I bought some smocking at JoAnn's etc. and it's not too expensive, it's about $0.12 an inch and it comes in several different colors. (You can probably find it other places with the skirt already attached, it makes it so much easier, but it's not as customizable and it's more expensive (like $12 a yard) It may be worth the extra money to have the ease.) Then I just got some coordinating fabric and added it at the length I wanted to the bottom. It's super easy, but I need to lose a little more weight before I wore it without being pregnant, it's not super flattering, but I will rock it next time I'm pregnant, or in a few months when hopefully I drop some weight (cross your fingers) Anyway, so I tried to take a couple how to pics, but most of them didn't really turn out, I have one on here, I hope it helps. I'll tell you the steps, they are really easy!
STEPS: Make sure to measure your chest to make sure it goes around your bust without pulling. You should get as much smocking as the measurement around your bust not stretched at all, so you can get it on and off easily.
You will also need ribbon for the straps if you want them to stay up. You can also make straps from the coordinating fabric, but I always take the easy way.
1. Cut the amount of smocking you need and turn wrong side out and sew up the edge to make a tube top. Make sure to match up the lines of elastic so they look continual.
2. Figure out how far around you need to make the skirt. I wanted to use mine when I was pregnant, so I made sure to accommodate for my belly. If you don't have hips too big, then you can just cut the skirt width as wide as the smocking is when it's stretched to it's fullest. The skirt can be as full as you want to make it, the skirt doesn't have to match the stretched smocking, Step 4 will get it all to fit. To easily measure, after I've stitched the smocking together, I hold the end of the tape measure and the seam of the smocking together and with the other hand I stretch the smocking and let the tape measure slide until the smocking is at it's most stretched out stage then double it because the smocking is doubled over. Once you figure out the width, figure out the length. You can make this into a shirt or a long dress, it just depends on how long you want it to be. Cut the length of fabric you want for the skirt, making sure to leave enough extra for the seam allowances. If it's wider then the width of the fabric then cut half of the width, 2 times and sew together so you have seams on both sides.
3. Hem the bottom of the fabric skirt tube.
4. GATHERING: If you have cut the skirt wider then the stretched smocking then follow this step, if not, skip to step 6. Lengthen the stitch on your machine. Sew a long stitch all the way around the top of the skirt pretty close to the raw edge. Make sure you leave the excess thread long, it will help when you pull it in the next step. Don't back stitch. When you're done with that, make another long stitch all the way around the top of the skirt about 1/4 inch below the stitch you just made, make sure to not overlap them and make sure to leave extra thread to make it easier to pull. When you're done stitching make a knot and tie together the 2 stitches of one side and then the other side on the top of the fabric and the 2 stitches on one side and the other side on the bottom side of the fabric. You will have 4 knots. This is confusing, I hope this makes sense. (On the pic below it's the 2 light blue parallel threads.)
5. Take the knotted thread from one side, top and bottom and gently pull one at a time, to figure out which give a little easier. Then while keeping one (either top or bottom) thread stationary, gently pull the other set and work it down, you will get a gathering effect. Work it all the way around so that it's even all the way around. Gather it until it's the same circumference as the stretched smocking. This way you will get the fullness and still be able to sew the 2 pieces together easily.
STEPS: Make sure to measure your chest to make sure it goes around your bust without pulling. You should get as much smocking as the measurement around your bust not stretched at all, so you can get it on and off easily.
You will also need ribbon for the straps if you want them to stay up. You can also make straps from the coordinating fabric, but I always take the easy way.
1. Cut the amount of smocking you need and turn wrong side out and sew up the edge to make a tube top. Make sure to match up the lines of elastic so they look continual.
2. Figure out how far around you need to make the skirt. I wanted to use mine when I was pregnant, so I made sure to accommodate for my belly. If you don't have hips too big, then you can just cut the skirt width as wide as the smocking is when it's stretched to it's fullest. The skirt can be as full as you want to make it, the skirt doesn't have to match the stretched smocking, Step 4 will get it all to fit. To easily measure, after I've stitched the smocking together, I hold the end of the tape measure and the seam of the smocking together and with the other hand I stretch the smocking and let the tape measure slide until the smocking is at it's most stretched out stage then double it because the smocking is doubled over. Once you figure out the width, figure out the length. You can make this into a shirt or a long dress, it just depends on how long you want it to be. Cut the length of fabric you want for the skirt, making sure to leave enough extra for the seam allowances. If it's wider then the width of the fabric then cut half of the width, 2 times and sew together so you have seams on both sides.
3. Hem the bottom of the fabric skirt tube.
4. GATHERING: If you have cut the skirt wider then the stretched smocking then follow this step, if not, skip to step 6. Lengthen the stitch on your machine. Sew a long stitch all the way around the top of the skirt pretty close to the raw edge. Make sure you leave the excess thread long, it will help when you pull it in the next step. Don't back stitch. When you're done with that, make another long stitch all the way around the top of the skirt about 1/4 inch below the stitch you just made, make sure to not overlap them and make sure to leave extra thread to make it easier to pull. When you're done stitching make a knot and tie together the 2 stitches of one side and then the other side on the top of the fabric and the 2 stitches on one side and the other side on the bottom side of the fabric. You will have 4 knots. This is confusing, I hope this makes sense. (On the pic below it's the 2 light blue parallel threads.)
5. Take the knotted thread from one side, top and bottom and gently pull one at a time, to figure out which give a little easier. Then while keeping one (either top or bottom) thread stationary, gently pull the other set and work it down, you will get a gathering effect. Work it all the way around so that it's even all the way around. Gather it until it's the same circumference as the stretched smocking. This way you will get the fullness and still be able to sew the 2 pieces together easily.
6. Put the tube top smocking the right side out and upside down inside the skirt tube. The skirt should be inside out. So when you put them both together, the right sides are together. Pin it all the way around making sure to stretch the smocking to meet the fabric so they are the same circumference.
7.Sew the smocking tube top to the skirt tube. Don't worry about the gathering stitches. if they show you can take them out after you are done with the dress. Make sure to stitch it securely.
8. Then turn the dress the right way and if you want it to be strapless you're done! To add straps, try the dress on and with a friend or hubby's help measure the length of the strap that you want allowing for seam allowances also mark where you want the straps to be on the dress. You can make it a solid strap, or you can make it so you can tie it at the top of each shoulder with a bow. This is ideal for a nursing dress, so you have easy access. If it's a solid closed strap, cut the ribbon with seam allowances, and heat seal the ribbon with a match or lighter on both ends. This will eliminate having to hem it. Then just sew them on the dress. For a tied strap, double the length of each strap to allow for a bow. You can make it bigger for a bigger bow. Heat seal all of the ends of the ribbon. Sew one ribbon to each place on the dress where you want to have the straps. Then when you put it on you can tie the dress straps together.
I actually enjoyed making this dress, but I always enjoy making things with my own hands and imagination. You can embellish the dress where you want to. Make it your own and enjoy the journey!
I had my hubby take this and he took it from a not very flattering angle. I haven't put the straps on yet, but it's fine and semi-secure this way too. This pic has the dress over a brown shirt. I like long dresses, any length will work! It would make a really cute Maternity shirt as well!
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