much for watching.
I make a lot of square dance skirts with lots of gathering. I divide and mark off the pieces into 1/8 sections. I number a bit of blue tape for each 1/8 sections so I can match the sections to the flat piece which is also divided and numbered taped. For gathering I zig zag over fishing line. Be sure to secure one end of the fish line. I tape it to a pencil so it doesn’t pull through as you gather by pulling the fish line. This is the easiest way I have found. The other way is use a gathering foot which always seems to make my gathered pieces to long or two short. It will work but you have measure a section ( say 6 inch’s) then gather and remeasure. Let’s say the gathered section is now 3 inches. So you need a bit more than double the length of what you are attaching to. Good luck.
Hi Amelia, wow what a stunning dress, it's absolutely beautiful. I adore those little ruffle sleeves. I'll pin this tutorial to have a go myself. Shirring scares me!! Thanks so much for taking the time to film this process, it was really interesting to watch and great to hear how you calculated the tiers etc xx
Thank you so much Karen. I am glad you enjoyed it! I absolutely love wearing this dress, so although the shirring took ages, it was definitely worth it in the end. So comfortable! ❤
Thank you so much Susan. I was so pleased with it! I found the Stitch Sisters video really helpful to get my shirring sorted. Thank you so much for watching!
Looks lovely on you and perfect for this current weather 😎 I love the pattern and fabric of the jumpsuit you was wearing at the beginning. Could I ask what pattern you used please ?
Thank you Pauline. It has been perfect in the heatwave! The jumpsuit at the beginning is the Zadie Jumpsuit by Paper Theory. Another lovely, floaty summer make! Thanks for watching. ❤
Hi Amelia what a fantastic tutorial. I really love the 3 tiers in different lengths and those sleeves are so cute. Unfortunately me and normal shirring don't seem to work. I have found another lady that gave 3 options one where you actually feed the 1/4" elastic into a casing between two layers so basically although fiddly its protecting my skin of the actual elastic. Although time consuming hopefully i can manage it. Also i was curious on the flutter sleeves as very much a beginner i can make this. Sadly fabric is expensive so i bought 2nd hand a double duvet set and curtains which is polycotton as a trial run. Thank you again i just need to work out my measurements and begin. Also the gathering is a pain so may do that in sections. Your dress looked fabulous on you ❤
Thank you so much, I am so glad you found the tutorial helpful! I think a polycotton for a shirred/elasticated dress sounds perfect. I hope you really enjoy making your one.
@sewamelia Thank you. Im just about to begin cutting out. Fingers crossed. If it works I've got enough for a long and just over the knee. I'm all for recycling x
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been looking for ideas on what to do with my tube dress. With the sleeves I will be able to wear my dress. But I am not good at sewing. I have to take it to my seamstress.
Loved the shirring and directions. You are so lucky to watch the Sewing Bee and have your great selection of fabric in England etc.. not here in Australia. What pattern was the check dress. ?
My old machine's bobbin case can't be adjusted enough to handle elastic thread and it makes me sad every summer. Love your shirred dress, super jelly that I can't make one lol.
A fantastic make Amelia. Love it. You have so much patience. Love your channel and really think you should audition for Sewing Bee I think there would be a lot of people that would love watching you.
Thank you Noleen. I am glad you enjoyed the tutorial. My dress is made from four different colours of gingham and it is the Deer and Doe Orchidee dress. Thanks for watching! ❤
Thanks Zoe! I finished the seams with the overlocker first as I attatched the tier on top of the previous tier for an added ruffle. I think it would have been impossible to finish off the seam afterwards, so I chose to do it first. Thanks for watching! ❤
What a great vlog, dress is lovely, I always feel between shirring and gathering it’s an endurance tests. Jump suit at the start is lovely, which pattern did you use, I am trying to find a nice jumpsuit pattern but I have looked so much there are so many patterns I am now at that confused stage. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Thanks Debra. It did feel like a bit of an endurance test at times, 😂 but totally worth it in the end! I was wearing the Paper Theory Zadie Jumpsuit at the beginning. I made a video all about it in June last year if you would like more details about the pattern. 😊❤
Love the dress and the extra details. Just wondering if the dress feels comfortable in the underarm area? I saw a similar video where they curved the arm hole and I’m wondering if that is necessary?
Thank you Donna. I find the armhole very comfortable, but I suspect that is because this is technically sleeveless. I think if I make another and add sleeves, I may choose to make more of an armhole in the shirred bodice piece.
What was your method for gathering the tops of the tiers? Did you find you had to gather the bottom of each previous tier to get them to fit? That's what I found happened when I made one.
Hi Amelia could you please help me with numbers? The overall dress from top bust I've cut to 23" × 2 + 2" S/A. I want it to be ankle length. What size in panels depth including S/A do I need please. I just can't get my head to work it out? Please please help ❤
Hi. I think it is really up to you how you want to divide the panels. You could have three the same length, or make each one slightly longer. All to add up to your final length, then add SA to each piece.
The dress is so beautiful, you made a lovely job of it. Love the way you sewed the tires. I also loved the pink climbing rose you were cutting flowers from - could you tell me its name. Thank you 🌸🦋🌹💕
Why did you not shire the body of the dress before attaching the tiers? You would have had less weight and less fabric to deal with whilst you shirred.
Haya. I really enjoyed following your eek. You know how much I like shirring, it is such a fun technique which creates such pretty designs. Looking amazing as always. Thanku 'sew' much for sharing. x
