Sunny Day Dress and Top Tutorial
May 25, 2007
The tutorial is up! Look over to the sidebar on the right and there it is. Go on, get some elastic thread and get sewing. I can't wait to see what you all come up with!
Things will be quiet on the blog for the next few days. I may pop in and post some pictures. I am also trying to get my act together and clean up the blog - you know, update links and the like. I want to start a flickr group for all those twirly skirts that have been popping up all over cyberspace, too. I have some sewing I want to accomplish, including something for myself. Oh, and a couple of trips to the pool. We are so excited for that. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
oh so great. thank you for the tutorial.
enjoy your break!
Posted by: christina | May 25, 2007 at 10:42 AM
going to the store for elastic thread right now! thanks for all you do erin!
Posted by: heidi | May 25, 2007 at 11:53 AM
AWESOME! Thank you for all of the time and detail you put into your tutorials. I was too eager to wait for this one, and after reading through it, I need to go back and stitch over my knots :^)
Posted by: coronita | May 25, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Hope you have a great weekend!
Thank you for the tutorial:)
Posted by: Chara Michele | May 25, 2007 at 12:38 PM
the girls are too cute!
I really might try my hand at this project. Thank you for all the time you spent putting the tutorial together! You rock!
Enjoy your long holiday weekend!
Posted by: kat | May 25, 2007 at 12:43 PM
it's so great! and i love your idea of starting a twirly skirt group on flickr...i did a search the other day for adult versions and found a couple cute ones. enjoy your technology break:)
Posted by: string*THEORY | May 25, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Okay, I just read the instructions and I think I can do it. But I actually want to make a top for myself, how much bigger do you think I'd need to start? I don't want to mess up!!!
Posted by: kate | May 25, 2007 at 12:57 PM
erin, you did fantastic on this! it is very clear and precise. thanks for all your hard work for all of us. I think I could even make this.
your girls and their dresses are adorable.
Posted by: amandajean | May 25, 2007 at 01:49 PM
The girls' clothes are so cute! Have a wonderful weekend and break!
Posted by: Julie | May 25, 2007 at 02:08 PM
Oooh...just as soon as I finish my finals, I'm going to make me one of those tops. So cute! Thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: Marilyn | May 25, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Erin! You rock! Thank you so much for the awesome tutorial. Your girls are adorable. I can't wait to get crackin' on some shirred goodness for Zoe. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Have a super duper weekend.
Posted by: Meegan Blue | May 25, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Nice! A big thank you!
Posted by: Lucy | May 25, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Thanks for another great tutorial. I'm sure my girls will love these as much as their twirly skirts. Every time we walk past the ready to sew versions of this they beg me to buy some and make them dresses. This will be so much better.
Sounds like you are going to have a great weekend :)
Posted by: anna | May 25, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this tutorial! It looks so easy to follow. I can't wait to make a dress or 2 for my girls.
Posted by: Darcy | May 25, 2007 at 04:21 PM
awesome. thank you! have a great weekend (our first twirly skirt appeared last night - will post soon).
Posted by: kirsten | May 25, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Those are completely and utterly adorable. Must get to sewing pronto! Have a lovely weekend yourselves!
Posted by: Amy | May 25, 2007 at 04:25 PM
Love the tops and the poses! I've made some of these for my girl too and get soooo many compliments on them. Everyone who tries this tutorial will be very happy with the results and with you too for sharing! Have fun at the pool...... Marco...... Polo..... Marco
Posted by: Judi | May 25, 2007 at 05:06 PM
Thank you for sharing. I am new to sewing and am so inspired by your blog and what you do. I will have to try this pattern out.
Posted by: Mef | May 25, 2007 at 05:37 PM
I wanted to thank you for the tuto of the twirly skirt.
I just made one and my daughter is thrilled.
Thanks again...
Now I can't wait to try the smock dress.
Posted by: karen | May 25, 2007 at 05:51 PM
yipee! now i have a project lined up for this long weekend. thanks so much, erin!
i can't wait to see all of the skirts on the flickr group...
Posted by: kathryn | May 25, 2007 at 05:51 PM
thank you thank you thank you! you are tops for posting this... can't wait to try it!
Posted by: amy | May 25, 2007 at 05:53 PM
Hooray, hooray, hooray. My local fabric store has been out of white elastic thread for months. So, it looks like I'll be making a red or dark blue top/dress!
Posted by: Mama Urchin | May 25, 2007 at 06:29 PM
You've done such a great job! I had dresses like those when I was ten.
Posted by: kirsty | May 25, 2007 at 06:41 PM
I am going to ask my Mom for a sewing machine for my birthday - I know a few basics but I hope to learn from her and then I can start making all this cute stuff I see on different blogs. Thank you for the very clear tutorial!
Posted by: Stephanie | May 25, 2007 at 06:50 PM
Oh, you know this is on my list! Your girls look great!
Posted by: Robyn | May 25, 2007 at 07:29 PM
Have a great weekend! I'm looking forward to seeing the Twirly Skirt Flickr group. I just saw another one over on Leslie's blog (A Friend to Knit With)---an adult version at that!
I'll have to find myself some elastic thread now...
