First go with a PDF pattern

Well I had plans on how things would go and using all my pretty PDF patterns I had. I was going to take them nice and slow and go step by step learning new things as I went. Then I saw a picture on Facebook of an adorable green camo dress on a baby girl meeting her dad coming home from deployment. Well I happen to have a very good friend whose son was coming home from Boot Camp and training and she asked if I could whip someting up for his baby girl to wear to his Graduation. How could I say no to that! Unfortunately it was Friday evening and they were leaving Sunday around noon so I didn't have a lot of time to sit down and take it slow going step by step, learning as I went. Lucky for me I had an easy peasy shirred sundress pattern by Aivilo Charlotte Designs! So I whipped it up and this is my final result!

The only problem I had was an operator error. You see I learned to shir on my very first machine the Singer Sew Simple.

The Singer machine has a front loading bobbin. Super easy for using elastic thread to do the shirring with. Just hand wind the elastic thread and load the bobbin as usual.  

But I had upgraded my machine from the Singer to my awesome Janome Magnolia 7318! I absolutely LOVE my Janome machine.

 However it has a drop in bobbin

Now as many sewers know drop in bobbins are tricky for shirring. If you don't get the tension just right it won't work right. It may be too tight or too loose and is a mess. But I did the best I could and after 2 shots at it I thought I had it right.

Baby girl wore her pretty camo dress to her daddy's Graduation. However it had to be pinned to make it fit... lol I guess I didn't do as well with the shirring as I thought!

I am pleased to announce that I have officially gotten shirring conquered on my Janome and am working on a sew along with shirring this week.

By the way for those that don't know. Shirring looks so incredibly difficult and many people are scared to attempt it. if this is you, please give it a shot. Look up on youtube all the many tutorials on the subject. Once you do it and watch the steam shrink up the elastic, you will be hooked! So grab some scraps and some elastic thread, load the thread in your lower bobbin and have fun!

And be sure to check out Aivilo Charlotte Designs on Facebook for a ton of super cute patterns!