Boxy Button Down to Shirred Girly Awesomeness :)

[lindsycarranza]

Oh Man! It's been a LONG time since I've posted anything on here. I really haven't done any crafting since Nov. 2010 because life kinda started rolling downhill for me for a bit. First I got sick, went to the ER, missed Thanksgiving, found out it was just too much acid in my system causing all my pain. But I have tons of digestive issues and took months to work through had to be on a bland diet for two months! Uck. Then in March I fell and separated my shoulder that took months to heal so finally I'm getting back into some normalcy and crafting Yay! (also lately I've been working on redoing my blog/etsy/prints and website)
This project I'm about to share was completed before all this &*%$ hit the fan LOL!

I found this awesome shirt at Goodwill, didn't like the shirt but loved the pattern! I've done something similar to this before (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=342528.msg3977471#msg3977471) so when I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it!












Since there was only so much material the top turned out a little shorter than I wanted but it's great for layering
Another little side note, the necklace and pendants I'm wearing were also made by me. Great thing is the chain is actually a chain from an old beat up vintage purse I also found at Goodwill. It's a snake chain and all I did was change the ends to make it into a necklace. I like to wear it doubled up and sometimes I add pendants and sometimes I don't

Thanks for looking! Looking forward to getting back into the groove of things soon

Some helpful tuts about shirring:
http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2010/02/shirring-tutorial.html
http://pretty-ditty.blogspot.com/2009/04/smockingshirring-tutorial.html
http://www.kukyideas.com/journal/2007/04/shirred-dress-tutorial.html

[Antidigger]

It looks great and seems to be just your style from the pictures!

[lindsycarranza]

Thank you

[kraftswhenbored]

Nice recon! I like the pattern on the fabric, and you did a good job on the tutorial. Thanks for sharing! I've never tried shirring before, but I've got some fabric and a dress idea that I want to make for my daughter and I'd like to do some shirring on it. You've inspired me to give it a go!

[jasminewolverine]

This really IS awesome! Thank so much for posting the step-by-step... I just started sewing, so this is a great visual guide (because I really don't know what I'm doing yet!). The finished product is just adorable, and I especially love the sweater you've paired it with in your last photo. Great work!

[Painted Sparrow]

Hm, suddenly, I want to turn one of my old button-downs into that (which is strange, I normally don't dig these shirts so much, hmm), not even sure it will work for me, but I want to try! lol That means you did a very nice job & I like it a lot. lol

Maybe I'm just missing where you said it, but how did you handle the button-down portion? Is it just buttoned or did you sew it shut?

[lindsycarranza]

Nice recon! I like the pattern on the fabric, and you did a good job on the tutorial. Thanks for sharing! I've never tried shirring before, but I've got some fabric and a dress idea that I want to make for my daughter and I'd like to do some shirring on it. You've inspired me to give it a go!

Thank you so much! It's super easy, I was afraid of shirring at first but once you start it's almost addicting!

[lindsycarranza]

This really IS awesome! Thank so much for posting the step-by-step... I just started sewing, so this is a great visual guide (because I really don't know what I'm doing yet!). The finished product is just adorable, and I especially love the sweater you've paired it with in your last photo. Great work!

Thank you so much!

[lindsycarranza]

Hm, suddenly, I want to turn one of my old button-downs into that (which is strange, I normally don't dig these shirts so much, hmm), not even sure it will work for me, but I want to try! lol That means you did a very nice job & I like it a lot. lol

Maybe I'm just missing where you said it, but how did you handle the button-down portion? Is it just buttoned or did you sew it shut?

Thanks so much! OH I did forget to mention that. With the top shirred section I removed the buttons since the shirring would sew it shut. The bottom portion is just buttoned not sewn shut. I used the buttons I took from the top and added them to the bottom just so it looked more even and would stay closed better. Since this one I only wear with layers I opted to just have it buttoned but you could definitely sew it shut and leave the buttons for a decorative touch.

[SnazzyS]

That's really great fabric...you did a nice job of that!