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From: jenjen
Date: 08-30-2004, 03:49 PM (1 of 22)
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Hi there I'd like to make a smocked dress, but I've never done this before. I'm including 2 links to pics. I'd like to make one of them. I know the white one is probably not smocked, but I don't know how you call it  My question now is, which one is easier to make? And can someone please explain how to do one of them? Not in detail...just suggestions or hints. I'd really appreciate it! -Jen dress1 (http://www.angelfire.com/az3/jlong/46_12_s.jpeg) dress2 (http://www.angelfire.com/az3/jlong/8a_1.jpeg) |
User: jenjen
Member since: 07-07-2004 Total posts: 17 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 08-30-2004, 04:29 PM (2 of 22)
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Both of those look like they were done with elastic, not actually smocked. The white one looks easier to me, but I've never done the technique used on the blue dress. The white one looks like there is one row of wider elastic in a casing. The blue would be zig zagging over several rows of thin elastic (I think). Neither looks very difficult. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 08-30-2004, 06:23 PM (3 of 22)
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The Blue one can be done in this manner .. Buy a spool of elastic thread.. you have to hand wind it onto a bobbin.. then, insert it in your machine.. sew straight lines as far apart as you want them and make this as long as you need.. (number of rows)... You will have to hand knot each row of stitches, or anchor them some other way.. When you are all finished stitching, turn on your steam iron and holding the iron 1/2 inch away from fabric, steam away.. The steam makes the elastic draw up and then you have the crinkled material like the blue dress top..I have made toddlers and babies sundresses like this for a long time.. I saw this on Shirley Adams program years ago.. I have been lucky and found remnants of Daisy Kingdom fabrics at wally world lots of times and made them precious little dresses in this manner..Does not even take an hour.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 08-30-2004, 11:12 PM (4 of 22)
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I always wondered how they did that, boy is that simple once someone explains how it's really done. I know that you can by sewing books on smocking. |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: paroper
Date: 08-30-2004, 11:46 PM (5 of 22)
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Man, they both look like they stepped out of the late 60's-70's. Makes me wanna get out my bells, crocheted vest, headband and feather earrings. The white one would be easier but the blue one with elastic thread would be a lot more fun.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: jenjen
Date: 08-31-2004, 03:37 AM (6 of 22)
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Wow, thanks. That sounds so easy! I will try this and see if even I can do it. I aprreciate it! They are 60's/70's looking dresses...I love that style,a nd wish I would have been around back then to wear all this neat stuff  -Jen How think does the elastic have to be, does it matter? |
User: jenjen
Member since: 07-07-2004 Total posts: 17
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From: paroper
Date: 08-31-2004, 08:32 AM (7 of 22)
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Ya make me feel old!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: jenjen
Date: 08-31-2004, 09:03 AM (8 of 22)
Hehe...sorry didn't mean to  I mean I was around in the 60's but I was born in '68, so don't remember much. In the 70's I was still a child, so I didn't get to wear all these groovy clothes  -Jen |
User: jenjen
Member since: 07-07-2004 Total posts: 17
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From: paroper
Date: 08-31-2004, 09:11 AM (9 of 22)
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I was born in the 50's and missed the can can era, but I sure had fun when my sister (9 years older) started passing them down. They were great!
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Sewhappie
Date: 08-31-2004, 12:32 PM (10 of 22)
"Groovy", please tell me that you didn't grow up watching the Brady Bunch!!!! That was one of "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha's" fav saying  
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User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: paroper
Date: 08-31-2004, 12:39 PM (11 of 22)
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Actually, I was more the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, I Love Lucky and Andy of Mayberry type.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: jenjen
Date: 08-31-2004, 12:50 PM (12 of 22)
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No, didn't watch the Brady Bunch. Well, not 'til I went to the states in 1992. In Germany we didn't have that show, Austin Powers kinda brought that word back -Jen |
User: jenjen
Member since: 07-07-2004 Total posts: 17
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From: paroper
Date: 08-31-2004, 12:54 PM (13 of 22)
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I can dig it
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 08-31-2004, 04:36 PM (14 of 22)
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Far Out, Dude Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: jenjen
Date: 09-01-2004, 10:18 AM (15 of 22)
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I was gonna try this today, but the thread wouldn't go through the needle. Are there different elastic threads, I mean in thickness? Thanks -Jen |
User: jenjen
Member since: 07-07-2004 Total posts: 17
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From: paroper
Date: 09-01-2004, 10:38 AM (16 of 22)
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Jen, I think the elastic thread is wound loosely in the bobbin by hand and the top thread is normal stitching thread that you use to sew your top. Try this and see if that isn't the deal. You may have to do some tension adjustments. Be sure and test it on a scrap first. Just for your information though, when you have a thread that you are taking through the needle that separates (like wooly nylon) or is just plain thick, take a short piece of regular sewing thread, wrap it around your thick thread a few inches from the end. Thread both ends of your sewing thread through your needle and pull them through. When you do, they will feed the other thread through the needle too.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: NanCee
Date: 09-01-2004, 01:27 PM (17 of 22)
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Thank you...JenJen, Libby & Pam for this thread. It has given me some ideas, I would like to try for a toddlers gift and something for myself. It sounds easy enough but I'm sure I will have to make several practice pieces first. Libby do you have a pic to show of your toddler dresses? Should we purchase a certain type of elastic? NanCee |
User: NanCee
Member since: 04-15-2004 Total posts: 76 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-01-2004, 07:26 PM (18 of 22)
Read my first message again.. You have to put the elastic thread on the bobbin, it won't go thru the needle eye..Then you sew with matching thread on the right side of the fabric to make the shirring.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: jenjen
Date: 09-02-2004, 05:44 AM (19 of 22)
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Duh! That was dumb of me It really worked now that I didn't try to put the elastic through the needle. Thanks, that's so easy! -Jen |
User: jenjen
Member since: 07-07-2004 Total posts: 17
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-02-2004, 07:34 PM (20 of 22)
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Nancee look on the notions wall.. Look for "Elastic Thread"... underline thread.. Its not just elastic, its on one of those little cardboard tubes, like a minature toilet tissue tube.. about 3 or 4 inches long and about 1/2 inch in diameter... Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: kkoberle
Date: 09-04-2004, 12:38 PM (21 of 22)
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Has anyone made those pillow case dresses for little girls? My dil wants me to try one? I think the website she gave me was www.justincases.com oops its www.pillowcasedresses.com sorry |
User: kkoberle
Member since: 02-02-2000 Total posts: 218 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-04-2004, 01:01 PM (22 of 22)
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A long , long time ago, Gemini Sewer posted instructions and diagrams on this site for pillowcase dress, and she e-mailed them to several participants here, but I haven't seen anything from her in a very long time..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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