I’m so happy to see this method come back. I used to make tops and dresses this way for my daughter from ages 2 to 5. She is now 48. Now I want to try making a dress like this for myself. You (or a child) can wear it as a dress, top, or as a pinafore with a blouse or t-shirt underneath. For small children, half a yard or meter of lightweight cotton selvage-to selvage makes a nice top or dress (depending on the child’s height). You can make it as a dress when the child is 2 or 3 and then she can wear it as a top with trousers or shorts when she is 4. I used to just sew as many rows of shirring as needed to gather up the fabric to fit around her nicely. And I found that the number of rows needed would vary according to how thick or thin the cotton was, or how tightly woven it was.. You can sew with two selvage-to-selvage pieces sewn together to create two side seams. For myself I’m going to try 1-1/2 times my bust or hip measurement then do the rows of shirring.

You're amazing! When you say you'll do something, before you know it - there it is!

What a lovely wee dress, all I need now is a grand daughter ☺️ thank you Debbie xx

Beautiful, all the fashion on the high street at the moment so perfect for our little ones as well. ❤️

What a delightful idea Debbie. I have two little great granddaughters who would look gorgeous in one of these. Must go now and order some shirring elastic. I had no idea you could use this elastic in your bobbin! You learn something new every day, especially when watching Debbie Shore!! Thank you xx

Wonderful tutorial! I've never seen a video that shows how to shirr fabric using shirring elastic before. Had NO idea how fast and easy this process was! Was amazed watching the shirred fabric shrink while you were steaming it - very interesting! Very educational and very fun video. Love the 3-tiered look, too! Now, all I need to do is to find a little girl and make her a pretty little dress. Thank you so much, Debbie! Dori in California 🥰

Lovely little dress. I love smocked dresses.

Debbie this is so clever & fascinating ! I am glad Mouse is watching too 😉

Thank you for this. I never knew how to do shirring.

My goodness, you do some awesome work! I'm still nursing my cold and resting as much as I can. I very much appreciate that you have shared this video and want to thank you for this. I hope you have a blissful day ahead!

Fantastic, you made it look so easy ❤️ this weekend I will be buying some fabric and shirring elastic. Thank you Debbie for the tutorial.

Lovely tutorial always well explained. 😊

Can't wait to dash off to Abakhan Fabrics which is about 8 miles away from me to buy the material for this dress for my Granddaughter who is two on Thursday, Thank you so much Debbie, hope mine turns out as beautiful as yours. xxx

Fantastic Debbie such a great video x

Oh Debbie you are sooo pretty!!! Xx

Thank you for this tutorial. It will be lovely for my granddaughters holiday.

Brilliant tutorial! I really want to try this. Thank you so much.

May try for a great niece!Looks easier enough to try🤞🤞

Bonsoir mme Debbie l like your bags and the authors tutorials you are the best samia d,alger

Hi Debbie. What a very pretty dress this is. I was prompted to look and luckily found a photo of me at 3years 7months taken at Yarmouth in 1952 wearing a very similar dress that my Nannie would have made for me. Shows how everything comes around again. Thank you for bringing back such wonderful memories for me. I now like in Melbourne, Australia. My only grandchild/daughter at 6 wouldn't be interested in anything like this but I did make a doll version for the Tilda doll I made recently. 👍🏻

I’ve always wanted to do this but have been a bit scared lololol. Thank you as always for making this so easy 😊👍

Your tutorial is fabulous indeed. Learnt a lot today. Would love to make some dresses for my grand daughters. One more think to learn. How do you join new stirring elastic when one bobbin is empty ?

Good

On another note - you mentioned Sewing Machines Direct of Wrexham - they were absolutely brilliant with me when I decided to buy a Machine a while ago. Really recommend them !

Looks great! Did you do backstitch when you start shirring? Do you do each row seperately or just move the needle and go all the way until the end?

Hi Debbie, do you have any advice about shirring on grain, cross grain, or bias cut lengths of fabric? Thanks for the tutorial!

Wondering job! I want to make my younger great-grand-daughters matching summer dresses & add the shirred elastic to the top...with my Littles, I definitely cross the straps in the back. Enjoy your videos tremendously! Ooo! Question, is it possible (recommend) to use shirring thread in your serger loopers?

This is adorable. In doing the straps, could we put button holes in the strap (add buttons to the dress) so it could be adjustable cross over or straight straps.

Debbie, this is just the best! You explain everything you’re doing, so well. Thank you for that! If I were going to make this for an adult, would I make the top measurement in the same place still? Or around the breast? Thank you!

Hi Debra You're tutorial is fab I've made 4 of these dresses today However I'm wanting to make a shirred top for myself around 25 inches long The problem I'm having is I'm a 40 inch bust I tried cutting fabric at 80 But it came our much too small What would be the best size width wise to cut please ? Many thanks x

Thank you for your video. I’m having problems with the shirr, my material isn’t gandering, I have fallow every step to the t, have done two rounds and nothing happens. Can you please help me? I don’t understand why 😢

Very pretty....would if work if you shirred the straps end to end?

Hi. How many times you needed to fill the bobbin for this dress. It will help me with horizontal bobbin machine. Thanks!

what a lovely video,i tried this yesterday and it was so easy,however when i went to make another one today,it wouldn`t shirr, the seam was just flat! never changed anything ,so don`t know how to sort it out .

I tried to make the dress it was stretching well from the top but as I continue to shirred it was not giving more stretch than the top , any idea what went wrong

i purchased material with shirring elastic already set in for around the bust. I need to line the dress part (this has no shirring added to it) as it is quit see through. Im not sure how to do this. Could you help?

Hi,Debbie .plis subtitules espanis .🙏

Hi Debbie. I have tried shirring on 100% cotton but it does not seem to gather much. Is cotton poplin thinner?

Thank you, I am going to try to make it... Jesus loves you!!.

Hi debbie i am wanting to make this dress for my granddaughter shes on 5-6 yrs old if i measure her chest how much do i add on for shirring ? Thank you

I remember my mother forcing me to where a dress like this with the elastic, and it was the most uncomfortable dress ever. 🙄

I can't get sound ?

Am I the only one who's noticed how uneven the shirring is? It looks like it's a full inch off! Not to mention how one strap does not lay flat! Un watchable.