Shirred Towel Cover-up Dress!

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6:00 AM

The perfect Beachwear!

Everyone likes to wrap themselves in a towel after swimming!

This cover-up dress is best!

With simple straps that match her swimsuit...

she is ready to go from the beach or pool!

Perfect for wearing to a picnic or fun place that you "might" get wet!

Just look at that tan!

Okay, you'll need some basic sewing skills.
You'll have to sew "straight" lines...you'll at least get lots of practice!
Supplies:
Sewing machine
Top thread
Elastic thread
empty bobbin
Lightweight towel (heavy plush towels will not work well...think cheap!)
Some double folded bias tape, ribbon or something for straps (optional)
Iron with steam setting

I've never smocked or shirred anything before.
It's actually very simple.
Here's the trickiest part:
Hand wind the elastic thread around your bobbin.

**If you have a "drop in" bobbin--like a Brother machine, like me,
you'll need to add a slight pull while wrapping**
This may take the most tweaking as every sewing machine is different.

Once your bobbin is wound, get it set in the machine...
with regular thread through the needle.

Now, the towel.
Again, plush is not your friend. It wont gather enough...save it for showering off.
But a thin, cheap towel is the best. You could even upcycle some old towels!
You'll sew down the side that you would typically wrap around your body.

Set your stitch length at the longest stitch setting.

Now line up that presser foot right on the edge and sew a few stitches.
Backstitch and then sew the entire row.
The line up the presser foot next to the row you just did...and sew, backstitch...sew the row!
REPEAT!

I had to wind myself a new bobbin about every 4 to 5 rows of stitching.

It just barely gathered.
I was nervous it wasn't getting enough of a gather...but it worked out great!

Keep going!
Depending on who you are making this for...you can
decide how much width of shirring you want.

I did 32 rows!

Next.
Iron with steam.
The elastic thread will scrunch up more when it's ironed and steamed.
So go over all your stitches.

Now...before you start trimming strings...
Lay the right sides of the towel together, lining up the back seams.
Sew down that edge twice...really locking in all that elastic.
Then trim all those threads!