This dungaree-style dress for girls is made from a lightweight woven cotton and trimmed with shirred shoulder ruffles and a small bow. These notes show how the ruffles and straps are put together.

Step 1: Hem and shirr the ruffles

First fold and sew the ends of the shoulder ruffles with a very narrow hem, using a rolled-hem foot of about 0.5 mm, then shirr them.

Press the strip evenly, then mark where the shirring will go. Here the rows were marked at 12, 16 and 18 centimetres, and the sleeve shirring was started from these marks.

Step 2: Attach the ruffle to the strap

Tuck the gathered ruffle into the pressed strap and stitch it evenly along the top and bottom edges.

Because the strap length is fixed, mark its position and fasten the ends diagonally on the inside with elastic so the dress fits comfortably.

On woven fabrics, always overlock the raw ends so they do not fray.

Step 3: Make the bow

Make the bow by pinching a 1 cm wide strip in the middle with a piece of bias tape. If you like, use a second patterned fabric for the bow to add contrast.

Make it your own

The decoration is entirely up to your taste. You can add lace, a tassel, a flat fold or a topstitch, and finish with an extra button or any other ornament you like.