How to Tie a Perfect Sash Bow

How to Tie a Perfect Sash Bow

how to tie a sash Perfect Party Dresses perfect sash bow

The holiday season is in full swing, and many of us will soon dress our little girls up in pretty stitched party dresses as we celebrate Christmas. Nothing finishes a party dress better than an expertly tied sash bow, of course, but tying a sash bow is harder than it looks. When not tied correctly, a bow may droop and hang vertically rather than stand up horizontally. Follow these steps from Perfect Party Dresses to ensure the bow sits perfectly against the back of the dress with beautifully formed loops and a bow knot.

1. Holding a sash in each hand, cross the left sash over the right.

2. Bring the left sash under the right at the center. Pull the left sash through and leave aside.

3. Make a loop with the right sash.

4. Turn the loop to the right.

5. Pick up the unlooped sash and place it over the looped sash.

6. Bring the left sash under the looped sash and through the gap underneath.

7. Pull on the looped ends to form the bow.

8. Adjust the size of the loops and arrange the sashes as required.

For more party dress inspiration, check out Perfect Party Dresses. With 12 smocked dresses and three petticoats, this book has everything you need to make your little girl's party dress dreams come true this year.

Sew On, Sew Well, Sew Beautiful,
Cyndi and Amelia

Take a Peek Inside Perfect Party Dresses!

Take a Peek Inside Perfect Party Dresses!

book preview Gail Doane party dress Perfect Party Dresses Susan O'Connor

Perfect Party Dresses, Edited by Susan O'Connor

From birthday parties to weddings, a young lady's life is marked with many special occasions that call for the perfect dress. In the newly released book Perfect Party Dresses, renowned designers from around the world (including frequent Sew Beautiful contributor Gail Doane) have shared a glorious collection of smocked dress designs fit for life's biggest occasions. We recently had the chance to look through this book and had such fun oohing and aahing over the designs. Here are photos of a few of our favorite dresses from the book, along with design details for each:

Spun Sugar (left) and Ava

Spun Sugar: A garden of dainty, pastel daisies and tiny buds forms a pretty border on this shimmering blush pink and white silk gown designed by Annette Drysdale. Smocked from shoulder to waist with gently rippling waves, the elegant simplicity of this sweet little dress makes it ideal for any special occasion. White silk bias trims the piped sleeves and neckline, and the back closes with shell flower buttons and is finished with a sumptuous white sash.

Ava: A wide band of delicate lace encircles the lower skirt of this divine snow white hailspot voile dress designed by Gail Doane. Powder blue silk ribbon is threaded through the wide beading on the yoke and around the skirt, echoing the soft pastel shades used in the smocking and embroidery. Dainty angel sleeves are edged with scalloped lace and the dress closes at the back with blue flower buttons and a sash.

Flora

Flora: Unified by a vivid hot pink and red spot contrast fabric, cheerful, vibrant florals form a stunning background for the simple smocking design on these fresh, sleeveless dresses from Susan O'Connor. The front yokes, bound necklines and armholes are trimmed with spot piping, coordinating with the cute bow trim and generous sashes. The backs close with striped pink buttons and a growth tuck is stitched around the lower section of the skirts. The lacy petticoat ruffles peep out from under the skirts.

Special Occasion (left) and Rasberry Twirl

Special Occasion: Cool and sophisticated, the clean lines and refined details of this beautiful white silk dress designed by Gail Doane make it perfect for any special occasion. The elegant full circle skirt and gently puffed sleeves are lined with silk organza and finished with a pleated trim of lime check silk, echoing the shaped smocked belt. Bright gathered ribbon flowers decorate the belt and the neckline is trimmed with tiny beaded picots. The dress closes at the back with a hand-inserted zipper and a sash.

Rasberry Twirl: Sublime colors and innovative styling make this captivating dress from Connie Quarré Moses gorgeous to look at and fun to wear. The bodice is backsmocked with triple honeycomb stitch, creating a rich texture that contrasts beautifully with the smooth, full circle skirt. Bands at the upper bodice, waist and hem, are decorated with a mass of cast-on stitch roses. The dress buttons at the back and is finished with an embroidered sash.

