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From: my2girlies
Date: 06-27-2006, 02:15 PM (1 of 11)
|
With the upcoming arrival of my first grandchild I have decided to give a try at smocking. I have a "read" pleater and it works very well, but I am not patient enough for much hand ssmocking and so I was trying to use decorative stitches and machine embroidery to make my panel. However, this is proving to be a challenge. The first time I tried it took all my pleats out. So I tried putting a non-pleated piece of material underneath the pleated. Well - the stitching turned out beautifully!! But with no stretch what so ever. Any suggestions? Thanks!!! |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-27-2006, 09:46 PM (2 of 11)
|
If you want the stretch that comes from hand smocking, you will have to hand smock. When doing it by hand you are only picking up the very top of each pleat. With a machine it will sew the pleat down, therefore stabilizing your fabric. The new ME machine have mocked smocking stiches, that come pretty close to the hand look, but again no stretch. I find doing the hand work so relaxing, maybe if you just did a small amount of smocking, it would go quick and you would get the look you are after. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: my2girlies
Date: 06-28-2006, 09:35 AM (3 of 11)
|
Thanks!! So let me see if I am thinking along the right lines. If I were to do a panel insert I could do the machine smocking because they do not need the stretch that is given by hand smocking. But if I were to do something like a bishop style dress I would haand smock it because those do need the stretch to fit properly. Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks again!! |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-28-2006, 09:00 PM (4 of 11)
| Thats right! An insert really does not need to stretch, just make sure it is the right size(blocked to fit) before you do the machine work. Also Bonnets are cute done on the machine, again make sure the size is right. Some people don't like to much stretch in their bonnets anyhow so it works great. |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-30-2006, 05:47 PM (5 of 11)
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There is a sweet little dress on farmhouse fabrics page 10 of the gallery that is machine smocked. The design came from Catus punch. http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=739363017221973 93&Store_id=198&page_id=23&Item_ID=8019 Hope that works for you, the dress is so cute. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: cshortsew
Date: 06-30-2006, 06:21 PM (6 of 11)
|
With the upcoming arrival of my first grandchild I have decided to give a try at smocking. Is this something that affects all first time grandmas. My first grandbaby is due in August and I just ordered a book on smocking, I've never done any smocking before, soooo when I get ready to start you will probably hear a lot of cries for help 
cshortsew
Projects Completed in 2007: Sewing: biscuit quilt, 7 baby dress sets, piggy pillow, 7 baby pants, eyeglass holder, purse, 5 baby outfits, toddler dress set Crocheting: red purse, piggy slippers, sweater shawl, 5 pr. sock trims, 89 squares, baby sweater, 2 afghans, toddler harness, baby poncho, baby dress Other: 14 Autism pins Works in progress: Sewing: toddler overalls & shirt Crocheting: vertical stripes afghan |
User: cshortsew
Member since: 06-28-2006 Total posts: 380 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-01-2006, 11:40 AM (7 of 11)
|
Congratulations on your first grandbaby. I think it sets off a bell or something for us grannies. When ours were little there was so much to do smocking wasn't on the list. Now, that we have more time we can do special sewing for our grandbabies. Just ask away, will get you smocking in no time. Oh yes, it is addictive. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: my2girlies
Date: 07-05-2006, 10:14 AM (8 of 11)
| Thank you so much for the link to the precious little dress. that is EXACTLY what I was talking about. I did not have the time to do much sewing or smocking when my DDs were little. But my mother was incredibly talented. I have saved all the little dresses she smocked for them, however I do not think my soon to be grandson would appreciate them too terribly much!! My mother handmade all their dresses - as in she did not even put them together by machine. And my Lord she was fast!! She died when oldest DD was 2 and I have over 100 smocked dresses - all with matching slips and bloomers, almost 20 smocked bonnets, and socks embroidered to match them all. Not to mention the "play" clothes she made. I will never understand how she did it!! I am no where near that patient by any stretch. And now for my next question. The only Jon Jon pattern I can find where I live is the Vogue one and it is toddler only. Can you direct me in the right direction for patterns such as this and also for the actual patterns for handsmocking - I think they are called plates. Thanks for all your help!! |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-05-2006, 07:16 PM (9 of 11)
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There are lots of jon-jon patterns, but I usually go for the heirloom type patterns over the big three. I really like Chery Williams patterns and if you scroll down this page you will see several variations. Check out the other designers also. http://www.karenfaylor.com/id98.html I will keep looking and see what else I find for you. How wonderful to have those smocked dresses and accessories. She must have been a wonderful seamstress. I must add scroll down the page, to find the little boy items. lots of things for little girls. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: my2girlies
Date: 07-05-2006, 11:16 PM (10 of 11)
| Nonie that site is exactly what I was looking for!! I guess I should have been more specific, I was looking for Jon Jon patterns with the inset smocked panels. (Just like the one on the site) I wandered around the site and loved all the plates they had. Although they look a little intimidating!! Nothing like diving in and trying it though. Thank you so much!! |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-06-2006, 08:46 PM (11 of 11)
|
Your very welcome. Any time you need any help just let me know. I am sure you will settle on a favorite jon-jon and make lots of them. Aren't those smocking plates cute? every single one of them. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
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