lessons in shirring...and the little tips i've learned

for the longest time i have wanted to try shirring fabric so that i could make myself some cute little sundresses (jordan doesn't like the way the elastic feels so i wasn't planning on making any of these type dresses for her). so after checking out a few websites and watching a couple youtube videos, i figured i was well enough prepared to tackle my first project. i had some nice amy butler fabric that i needed to make something with and a dress seemed like a logical choice. since making that dress on monday, i have made 2 others with plans to make several more over the coming weeks...i will be essentially living in these dresses this summer so i need a good variety on hand! so, here are my lessons learned and tips for making shirred undresses or tops.


first of all it's a good idea to wind several bobbins with the elastic thread...hand wind them, of course, and not too tightly since you're not trying to get as much on as you can. i didn't do this with the first dress and had to re-wind the bobbin after every third row. so, having the bobbins preloaded is a huge time saver once you get the project started!

filled bobbins, ready for the next project

lesson/tip #2: you may not need as much fabric as you think you do...meaning you don't need twice your measurement since the fabric "shrinks up", but not that much (at least not in my case)

hard to see, but there's a blue line down the fabric. all the fabric on the left of the line was cut off.

the line is a little clearer here

i ended up cutting off a little more than 14" from the side of the dress after sewing it together. i could have gotten away with 56" of material (a little more than a yard & half) instead of the 72" that i thought i needed. it wasn't a huge deal since i had the fabric already, but it helped to know so that next time i can save a little money & not buy too much fabric.

lesson/tip #3: if the fabric is too thick, it won't shirr. the first dress i made was supposed to have a bigger top band, but the two layers of fabric would not shirr no matter what i tried so i gave up and made it into a smaller 1/2" band...only after lots of frustrations and switching to my non-computerized machine, that is.

the top band before adding elastic

lesson/tip #4: always mark and sew your top and bottom hems first, it's so much easier than having to go back. you could probably hold off on the bottom hem, but i like to sew it when it's a straight line rather than a circle (that's the lazy side of me, though).

lesson/tip #5: i add elastic to the top band after shirring the fabric. meaning that when i fold over the top hem i leave enough room to put in a 1/4"-1/2" piece of elastic to help pull the top in. that's just my preference though, you may want the top more ruffle-y, but i found that since i wasn't adding straps of any kind, adding elastic to the top band made it fit better. 

lesson/tip #6: the first row is gonna be the loosest row and it may not look right, but as long as the fabric is gathered some, it'll all work out fine the more rows you add

hard to tell, but there is one row of shirring under the top band

four rows here and it's tightening up

there's about 10 rows here

here's what the elastic/wrong side looks like

and the finished dress with about 22 rows of shirring and 1/2" elastic in the top band

and this was the first dress with about 24 rows of shirring and 1/4" elastic top band

lesson/tip #7: you can use either a computerized or non-computerized machine, just be sure to set your tension on the highest level and your stitch length to the longest. the dress above was made on my older non-computerized machine and the one above that was made on my computerized one. both of them did just fine so whatever kind you have should work.

lesson/tip #8: you can steam the fabric after sewing it to pull the elastic in more...don't iron or press it, just hold your iron a little bit above the fabric and press the steam button on your iron. 

lesson/tip #9: you can use your pressor foot as a guide when sewing the lines. i keep my lines about 1/4" apart, but you can do whatever you feel comfortable with. my lines aren't perfect, but since they are so close together you can't really tell!

just a couple more: thinner fabric works best, regular thread in the top (through the needle) with the elastic in the bobbin, and sew with the right side of the fabric facing up.

i'm sure i'm forgetting something, i always do, so feel free to leave a comment and i'll answer it! it really has gotten easier the more i do it, the dress i made last night took about 3 hours from start to finish with ironing, pinning the hems and casing, sewing and putting the elastic in the top. 

my next dress attempt is going to be with just back shirring and some kind of halter or other bodice...i'm still iffy with zippers so i'm going to alter a pattern or 2 that i have. hope i've helped at least a little...i really enjoy shirring and hope you will, too!  

my favorite dress, so far!

