Off the Shoulder Seersucker Ruffle Midi Dress

Hello!

I am so excited to post this DIY dress! I have been craving (and inspired by) so many ruffle, off the shoulder, midi dresses from all over the internet (AKA Instagram). I knew the ruffle affect wasn't hard to do so I ordered some blue and white seersucker fabric (here- from Fabric.com). Blue and white is always a alwaysss a weakness of mine for summer and I just can't stop with it! But how cute is this lobster one?? Perfect for sailing or backyard seafood cookout. Yum.

I ordered with this dress in mind. It just screams summer, right? Its flowy and effortless; perfect for the beach then to dinner, right??

Let's make it! It's not as hard as it looks!

You will need:
2 yards fabric (I used this one)
Elastic band (one length of waist, one the length of around the shoulders, one for chest without arms)
Matching thread
Sewing machine

I used a strapless maxi dress as a template - it had a similar cinched waist that I was mimicking.

1. Measure your chest and x 1.5 : that will be the width of your fabric. Times that by 2 and fold it in the middle. Lay down your example dress (Or measure with a tape where you want your waist to be cinched) and mark the "waist. Also mark the length of the dress (not including the bottom ruffle). I wanted that to go to about my knee.

2. Measure your waist with the elastic: (pull it around snugly: not too tight but taunt) at your desired waist. To sew it onto your marked waist: first, start a small section at the beginning to attach the elastic to the fabric then continue sewing while pulling the the elastic tightly. This will create the gathered look. (CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK YOUR NEEDLE! Don't rush this)

I used a zig-zag stitch for better hold. 

3. Pin the sides and sew down the line. This is the back of your dress.

4. Measure your chest area. Fold the top of the dress over for the width of your elastic. Sew this closed leaving 2 inches open to thread your elastic through. I use a saftey pin. Sew the elastic together to create your chest.

This is what you have now: 

5. Measure your bottom ruffle. 64 inches long strip, about 10 inches wide. Sew a basting stitch along the top- making sure to back stitch on one side to hold the thread from sliding off and losing your ruffle. Gently pull on one of the two threads and it will create a gather. Gather it the exact size of your opening of your skirt. Sew down the edge to make into a circle/loop.

6. Hem the bottom of the circle ruffle piece, which will be the bottom of your dress.

7. Turn the dress right side out and the ruffle inside out and slide the ruffle piece around the bottom of the dress. Pin the ruffle around the bottom of the dress, so the seam is inside the dress, not on the outside of the dress. (My ruffle attachment looks much longer here because I cut it shorter after trying it on)

8. Repeat this exact ruffle step but with a smaller width piece of fabric (around 8-9 inches in width). You don't want it to be wider to cover up your waistline. Make a hem slot for the elastic around the top- pull through an elastic (the length of your elastic should be the width of your shoulders and chest- Measure around like an off-the-shoulder top).

9. To attach this top ruffle to your dress, I sewed it in 4 places. You can sew all the way across the front and all along the back (making sure to leave the arm holes) but I found this secured it without too many extra stitches in the front. Leave space for your arms on both sides!

10. Make a drawstring- This step is optional but I think it adds a little something different to the dress.
Cut one 2 inch strip of about 58 inches long. Fold in half two times and then sew along the edge. You can iron this and then sew or you can do it while sewing.

11. Find the half point and sew this to middle of your dress, as shown below! This can then be tied around your neck or just as a bow in the front.

DONE! Yay! Now go forth and enjoy SUMMER! :)

This can also be worn as a strapless! Simply take out your arms from the holes! Warning- it's not super snug this way so be careful :)

Let me know if you have any questions! I hope this inspires you to make something new for yourself for summer.

Have a great week!

With love,

Viktoria

My Surprise Birthday Party!

Hello friends!

I don't even have the words to describe my gratitude and appreciation to my sisters (and dear friends) for surprising me with the most wonderful birthday party I could have ever asked for. So much of my favorite people all in one place and the thought and careful planning that went into each detail: It makes my eyes tear up! The feeling of #blessed is real, guys! The people in our lives are so much greater then all the s t u f f. It's hard to step back sometimes and see the blessings. Hope you all hug and love on those blessings around you today. Text those forgotten friends a sweet message. Reach out to a family member that you haven't heard from in a while. Don't lose those people in your lives! They are worth more then money can buy.

If you have been following me for a while, you know my sisters and I love to party ;) meaning, we love throwing parties, planning parties, decorating parties. (The coffee sipping, eating and chit-chatting kind of parties) This time my sister asked Tania from Lavender Dreams to come photograph the party decor (and US!) and I just really had to share the images! She is just magical. (GO CHECK OUT HER PAGE! If you are in central Virginia or Northern VA, you must book a session!) She also photographed me with the poppies last spring which is my favorite photo session ever. See it here!

Hope you enjoy the photos! Thanks again to all my family and friends that made this birthday so special and memorable! Love you guys!

The cutest "tea" station complete with little baggies to make your own tea. Loved it.

And thanks again to Tania for these wonderful pictures! So happy to have these memories and little details to remember forever. 

With love, 

Viktoria