Shirring disaster ... needle and thread

We're sewing along with Elizabeth and needle and thREAD.  The sewing week started well; I did cut out some pretty white blouses for my three youngest girls. I was going to try my hand at shirring - something I've been dying to do! Gotta stretch yourself, right? (no pun intended there)  Shirring is where you put elastic thread in your bobbin and regular thread on the top. When you sew, the fabric gathers up, but maintains the stretch. When you sew multiple rows evenly spaced, you get that stretchy-sundress-you-wore-as-a-kid kinda look.

The pattern I cut out was the very sweet Olivia Top from Pink Fig.  I chose a gauzy white for summertime-go-with-anything-fresh.

Having never shirred before, I checked out Pink Fig's shirring tutorial.  Hmmm, seems easy enough. I can do this.

I will need to practice, because:

Here is the top, ready for shirring. This is the size 4.  I should have taken a picture of the size 2 before shirring. This is to give you an idea of what you're starting with.  The size 2 is not much smaller, maybe an inch less all around.  I was so excited ...

After shirring the neckline and the waist, I stopped.  It was REALLY shrinking up! Too much!!

Like, way small!  That stinky size 2 shrunk to the size of a pea!  Oh my goodness, how we all laughed!!! What else can you do when your endeavours go awry! 

I must have wound the bobbin just a tad too tight with the elastic thread. I will rewind and retry ... but not right now :).  I decided to take a little break instead. Maybe next week? Hee hee hee it still makes me smile.

Elizabeth asked about a summer sewing list.  I have one in my mind and I hope to get that down to share.  In the meantime, a friend and I are hosting a SEWING RETREAT for some of our closest sewing friends. We've called ourselves the Stitchin' Sweeties and we hope to make this a regular affair,  once a month or so.  We are meeting at one of our houses on the weekend, and plan on sewing from 6pm - midnight. The idea is you bring your machine and any project you're working on, in whatever stage its at, plus some yummy snacks.  And we'll just spend time together chatting and pursuing our hobby. Doesn't that sound awesome?? Oh yeah!!!

No reading of note this week.