 

week of bags, totes, pouches...whatever you want to call them!

i have been a busy little sewing bee lately, having decided last week to make some bags and totes that i've been wanting for a while. my goal was to make a bag a day and although i veered off that course just a bit, i have been able to get 9 different size and shape bags, totes, pouches, whatevers made up since starting last week...so all in all not too bad if i do say so myself (and i do!). and so here they all are, my week of whatevers in pictures!

the bag that started it all! front or back of charm square tote

other side of charm square tote

inside of tote: one large pocket on the blue side, divided pocket on the green side. 

the tote turned out bigger than i expected, but i still love it! i got the idea after seeing a mom's diaper bag in church one sunday a few weeks back. being a crafty person, i knew that the bag was handmade so i set out to find the pattern so that i could make one for myself (obviously not as a diaper bag since i'm so very done with that stage of life). also being a somewhat thrifty person, i chose not to purchase the $9 pattern and instead figured it all out on my own after seeing lots of pics online of the tote that others made using the pattern. i think it turned out just perfect, it's quilted on the outside and put all my extra fat quarters to good use!

itty bitty pouch, it's super tiny and is being used as a holder for my sewing supplies like scissors, little ruler, & seam rippers

first bag made using peltex (a stiff interfacing) and plastic handles

inside of bag, one pocket on each side

square tote, first bag having a tie closure

inside of tote, pocket is divided in two

quilted, patchwork zipper cosmetic pouch. first ever attempt at sewing a zipper...turned out pretty well and is just the right size for keeping in my purse.

clutch and mini clutch. the mini clutch is the perfect size for holding my id and a bit of change. the bigger clutch holds the mini & my phone.

sunglass holder with a id/card holder. the original was too long, so rather than take it apart and trash it, i re-did the size to include a card holder, too.

fold over clutch, made with a snap closure 

back of clutch, opened up

little tote, first with a fold over flap and single strap

sewing lesson learned: check that the lining is on the correct side so that you don't end up with a pocket on the wrong side! i wanted the pocket on the back side, the one with the flap not the front with the flap closure. oh well, it's a cute little bag for jordan now!

so, see, i've been sewing up a storm! also, been baking up muffins and cookies as well so i'm keeping up that end of my project...it really is the blog part that is suffering from lack of attention! more bags are in the pipeline for the next few weeks since i'm so full of ideas from all the etsy.com exploring that i've been doing! there are some super talented people out there and i get so inspired just browsing around the web!

off for more sewing and muffin making! house hunting begins again next week and i've got a whole new outlook on that adventure so it'll be way less stressfull this time around! oh, and just one more pic to show that i do use the totes and things that've i've made!

the tote i'm carrying this week, along with the cosmetic pouch, sunglass pouch, & purple clutch!

 

alone on my pulled pork island

i am deep in the middle of my "make a bag every day for a week" plan, but wanted to take a quick little minute to say that i am much better after the whole house-hunting/house-losing stress out from a few days ago. i have a much more relaxed outlook on all things in life now and know that everything will work out in the end the way it's always meant to.

i thawed out the pulled pork i made a month or so ago in hopes for serving it up for dinner one night a few days ago, only to sadly discover that i am the only one in the house who likes pulled pork! so, now i am left alone to enjoy the yummy, bar-b-que goodness that is pulled pork! and enjoy it, i did! sadly though that means that i will no longer be making pork butt...which, really in the end may not be so bad since apparently those things are not the healthiest cuts of meat!

anyway, loads of pics to follow in the next few days since i have been sewing up a storm and making lots of bags, purses, and pouches! i'm trying all kinds of new products and learning lots so there will definitely be a blog about it all when it's all done. come on back soon!

utterly and completely giving up

apologies in advance, but this isn't going to be a craft or cooking related blog...nope, this is going to be my little venting session to avoid going completely insane, well, that's my hope anyway.

we (mainly i) have been looking for a house to buy for the last couple months, well truthfully i"ve been looking since feb. when i was given the information that we were indeed going to buy a house this year. quick back story: we've been in our rental home for nearly 4 years and i've been going stir crazy in it about the last 2! needless to say, i was overly excited about the prospect of finally buying a house that would have more room! and that may be part of my problem since i tend to get overly attached to ideas, places, or things...not a good trait at all. i realize that as a severe character flaw and would like to change, but sadly know that i'm probably not going to.

so, here i sit tonight, on my third glass of wine, fighting the urge to completely breakdown since i just received the news that the house we had finally set our sites on (and truthfully, my heart) went under contract this past weekend. i'm crushed. it would be fine if that was the first house that got away, but no, it's one of many that i have found to be perfect that have gotten away from us for one reason or another.

and i know all the things that everyone will say to make me feel better, and much as i appreciate them, they don't really make me feel any better...they just, kinda make it hurt a little bit more. so i'm giving up, utterly and completely. we have until august on our current lease here so i'll either be giving up for a few weeks and start looking again in june, or i'll bite the bullet and stay here one more year in the hopes that next year we'll really find the place that we're meant to be in...biting the bullet does not tempt me in even the slightest, little bit.

project so far in pictures!

alright, i have been a huge slacker with this whole blogging thing and i will be the first to admit to that. and so, here i am, back again apologizing for my slacker self and promising to do better yet always knowing that it's probably not going to change me...damn downside of this project is turning out to be the blog and i was all afraid that i would slack off in the crafty or cooking/baking arenas! anyhow, here's photo recaps of what i've been up to the last few weeks...there's lots of pics so i will be breaking up the blog into 2: food tonight, sewing stuff tomorrow...don't want to overwhelm you with so many pictures at once! i'll try to keep my descriptions short and non-rambling, no promises though!

my first attempt at beef stew, turned out a bit too thick, but good none the less

cornbread muffins to go with the stew; these were yummy!

