Easy peasy girls' summer dress

[Julierose]

This is such an easy dress to sew, you don?t need to be a pro to stitch it together. I started sewing the smock dress at around 9.30pm last night, and finished it by 11-something pm... See the pics and details here: wp.me/p18O9X-6f

Let me know if you decide to make one!

Not sure why it didn't automatically link... hope this works: wp.me/p18O9X-6f

Sorry Julie but personally I wouldn't have considered the smocking part easy for a beginner?? its something I've done many a time & still find it a PITA & I've 20+ years of professional experience

I saw this fabric and am going to make DD a dress/top for the summer from it - and it saves me the hassle of doing the smocking!

In which case I take it back :) - it would be an easy dress for a beginner without the smocking to contend with -

now if I can only find it in green with skulls I might be able to persuade DD to have a do & make her own:)

Wow this is just what I've been looking for thanks. I wonder where to get the elastic from though?

How do you do this type of smocking? I know how to do the careful marking, folding and embroidery type (though as a general rule really can't be bothered!) but this looks like it is done with elastic? Anyone know a good place to find instructions for how to do this?

Thanks!

There is a tutorial here

Any good haberdashers should have the elastic thread

My mum used to make us dresses like that when we were little. They are so easy and very pretty.

Luckily I've got some shirring elastic, I'm itching to make one. I've got rather too much fabric in my stash [bublush].

Now pinking shears, can anyone recommend a good make, nice and light?

That doesn't sound too difficult - will give it a go when my sewing machine comes back from the repairer. Thanks dizzy.

Very sweet dress, and nice to find an easier way of smocking- might give it a go for a friend's daughter (don't have any girls of my own!)

Just seen all the responses to the thread. I must admit this is very easy to make as long as you're confident using a sewing machine! You'll find the 'how to' here: julierose77.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/easy-peasy-summer-dress/

The smocking part is really straight forward, and if I can do then it goes to show that anyone can. Thread your bobbin with the elastic (see the link above for online shops that sell all sorts of sewing supplies), and pop it into the machine. Make sure you have normal cotton threaded through the machine. You can mark lines on the right side of your fabric use dressmakers' marker or like me go for it freehand using your needle foot as a guide (yip I managed to get staight lines that way). I did about eight to 10 rows, but you need to decide what looks sufficient. Saying all this, the video shows and explains it really well.

Hope this has helped, please let me know how you get along : -)

I made it yesterday. It's very lovely, very quick and very easy. What more could you ask?!

Things like this make me wish I had a girl.

So much easier to sew a little smocked dress than sew shorts for a boy I tell you.

Bigbuttons - really pleased you made it and it turned out well : -)

Sewng pedant here... this is not smocking, this is shirring which is worked with shirring elastic. Smocking is worked over regularly gathered fabric and usually embroidered... basically it was used before elastic was readily available which is why you see it round necks, chests and cuffs. Some of us were foolish enough to do this for our O level needlework back in the 70s!

And I meant to say it is a lovely little sun dress!

I have now made 6 indifferent fabrics

have a made indifferent fabrics ? I hope not

LatteLady - fab to know that, thanks for sharing.
BigButtons - please share pics : )