de-lurking with a question

Cute little pattern. :) I like the pattern review site: it lets you see real examples rather than just the designers versions.

Yes, just use a standard needle. This is a woven fabric with the occasional elastic thread in it, whereas stretch and jersey needles are really designed for knits with spandex/Lycra in them (like swimsuit fabric) or jersey fabrics (like T shirt and sweatshirt fabrics).

I would use a Singer yellow band needle so as not to cut the elastic. As an alternative, perhaps, you could make a casing with a fabric behind the front, and secure the elastic where the waist will connect and pull it to the same length at the top and secure it. This way you could fit the dress as you sew and not worry about the needle at all. It would be neater and wear better through washings. Although perhaps I should see the pattern before creating an alternative method of sewing the dress. Judi

I'm not sure what a casing is. There is no elastic in the dress to secure, it's just kind of an elasticised fabric, but only in stripes across about 1 cm apart. Actually, I'm not sure it's elastic, or just the way the material is gathered. The waist and top do not attach, they are all 1 piece. As this was my 1st ever attempt at sewing clothes, I picked a pattern marked easy. There was a link to the pattern in the original post.

Thanks Heather

I did make the dress, and it came out ok. not great, but ok. It was way too big though, so now I'm going to try the halter style and make it a little smaller. I did learn that it's probably a good idea to hem the underarm and neck areas before sewing the whole thing together. :-)

"Stormlady" secure, it's just kind of an elasticised fabric, but only in stripes

What I would like to know is where did you find pre-shirred fabric? I have spent countless hours machine shirring clothes for my kids..... hmph its just not fair! And those new look and simplicity patterns have an awful lot of ease for kids. My DD was in size 2 until she was 5, and now that she is

I also think a regular needle would work just fine.

HTH

Michelle Giordano

It's all the rage right now! I'm not keen myself, but one place I've seen it was my list of factory ends from Croft Mill! :)