Read more about Perfect Party Dresses here!

Sew On, Sew Well, Sew Beautiful,
Cyndi and Amelia

Transform a Tea Apron into a Pretty Pinafore!

Transform a Tea Apron into a Pretty Pinafore!

Heirloom Party Dress Mary Caviness party dress Perfect Party Dresses pinafore special occasion dress tea apron

Vintage Apron Pinafore by Mary Caviness

As sewists, we love to admire our treasured family heirlooms, yet we often keep them tucked away in our attics for "someday." Designer Mary Caviness found a way to put one of her family linens to good use by turning this once tea apron for the stylish hostess of the 1930s, '40s and '50s into something truly special for today's little girl. 

The transformation from apron to pinafore takes mere minutes. Silk satin ribbon, Swiss entredeux and French edging lace are joined to create a simple yet elegant band to stitch to the apron waistband and crafted into straps resulting in a special occasion pinafore. The updated vintage piece is worn here over a high-yoked dress of pink Victorian batiste featuring puffed sleeves and a touch of ruffle at the bias-bound neckline.

What you'll need:
· Vintage apron of your choosing
· 2 yards white Swiss entredeux
· 3-1/4 yds 1-inch-wide pink silk-satin ribbon
· 2 yards French edging lace
· Bias tape or a bias strip of dress fabric for arm curve
· Madeira Cotona 80wt or Mettler 60wt sewing thread
· Lightweight thread to match silk-satin ribbon
· Size 60 needle
· Blue wash-away fabric marker   

NOTE: Make underdress before making pinafore so that arm curve placement is precise. Mary used the "Heirloom Party Dress" pattern from Martha Pullen's book, French Hand Sewing by Machine II, however, there are several high yoke dress patterns available from other sources. Check your pattern stash before buying!

1. Join ribbon to entredeux in same manner as stitching entredeux to fabric. Trim and whip seam and press toward ribbon. Butt and zigzag lace edging to remaining side of entredeux.

2. If waistband of apron is wider than ribbon band, fold apron band in half and straight stitch.

3. Measure waistband of apron and cut a piece of ribbon band to this measurement plus 1 inch. Reserve remaining strip for shoulder straps.

4. Pin ribbon-lace band over waistband of apron aligning top edges first, turning under each end 1/2 inch to finish even with back edges of apron. Stitch in the ditch of the entredeux and topstitch each end. DO NOT stitch top edge of ribbon at this time (fig. 1). This must remain open to accommodate straps later.

Figure 1

5. To mark arm curves, align center front of apron to center front of dress, placing top edge of apron 1/4 inch above yoke seam line of dress. Mark side seams of dress and bottom of underarm seam on apron using a wash-away marker (fig. 2). 

Figure 2

6. Using the arm-curve guide of your dress pattern, align guide to side seam marks on apron. Place front of guide to front of dress and align curve of guide to bottom mark on apron (fig. 3). Trace curve with a wash-away marker.

Figure 3

7. Stay-stitch inside 1/4-inch traced curve and cut out curve on marked line (fig. 4).

Figure 4

8. Finish curve with bias binding from dress fabric or purchased bias tape to match, tucking raw end under at each end.

9. Pin apron to front of dress and tie sashes in back. Custom fit straps from front to back. Pin straps to apron and remove apron from dress.

10. Sew front end of strap between ribbon and original apron waistband at a slight angle. Topstitch across top edge of ribbon waistband (fig. 5).

Figure 5

11. Fold back strap ends under and topstitch to right side of apron in back just above entredeux (fig. 6).

Figure 6

For more special occasion dress inspiration, check out the new book Perfect Party Dresses. Featuring renowned designers such as Gail Doane, Julie Graue and Susan O'Connor, this book includes easy-to-follow instructions for 12 smocked dresses and three petticoats! You'll also learn how to tie a perfect sash bow, discover helpful tips for finishing touches and find out how to care for smocked and embroidered garments.

Sew On, Sew Well, Sew Beautiful,
Cyndi and Amelia