Upcycle Project of Questionable Outcome. Bah.

Things don't always work out around here. This time it started with a lightweight knit shirt of mine that had seen better days.

I took a scissors to it, without any real plan, and cut off the neck binding and the sleeves.

I used my serger around the neck hole and then started shirring (this is the elastic thread sewing technique wildly popular of late, used in my Baby Sunsuit Tutorial* and you can learn how to do it here, here, here, and here). As you can plainly see, the elastic thread was tighter for some of the rows and looser for others. Nobody knows why. I had planned to serge the arm hole-sleeve thingys but now I'm not sure it's worth the trouble.

I have a love-hate relationship with shirring. For me it's the unpredictability, the not-knowing. Just how tight or loose will it be today? Will I have to pull the whole thing out three times before it cinches up the way I want it? It seems so be easy for everyone else (Shannon just posted an adorable shirred dress here), and on the days that it DOES work for me, it seems like the most brilliant sewing technique of All Time.

I think this upcycle concept definitely has potential, just not sure this dress is a keeper. I am going to have to try it again with another t-shirt, maybe one with a smaller neck hole (this one had a pretty big v-neck) and fewer rows of shirring. I'd love to know if you try it. The success of this particular garment -- which was intended to be a little summer dress for Clementine -- has yet to be seen. It may have to become a nighty (code for: not willing to let it be seen in public). We'll just have to see what it looks like once it's on her cute little self.

Have you had success or failure with shirring? You may vent if need be. I'm just sayin, I hear you, and I get it.

*Am working on a rehaul of that tutorial right now (UPDATE: It’s UPDATED!). There's some wonkiness with the bottom snap panel that needs to be addressed, STAT. And Clementine needs another one for summer!