Thanks to all of you who offered suggestions on how to make shirring work for me. I pretty much tried everything you suggested and--it worked!
Unfortunately, I can't attribute my success to any one thing, but I'm just thankful that it worked and I made two new dresses for friends to show it. Here's my lovely friend Shannon modeling her new sundress. She loved it so much that she's coming over tomorrow for a marathon session of dress making--God and kids willing.
I cannot recommend this pattern enough. If you're on the fence--make it. It almost makes me want to keep living in the tropics so I can wear them everyday. Almost but not quite. It'll look just as cute with a cardigan.
I don't sew, so I had someone from etsy make a dress like this for me and I just love it!
Posted by: Alessandra | July 22, 2009 at 10:37 PM
That is such a cute dress and I love the purple! Wish i had friends like you to make that up for me! I think i will need to call some of mine and start hinting!!!! Here in South africa it is HOT,HOT,HOT in Summer time so this would be a great pattern.
Posted by: allison | July 23, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Well I could probably wear that dress everyday too! I wanted to stop by and let you know how much I enjoyed reading about your blog in Artful Blogging. I live in Texas too and know the valley quite well! Your photos are lovely. You are so talented! Going to Silver Bella this year? I am...
smiles, Mendy
Posted by: Mendy | July 23, 2009 at 02:59 PM
This one turned out way better, love it!
Posted by: Courtney | July 23, 2009 at 04:02 PM
cute cute dress@!!!
and i love your self portrait stencil tutorial --just checked it out and i really want to try that sometime ...thanks for sharing
love your fun blog
Posted by: michelle@bluemoss | July 23, 2009 at 09:53 PM
CUTE! I love the new blue and white one!
Posted by: sara | July 24, 2009 at 06:24 AM
I just made my first one and I love it! I had problems with the shirring as well, but figured out that the elastic thread didn't get threaded through my bobbin correctly.
Posted by: Heather | July 24, 2009 at 09:03 PM
That's really cute and looks great on her!!! :)
Posted by: Darlene | July 24, 2009 at 09:12 PM
Do you know where that pattern can be found now? It's no longer at the link you listed :(
Posted by: Mcatherineblack | January 07, 2011 at 08:16 PM