Photo by @sophia_rosemaryI've been seeing the Dôen Ischia Dress absolutely everywhere on Instagram - and it's easy to see why. Its shirred bodice, delicate fabric ties, and vintage-inspired sleeve detail make it such a special piece. Today, I'm excited to walk you through a tutorial for hacking the Eleonora pattern to recreate that shirred sleeve look. A huge thank-you to Sophia for generously allowing me to share her photos as inspiration, I absolutely love this gingham version and need to make one too!
Notions and tools needed:
- Elastic thread (or narrow elastic)
- The Eleonora Dress pattern (short sleeve version)
Tip: Before cutting into your main fabric, make a test sleeve with inexpensive fabric to check your shirring placement and tension.
Step 1: Mark the hem allowance
On your short sleeve pattern, mark the hem allowance and measure 3.5 cm (1 3/8 inch) up from the bottom of the sleeve.
Step 2: Create your shirring curve
-
Fold the sleeve pattern in half to find the center of the hem.
-
From the center, measure 17 cm (6 3/4 inch) upwards and mark.
-
From each side seam, measure 18.5 cm (7 1/4 inch) upwards and mark.
-
Draw a smooth, symmetrical curve connecting the three points. A hip curve ruler is great for this, but you can also freehand it.
Step 3: Add additional shirring lines
From your upper marking, draw one or two more lines spaced 5 mm (1/4 inch) apart. If you’re not using elastic thread, sew a line of narrow elastic in the center, or create a tiny casing to insert it later.
Step 4: Transfer and sew
Transfer your markings to your actual fabric sleeve pieces. Sew two or three rows using elastic thread (or insert elastic via a casing if that's your preference). For guidance, refer to page 14 of your Eleonora Dress instructions. Remember: sew your shirring before closing and finishing the side seams.
Tag @silversagapatterns and use the hashtags #SilversagaPatterns and #EleonoraDressPattern when you share your hack - I’d love to see it!
Tutorial and graphics © Silversaga Patterns
Please credit if sharing
Photo by @sophia_rosemary