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Shirring elastic - wound onto bobbins.  You will need 2-3 bobbins of shirring elastic.  When winding it,  keep an even tension - not too loose, not too tight.

How To

1. Measure around the chest of your little one.  Multiply this measurement by 2.  This will be the width of the rectangle you will cut out

2. Measure the length you want the top or dress to be.  Add on 2cm for hem allowances.  This will be the height of the rectangle you will cut out

3. Using a fabric pen or piece of chalk, draw your rectangle on the reverse side of the fabric.

4. Cut out your rectangle.

5. Finish the top and bottom of the skirt / top.  I do this by doing a double hem 0.5cm wide at the top and bottom (longest sides of the rectangle).

6. Press these seams flat

7. Put the first bobbin with shirring elastic into you machine.

8. Starting about a foot width from the finished edge of your fabric,  sew your first row of shirring.  Keep the fabric slightly stretched out to get a nice even finish.  The elastic will be on the wrong side of the fabric.

9. When you get to the end of the first row,  turn the fabric around and sew the 2nd row a foot width away from the first.

10. Continue doing this until you have about 8-10 rows of shirring

11. Using a steam iron and a pressing cloth (or a tea towel) press the shirring.  This will make it shrink up

12. Join up the 2 short sides of the rectangle using a French Seam or whatever other seam  you would like to do.

13. Make the straps - to do this,  cut out 2 long strips about 4cm wide.  Fold in 1/2 right sides together to make a long tube and stitch about 1/2 cm from the edge leaving one of the short sides open.  Turn right side out and press flat.  Do this for both straps.

14. Attach the straps at the front and back