Posted by: Amber | May 25, 2007 at 08:41 PM
Erin.....thank you so much for all of the time that went in to making this tutorial! I am really excited to make Libby a dress and a top!!
Happy Weekend!
Posted by: leslie | May 25, 2007 at 10:05 PM
i have some blog-perking-up plans, too.
thanks for the tutorial and have a great weekend!
Posted by: meg | May 25, 2007 at 11:28 PM
so
many
thanks!
i was itching to make one of these last week and gave it a whirl on my own -- with your fantastic tutorial, i know my next venture in shirring will be MUCH improved!
Posted by: sarah | May 25, 2007 at 11:39 PM
Ooh, thanks so much...I've been hanging by the skin of my teeth for this tutorial :-)
Posted by: Jade | May 26, 2007 at 01:14 AM
Hello, Erin! After being away on vacation for two weeks (and no chance to read blogs during that time) it's great to return and visit here. Belated birthday wishes! Love the girls clothes--just so sweet, lovely & summery! Happy Days! :o)
Posted by: Tracy | May 26, 2007 at 01:21 AM
Thank you Erin! Just gorgeous! Love your little models too.
Posted by: Jude | May 26, 2007 at 01:34 AM
Hooray! Perfect dress. Perfect timing. Perfect instructions.
Thanks.
Posted by: Jodielynn | May 26, 2007 at 09:25 AM
this dress brings back such memories. it was 1978, i wore a similar dress in a wedding, walked down the isle with a crown of black eyed susans in my hair. the bride and groom stood under an arch made of multi-colored toilet paper flowers. i believe the budget for the day was $18. ahh, the 70's. long before martha came around to show us how to do a proper backyard wedding! ;)
Posted by: heather | May 26, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Wow, those are fantastic! Thanks for sharing those!
Posted by: So Much Fun | May 26, 2007 at 01:23 PM
this is so kind of you to share this tutorial.
I wanted to do a dress like that for my 3 years old daughter, and I was wondering how.
Now I know, thanks a lot
Alexandra from France
Posted by: alexandra | May 26, 2007 at 01:53 PM
That top looks gorgeous!
Posted by: Mirre | May 26, 2007 at 04:16 PM
I can't wait to do this!!! Thank you so much for all your hard work on these tutorials. You do an incredible job!
Posted by: Liz | May 26, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Thanks for the tutorial. I made your twirly skirt as a present and I can't wait to start this one!
Posted by: celine | May 27, 2007 at 08:08 AM
Pretty dresses! Oh my, I just look right to your sidebar and I see the skirt. I made a tote using the same fabric, same colors!!!!!!!
Posted by: Zabrina | May 27, 2007 at 09:41 PM
Thank you so, so much! Shirring might just open a whole new world for me. I thought that hand couching was the only way, or buying the pre-elasticated stuff at fabric store. Love it.
Posted by: Sonya | May 28, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Thanks so much for taking the time to do the tutorial. Can't wait to give it a go!
Posted by: Erin S. | May 28, 2007 at 04:14 PM
oh, thank you, thank you! This is perfectly done. I love the top and the skirt you made for the girls!
Posted by: Jane and the ducks | May 29, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Thank you for tutorial. hope my english ok. I tried it and you wrote that it would be too big. But that did not happen. It shrunk down to kid size just right. and also what do about running out of elastic thread in the middle? do I pull out and restart the whole row otherwise I can not sew it at end step 25.
Posted by: anon | May 30, 2007 at 07:36 PM
This is fantastic! Thank you!
Posted by: Amy | May 31, 2007 at 06:30 PM
Thanks again for the great tutorial, almost finished a dress yesterday, couldn't have done it without your tutorial. The only thing I would add to it is to remember NOT to backstitch when using the elastic thread in the bobbing....I guess it's an old habit??? ;-) I'm thinking shirring could also be used instead of gathering the "normal way" with some patterns...? The possibilities are just endless - I always thought shirring was VERY hard to do...but it's not, and it's all because of you...you're the shirring queen!
Posted by: Henriette | June 06, 2007 at 09:10 AM
hi! just love those dresses! i tried to do it today for my one year old (in neon green) but to my dismay...the elastic thread is hard to use. once i started sewing..the elastic thread becomes stretched and ended up being cut in the middle. i followed everything in your tutorial but what could i have done wrong? please help!
Posted by: bette | September 07, 2007 at 11:17 AM
OMG! Thank you so much for this! It is the best tut I have seen online. I actually understand all the steps. (Which is important for a beginner!)
Please make more tuts like this! I would love you forever!
<3
Posted by: nm | May 29, 2008 at 01:12 PM
I just finished making this dress for my daughter.
It's my second real sewing project--ever, and it was fun and easy!
I made her straps too long, so once I fix that I hope to have pictures on my blog.
Thanks for making such an easy pattern and tutorial!
Posted by: ann-marie mackay | June 08, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Hi Erin
I used your sunny day dress tutorial to kick start my daughters summer wardrobe (I'm ignoring the most snow we've had in 18years outside!!). Thanks so much - you continue to inspire me.
Nicole
http://www.knickknock.com/2009/02/next-season-she-will-mostly-be.html
Posted by: knickknock | February 07, 2009 at 03:45 PM