How do I Add Lining to a Shirred Sun Dress?

Add a lining to a sun dress to make it less transparent.

For some women and girls, the shirred sun dress is the perfect summer outfit. It's lightweight enough to wear on hot days and usually pairs well with a cardigan for those times when the weather gets a bit cooler. While the light weight of the dress may be desirable for keeping you cool, the thin fabric may also be a bit see-through. Since wearing a slip underneath defeats the purpose of a sun dress, the best way to cope with a see-through dress is to add a lining around the skirt.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Disappearing ink marker
• 1 to 2 yards white muslin or broadcloth fabric
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Thread that matches the sun dress
• Sewing machine
• Iron and ironing board

Instructions

1. Turn the dress inside out and measure the length of the dress' skirt, from the bottom row of shirring to the hem. Add 2 inches to this measurement. Measure the width of the dress at the bottom row of shirring and the width of the hem. Add 2 inches to both of these measurements.

2. Fold the muslin or broadcloth in half, lining up the selvedge edges, so that the right side faces in. At the top of the fabric, draw a line that measures the width of the dress at the bottom of the shirring. Draw a vertical line, the length of the skirt, down from both ends of the top line. At the bottom of the vertical lines, draw a line the width of the hem of the dress.

3. Connect the ends of the bottom line to the ends of the top line. You should have a trapezoidal or rectangular shape drawn on the muslin. Cut out the shape so that you have two pieces.

4. Pin the two pieces of muslin together along the long sides, and sew, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance on each side.

5. Line up the side seams of the muslin with the side seams on the inside of the dress, placing the wrong sides together. Fold the top of the lining down 1/2 an inch, lining it up with the bottom row of shirring. Press and pin in place.

6. Fold the bottom of the lining up 1/2 an inch, arranging it so that it is aligned with the hem of the dress. Press and pin in place.

7. Stitch along the hem of the skirt, sewing the lining to the dress. Stitch along the bottom row of shirring, securing the top part of the lining to the dress.

Tips & Warnings

• Before sewing the lining in place, make sure it is not bunched up inside the dress. If the lining is too large for the dress, trim a bit off the sides to make it fit inside snugly before stitching it in place.

• You shouldn't add lining to the shirred part of the dress, since doing so will destroy the elastic effect of the shirring.

References

• Sewing: Lining