How to Draft a Shirred Babydoll Dress — Sewing With Numbers Project 003 Draft-It-Yourself Manual

This manual is an adaptation of a newsletter series that I created for my Substack Sewing With Numbers. When you purchase this interactive pdf, you will receive all of the tutorials and information needed to draft a shirred babydoll dress to your custom size and preferences. (NOTE: This pdf does NOT include instructions for sewing the dress.)

This pdf manual will teach you how to draft a shirred babydoll dress. This design is a loose-fitting, peasant style dress fitted with elastic gathers at the neckline and sleeves. The elastic gathers can be created with shirring (using elastic thread), or with a casing and narrow elastic. There is a grown-on facing at the neckline that when topstitched also functions as the elastic casing. The length shown is short, but you can adjust for your preferences. The pdf includes tutorials for how to draft how to draft gathers, three ways to add bust shaping, calculating finished measurements, and estimating fabric requirements. Additionally, there are instructions for drafting three dress variations: an Elastic Strap Dress, a Keyhole Shirred Top, and a Fitted Shirred Dress.

LESSONS INCLUDED:

• Exercise: How To Draft Gathers

• Tutorial: How To Draft A Shirred Babydoll Dress

• How To Estimate Fabric Requirements

• How To Make A Full Bust Adjustment

• Design Variations

SKILL LEVEL: I recommend this manual for people with an intermediate sewing skill level and beginner or intermediate pattern drafting. If you don't feel confident doing the sewing construction on your own, then this booklet is not for you.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: PATTERN PIECES ARE NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS NOT A PHYSICAL PRODUCT. This is an instruction booklet for how to draft a tiered skirt to your custom measurements. This booklet DOES NOT include instructions on how to sew and construct the garment. (See the project journal for some basic notes on construction.) Due to the nature of digital products, there are no refunds. Please read the description carefully. THIS IS NOT A PATTERN NOR IS IT A FINISHED GARMENT.