Okay, so I’ve been seeing this “bubble hem” thing all over my Pinterest and decided to give it a shot. I mean, it looked kinda cool and retro, and I’m all about that vibe.
Finding a Victim (aka a Dress)
First things first, I needed something to, you know, bubble. I rummaged through my closet and found this old, plain, A-line dress. It was the perfect candidate – kinda boring on its own, so nothing to lose, really.
Gathering My Weapons (aka Supplies)
Next, I needed some tools. I grabbed:
- Elastic: I chose a pretty wide one, like an inch or so. Figured it would give a more dramatic poof.
- Scissors: Obviously.
- Pins: Lots of ’em.
- Needle and thread: Or, if you’re fancy (and I’m not), a sewing machine.
- Measuring tape: For, well, measuring.
The Operation (aka Sewing Time)
I started by trying the dress on and figuring out where I wanted the bubble to start. I decided on just above the knee. I measured the circumference of the dress at that point.
Then, I cut the elastic a bit shorter than that measurement. The key here is that the elastic needs to be tighter to create the gathering effect. I think I cut mine about 4-5 inches shorter, but it depends on how much “bubble” you want.
Next, I turned the dress inside out. The most important part of all of that is, I pinned the elastic to the inside of the dress, all the way around, at the height I’d measured. I stretched the elastic as I pinned it, making sure it was evenly distributed. This part was a little tricky, and I definitely poked myself a few times.
I will carefully state that I did this many times over and over again.
Finally, I sewed the elastic to the dress. I just did a simple straight stitch, going around twice to make sure it was secure. Again, I stretched the elastic as I sewed. A very important detail! I did this very slowly!
The Reveal (aka The Finished Product)
I turned the dress right-side out, and… ta-da! Bubble hem! It actually looked pretty cute. It gave the dress a totally different shape, and it was way easier than I expected. I’m already thinking about what else I can “bubble-fy” in my closet. Maybe a skirt next? Or even a top? The possibilities are endless!
