Here is Washi 3 ways.
My first take - a short top in rayon. I really struggled with the shirring on my sewing machine. It was hard work. No amount of playing around with the tension of the shirring elastic on the bobbin worked. Frustrating!
After loads of searching I found a way to do shirring on my machine (husqvarna Viking) that didn't require me buying a special presser foot. Thank you kbenco. This blogger gave me the technique of using the bridging zig-zag stitch and presser foot C to sew over the separate pieces of a looped piece of shirring elastic while keeping them slightly separated. Pull to gather and then repeat enough times to get the width of shirring needed. No shirring elastic in the bobbin, just sew over shirring elastic laid on top of the fabric. I wish I had found this site sooner - I could have saved a whole lot of frustration!
The next 2 versions were a whole lot easier with the shirring sorted. I adjusted the neckline slightly (a little higher and created a tunic length in lawn and then a dress length one too.
The dress is my favourite just for the fabric.
Lawn again, a bit too sheer not to line, so ended up doing a fully lined version. Lining finishes at tunic length.
Details on the shirring on my Husqvarna Designer II:
Cut shirring elastic 40" long, fold in half and lay over marked line. Hook loop of elastic onto little section on back of presser foot C, Set stitch to bridge stitch (stitch #31) and sew. Elastic on right side slips into groove under presser foot and the stitch works right & left to catch both pieces of elastic.
Once all lines are sewn (I did 4 double rows), pull up and gather from each end until width is about 10"
Tie off each end to secure elastic.
