but shirr-ly, every girl needs a nani ...

Thirty days hath September, April, June and ... last day to slip a final piece into the Sew Mama Sew June Challenge.

Your eyes do not deceive, you may remember seeing this print already for tis the same Nani Iro I used for my shift dress, only this fabric is double gauze. Gauze is lightweight, soft with an open weave that allows air to circulate freely so is used for garments in hot and humid climates, but it's not very practical because it is so sheer. However, those clever Japanese have very kindly done us all a huge favour and perfected the fantastic double gauze fabric. Literally, it is two layers of gauze that are attached using a grid of tiny, invisible stitches. The fabric feels unbelievably soft and reminds me of a comfort blanket. If you like, you can read some more about it at Superbuzzy.

Have you picked up on my obsession with Japanese sewing books yet? This one comes from the Mother of them all, Stylish Dress Book. Pattern N.

Oh so lovely to sew, the best bit is the pretty, flouncy ruffle at the front which takes it up a notch from halter neck dress to halter neck dress with va va voom. Shame I don't have much to fill it with but I guess you can't have everything!

Anyway, Florence's shirring tutorial came at a very opportune moment since I'd already been eyeing up Karyn's post from a while back. She made a gorgeous version of pattern N and mentioned that despite the pattern requiring an elasticated back, she used shirring. Definitely worth a try, thought I. So, on Karyn's advice I kept adding lines of shirring until I had the fit I needed and after five very fun and delightful rows I reluctantly called it a day. Each line makes it tighter you see. So I started my first line of shirring 1/2 inch down from the top hem and then stitched 5/8 inch between each row. I confess I was a wee bit hesitant beforehand but once I got going, boy did I not want to stop. What FUN!

Both Florence and Karyn warned that once you start shirring there's pretty much no stopping you and after my little dalliance this time, I'm inclined to agree. So batten down the hatches and hide away your clothes boys, I'm on my way.

So now my husband has very sweetly pointed out that all my stitching so far has been for Summer wear and therefore is it possible I now have enough dearest? Ahem, of course he has a point but as MLF would say, "So-ooo?". So perhaps I should think ahead and be on the look out for some thicker fabrics now. That should be nice for July?!

So that's it for June and as we roll into July, and only eight more days of school, I need to think of other things to prepare and do - school fairs, plays, parties galore ... all I can say is bring on the holidays, it's time for some R&R.

Kate x