2nd attempt at brownies from scratch; these were much better than the first ones and made with cocoa powder.

slice of keeper recipe for new orleans bread pudding...i forgot to take a pic when it was whole!

 dried hamburger buns before, destined to become homemade bread crumbs!

dried buns after, pulsed through the mini chopper...all in my effort to stop wasting hamburger buns!

 sour cream muffins, topped with cinnamon sugar. these were yummy!

half of the macaroni and cheese that the recipe i use makes; i freeze the half that we don't eat so we can have it another time!

the after effects of the macaroni and cheese on my dutch oven!

beer bread, because i just had the urge to make it one morning! this recipe was much better than the first one i tried, definitely a keeper!

peanut butter cookies...not as chewy as i would have liked. i'm still searching for a better recipe!

my first 9" round cake pans filled with my first attempt at crumb cake.

finished crumb cakes...made for the teachers at stephen's school, hope they were good!

allergen free (no eggs, nuts, or dairy) chocolate cupcakes. they are very good, super moist and jordan actually ate one plain, no frosting or sugar on top like the picture! these are a definite keeper!

wow! that was a lot of pictures and truth being told, i made a ton of other things that i just forgot to take pictures of so i've been keeping up the cooking/baking end of my project. it's actually kind of nice to get a craving and bake it up...that's why i made the beer bread and the peanut butter cookies!

i'm trying to limit my sampling as i bake and cook since i found that i had gained 5 pounds since starting the project and i really don't want weight gain to be the lasting effect of this project! 

up next are the pics of all my sewing projects...coming tomorrow or the next couple days! 

come back soon and thanks for stopping by!

just a little venting

it's been a long few days, life has caught up to my desire to blog and since we have to have clean clothes i let life win out over blogging! the kids were on break last week and although jordan doesn't go to school she chose to wake up every morning by 7:30 so it wasn't much of a sleeping break for me! naturally she is sleeping until 8:30 now, when i already have to be up by 7 for stephen. oh, well, summer will be here soon enough & then maybe i'll sleep in more!

this is just a quick update, so no pics...i haven't gotten them from off my camera yet, anyway! i have been sewing, baking and cooking though...at least keeping up that end of my self imposed project. i made up a couple more pillow case tops for myself and finally finished up the 2 peasant dresses for jordan to go along with the sewing side. as for the cooking and baking i've made chocolate chip cookies, corn bread muffins, beef stew, new orleans bread pudding, bruschetta, sangria (yes, i know you don't cook or bake that), sour cream muffins, and brownies from scratch. i'm sure i'm forgetting something!

so i'm keeping busy with that end, just not this end! i'll try to be better, but we all know that it's probably gonna be another week before i post something new again!

thanks much and come back soon...i promise to have pics next time!

brief recap and restart for the project!

i cannot believe that it's been (gasp!) a week since my last update...man, i'm such a slacker! so, instead of boring the pants off any of my wonderful readers, i am simply posting a couple pics of the last things i've been able to cook or bake and then starting over. i figure it's just easier that way and a whole lot less explaining on my part of my further laziness; although in this case it wasn't complete laziness since i was working on yardwork (which as a side note, i can't stand doing and so rather than pulling weeds every few weeks, i waited and had to completely rip apart our front flowerbeds just to get rid of all the overgrowth). hindsight being what it is, i know realize that i make things much harder for myself than i really should in the long run!

and with all that said, here's the few things i've made over the last week that i know you're just dying to see!  

bar-b-que meatballs, so super yummy!

i altered a recipe for comfort meatballs from the pioneer woman's cookbook. since i didn't have enough ketchup for the topping that was originally called for, i used sticky fingers bbq sauce instead. i loved them, but i am a complete bbq fiend so anything covered in that sauce is wonderful to me! i'll make them again sometime, but i'll try making the ketchup sauce next time...i think that'll make them more like meatloaf meatballs, which is what they are intended to be anyway!

blondies...like chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips!

