ruffles 2012 guest: kojo designs

Today’s guest is Kirstin from kojo designs! She is always coming up with something cute for her even cuter kids! kojo designs hosts a weekly link party and are also party throwing extraordinaires. Also check out this amazing chair upholstery! Today Kirstin is sharing a super ruffly project!

Hello there See Kate Sew friends! I’m Kirstin, half of the sister team that blogs over at Piper Jane’s “Rows of Ruffles” dress was inspired by a store window at the Gap, actually. Around Christmas, they had these fabulous dresses as part of their displays, ruffled top to bottom, in graduated hues of pink. Those little ruffled goodies were the launching point for this dress.


1. First, make a plain white dress (I used 2. Cut the chiffon into one inch strips.


3. Layer a strips of chiffon (the darkest hue you have) in ruffles or pleats and pin in place along the bottom edge of the dress. You can either ruffle the strips by sewing basting strip down the middle and gathering, or pin pleats in place as you pin (this was my method). Sew in place with invisible thread. Repeat another layer with the darkest hue.


4. Repeat up the skirt, lightening your hue after every two strips.


5. After the entire skirt is covered in varying shades of pink ruffles, add overlapping, graduated layers along the top (pin and sew each in place). Each new layer should cover half of the bottom ruffle and half of the ruffle above it. Also, I used one fushia layer, two darkest-light pink layers, two-medium light pink layers, two lightest light pink layers and one white layer. This extra level of ruffles adds to the ombre effect.


6. You’re done (though, you can add little bows on each shoulder strap if you please). One ruffle-y, layer-y, twirly pink dress for the little darling in your life.


Thanks for having us Kate! Come on by kojodesigns and say hi anytime, See Kate Sew friends! We can’t wait for the rest of Ruffles 2012.