The Sewing Room

Justamum

pennib wrote: »

Thanks for those shirring links. That's a different way of doing it than my friend did it. She didnt use elastic but thread and I think she put little dots on in rows and used them to space the running thread. She also did different embroiderey through the shirring. You did used to get a little shirring machine which helped the ruching process but she didnt use one. They were stunning when she finished.

That's not shirring, it's smocking. I remember doing that when I was 7 in top infants (not as detailed as your friend did it though I wouldn't imagine!) I've never done it since but I wouldn't mind having another go.

stardrops42

My how this thread has grown since I started it:eek:
Haven't done any sewing for a while as I've been making cakes instead:D Anyway decided to open my little online shop again after a summer break and have already had a few sales so It's time to do some more sewing and start filling my shop again ready for all those christmas sales;) Loving all the makes on here, you're all so clever:T

rosalie-lavender

tiamai_d wrote: »

Does anyone know a good tutorial for sewing gathered skirts to bodices (or well gathered things sewed onto straight things). I always seem to mess it up when I try.

I don't know any tutorials but I will give you what tips I can think of.

When you have gathered up your skirt part pull up your threads (assuming you have used the method of putting a row of loose stitches round the top of the fabric to be gathered.) Pull the threads gently until it gathers enough to fit the bodice and anchor the end of the thread. I used to wind it round a pin. Even it out as best as you can (sometimes using a pin can help to ease the gathers along.)

When you are satisfied they are as even as you want them divide the skirt part into quarters and mark with a pin or piece of chalk the edge of the fabric at each quarter section. Divide the bodice edge into quarters and then you can pin the skirt to the bodice and match the quarter sections to each other. This helps to keep the gathers even. You may also have seams to match to each other as you pin it together.

When you sew the top and gathered bit together, sew with the gathered side up and try to sew close to the row of gathered stitching. This helps you to get gathers not little pleats. If you put your row of stitches near the seam allowance this is easier.

Sometimes it will be easier to sew the row of stitching that is to be pulled up for gathers in sections. If it is a particularly long length this can be easier. If quarters wouldn't work out it can be easier to gather a section at a time so you can match specific sections one by one.

If I use this method I usually put two rows of stitching close together and pull both up at once. I find it gives a better gather and also gives two threads if one breaks.

I hope this helps a bit.

Errata

This ^^ is the way my granny taught me to do it, and she trained as a Court Dressmaker.

amymac

tiamai_d wrote: »

Does anyone know a good tutorial for sewing gathered skirts to bodices (or well gathered things sewed onto straight things). I always seem to mess it up when I try.

I have not made clothes for years so would struggle myself, but came across the 'fishing wire technique' yesterday - no idea if it would work!

http://freshlypicked.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-frock-tutorial-pattern.html

Scroll down past making the bodice to see how she gathers the skirt of the dress with fishing line and attaches to the bodice.

hmo

i spent hours a few weeks ago and lots of elastic trying to do shirring whithout any success at all so i am going to llok at the links to see if i can pick up any tips.

but ive read on the net that shirring isnt easy when you have a top drop in bobbin rather than one that sits vertically in the front, if that makes sense.

anyway i couldnt make it work so gave up

shirlgirl2004

hmo wrote: »

i spent hours a few weeks ago and lots of elastic trying to do shirring whithout any success at all so i am going to llok at the links to see if i can pick up any tips.

but ive read on the net that shirring isnt easy when you have a top drop in bobbin rather than one that sits vertically in the front, if that makes sense.

anyway i couldnt make it work so gave up

Oh I did have a front bobbin but now have a drop in on my main machine. Good to know because I'll use my old singer instead if/when I decide to do some more.

genieuk

The link I gave for shirring she is using a machine with a drop-in bobbin. I would say to try on a scrap piece first to get your tension/stitch length
as you want it.

rosalie-lavender

amymac wrote: »

I have not made clothes for years so would struggle myself, but came across the 'fishing wire technique' yesterday - no idea if it would work!

http://freshlypicked.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-frock-tutorial-pattern.html

Scroll down past making the bodice to see how she gathers the skirt of the dress with fishing line and attaches to the bodice.

I have seen this method of gathering but using a thick thread. It does work. The only thing I would do differently to her is I would lay the fishing wire nearer the seam allowance rather than so close to the edge. The gathers lay better and look more like gathers than pleats if you sew closer to the gathering thread when attaching the bodice to the skirt.
You have to make sure when you zig zag over the fishing line/very strong thread that you don't catch it with the zig zag stitches or it wont pull up.

Justamum

stardrops42 wrote: »

Haven't done any sewing for a while as I've been making cakes instead:D

And don't they look fantastic! Have you been doing it for long? I want to make my DH's birthday cake a bit different this year - I want to make a Trent Class lifeboat :eek: (that's the one he goes on).