i've always wanted to try blondies and after finding a recipe that made nuts optional, i decided to give them a try and break in my new metal 9x9 baker at the same time! (multitasking at it's finest, if i do say so myself!) so, anyway the recipe is from my joy of cooking book (which, by the way, i looove!). the cookies came together quickly and easily and the best way i can describe them is chocolate chip cookies with out the chocolate! no one in my family tried them (typical), which left more for me so i was fine with that in the long run. ok, another side note: it's amazing that i'm not as big as a house with all the things i continue to bake and eat! so, blondies are a keeper recipe...just in case you're keeping track!

mmmm...chocolate chip cookies!

i make some of the best chocolate chip cookies...yes, i'm rather proud of myself for that! i've been baking these cookies for the last 20 years so i better have them down by now! ok, figuring out that i've been baking cookies for 20 years makes me feel so very old! 

 chocolate chip muffins, in honor of chocolate day!

and finally, jordan declared monday to be chocolate day, and really i saw no reason to tell her that it wasn't! so in honor of chocolate day we had chocolate frosted cinnamon rolls, thanks to pillsbury (some things are better made from a can), more chocolate chip cookies and i made up some chocolate chip muffins just to use up the last of the chips that i had in the cabinet. all in all, a very tasty day!

alright, so it wasn't as short as i originally intended, but they never are since i tend to ramble on once i get started! 

i'm working on a couple tops for myself, dresses for jordan, and whatever else i decide to make up this week! 

it's spring break for stephen so we're going on a little field trip up to columbia tomorrow to check out the state museum, so there may be no baking or cooking done again until thursday when i plan on making a beef stew that isn't made using a pouch mix (that'll be a first for me). 

come on back soon! and a quick congrats, before i go, to the duke blue devils! the 2010 ncaa basketball champs!! it was a great game and i've been a duke fan for many, many years! just wanted to throw that in there!

 

finally, the sewing has begun!

my sweet sadie is finally getting lots of use now that i've started sewing more and more everyday! 

sadie, my sewing machine!

yes, i name my appliances (molly, the mixer; sadie, the sewing machine...i'm sure there are others). 

i have been busy over the last week with my sewing and cooking projects so this is the first moment i've had to update the blog. ok, well, that's not quite true...me and my lazy side have been taking our sweet time with blogging. but now, i'm back and up to the task ahead...kind of. it's not been the best for me the last couple days...my husband has been calling them "bitch days" and well, quite frankly he's right! it's such a joy to be a girl sometimes.

but, now the bitchiness seems to have disappeared and the weird funk that i felt creeping up seems to be moving away...quess that keeping myself busy was a big help after all!

my first apron

so, back to sewing and the first thing i made was an apron from one of my quilting magazines. it was super easy and quick, made from a couple towels i got from ikea and didn't really like as towels anyway, and some ribbon for the ties. i was so super excited when i made it, but i've yet to remember to use it when i'm actually in the kitchen making things! at some point, i'm sure i'll remember to use it...hopefully.

my new pillowcase style top!

last week, while browsing through one of my favorite sewing sites, i got the idea to make myself up a couple pillowcase style tops. i could have spent $10 to purchase the pattern instructions, but since i already know how to make that type of thing for jordan i figured it wouldn't be a problem to make one or 2 for myself. i simply took some closer looks at the photos of ones that had been made and went from there. it was very easy since the top is essentially a rectangle with armholes cut out, i made mine with a slightly more fitted cut rather than full like the ones i make for jordan. 

the blue top

with the weather getting warmer, i figure i will get tons of wear out of these kinds of tops! i like the way the first 2 came out, but have tons of ideas for the next batch of tops that i'll be working on over the next week or so. it's such an easy pattern to alter and i'm actually finding that it's more comfortable to wear than i thought it would be!

another view of the blue top

so with a new sewing pattern to keep my creative side occupied, i broke my self imposed rule of not buying more fabric and bought more fabric today. and to make that even better, i didn't even order the right amount so i had to order even more! i'm really trying to find the bright side of that mistake...guess it could be that i can just use the fabric to make some stuff for jordan, too. i'm just not a huge fan of the whole mother/daughter matching thing, but i guess if we don't wear the same patterns on the same days, it'll be just fine! so, there, i did find a bright side after all!

and now, i'm off to put sadie to more work...i've got 2 dresses for jordan that are nearly done and a skirt, too that i hope to finish up this week. i got tons of ideas from the flowertown festival (it's a big arts/crafts type fair) that we had here over the past weekend...i always get inspired after going to that! i'd love to have a booth there some day...oh, how a girl can dream!

anyhow, come on back for more about my sewing projects and all the cooking and baking i've still been getting in as well! i'll be posting more soon with yummy food pics, too!