Weekend sewing project – Shirred top

This was the first time I ever tried shirring a top with elastic thread.  Shoot, I didn’t know elastic thread existed until a few weeks ago!  Here is a tutorial on how to shirr and I found the elastic thread/cord by the elastic, not the thread, at the sewing store.  For my machine, I wound the thread on the bobbin and didn’t stretch it at all, set my tension to 4 and used my longest stitch.  I didn’t have to steam it afterwards to make the shirring come out, it did it all through the stitching.  Tip: Definitely draw the lines with a water-soluble pen if possible.  My lines were a little crooked!

Here is the top, with the shirring on the back.  I drafted the top and skirt patterns from scratch.  I made several boo-boos on the top while stitching it together, but it was the first time sewing it, so that happens.  I wanted the top lined in the front, as the shirred seams were a bit bulky.  I wanted them enclosed so they wouldn’t chafe her sides and also so they would lay better.  I had to rip those seams out at least twice until I got it right…ugh!

The pattern that inspired this outfit can be found here.  The problem I had with it (besides the $20 price), is the ribbon on the corset top, the top ruffles and no straps.  The ribbon would get untied in about 2 minutes, the ruffles looked like they would chafe under the arms, and I didn’t want to have to worry about the top inching down.  I try to make my kids’ clothes cute, but practical.  Instead of ribbon, I used matching rickrack that I sewed into the sides.

I’m not sure how well you can tell in this picture, but it is SO STINKIN’ CUTE on baby girl.  When you add my cute little blondie to this cute little ensemble, it is about an overload in cuteness.  And I’m not just sayin’ that ’cause I’m her mom. 😉