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From: cshortsew
Date: 07-09-2006, 02:18 PM (1 of 12)
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I'm not ready to start on a smocking project yet but I received my A - Z of Smocking book a couple of days ago and have been looking through it and have a couple of questions. Where do you get the patterns for the smocking designs? The book says to at least triple the width of the fabric for the area being smocked, are there sewing patterns for items where the extra fabric is alloted for or is there a way to adjust a pattern to allow for the smocking? 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: 07-10-2006, 01:17 AM (2 of 12)
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There are several website that carry patterns designed just for smocking. Back in the 'ol' days they were few and hard to come by, but that is no longer a problem. http://www.adriannes.com/category.php?category_id=12 Here is a list of pattern desgners. Not all of the patterns they design are for smocking but alot of them are. Yes, you can also measure the yoke of a dress and figure on three times the width. Now, that also depends on the fabric you are using, if using a soft batiste twice the width might be all you need. For picture smocking you need all of the fullness, so also read what fabrics are recomended Welcome to the wonderful world of smocking. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: cshortsew
Date: 07-10-2006, 12:39 PM (3 of 12)
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Thanks Nonie, I'll be sure to check out the website. Carol 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: BeckyW
Date: 07-11-2006, 11:36 AM (4 of 12)
| I have not smocked much in maybe 5 years. There are probably about 4 places in my town that sell smocking type fabrics and patterns. The actual smocking designs that you can buy are called "smocking plates". When I first heard that term, I envisioned some kind of metal plate. LOL! They are usually just one card front and back or a little booklet. Grace Knott's web site offers free smocking plates each month. They might be interesting to get your feet wet. You don't mention how you are planning on pleating your fabric. I recommend having someone pleat you fabric for you at least for a while. Where I live, stores that cater to smocking will pleat your cut out and partially assembled (need to sew dress to sleeves for bishiop) for you for about $7 to $10. With the cost of a pleater and thread and such, that is a good deal unless you just do a ton of them. There are also places you can buy the partially assembled and pleated garments for smocking. I took a great smocking class when I got started. I typically like to figure out how to do things myself rather than take a class. I found the class I took most helpful. I don't know how well I would have done on my own |
User: BeckyW
Member since: 12-25-2004 Total posts: 24 |
From: cshortsew
Date: 07-11-2006, 05:31 PM (5 of 12)
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Thanks for the information Becky. I'll check out the website you mentioned. I was planning to pleat by hand. I haven't checked with stores in my area to see exactly what they have and offer, my daughter and I are planning some shopping to the fabric and craft stores on Friday so I will see what I can find then. My daughter had a doctor's appointment today and he told her the baby will probably weigh between 5-1/2 and 6 pounds. So I may need to make some very tiny clothes, I've considered digging out the doll patterns.  Carol 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: BeckyW
Date: 07-11-2006, 06:24 PM (6 of 12)
| Oh, I bet your are excited. Sounds like she will be a tiny one. For fit, I would suggest a bishop pattern. They seem to mold to the baby's shape well and don't look too big. They also seem to grow with the child a bit and fit for a longer time than most dresses. I would not envy you pleating one by hand. It would take forever with the little iron-on dots. You can buy the pre-pleated bishops some places. We have a place in town called Peanut Butter and Jelly Kids that sells them pre-pleated. I also saw a lot on ebay with a pre-pleated bishop and a couple of plates. |
User: BeckyW
Member since: 12-25-2004 Total posts: 24 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-12-2006, 05:38 PM (7 of 12)
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Carol, Becky has some real good ideas. If you are planning to do a bishop do find someone to pleat it for you. I will look up more websites for you but peanut butter n jelly kids is excellant and you can get ton's of ideas by looking through their pictures. Since baby is going to be pretty tiny, maybe a day gown would be just the right item to get you started. Very little smocking would need to be done and would look so sweet on baby. Farmhouse fabric's also has lots of ideas and material you might need. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: my2girlies
Date: 07-13-2006, 10:46 AM (8 of 12)
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Nonie or Becky - Since I am teching myself smocking do you recommend the "geometric" designs to start with or the designs that look like pictures - like the little ducks in a row? What is the easiest, I was thinking it would be the picture looking ones. There are no stores here that offer anything smocking related so I will have to order whatever I need, so any advice is welcome. Thank you |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: MissTaraTara
Date: 07-15-2006, 11:16 PM (9 of 12)
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I don't know the answer to your question but here are some very informative questions and answers. It seems many classes offered for smocking beginners start with geometric plates? Geometric designs may be easier for you if you still intend to pleat your yardage by hand. Garden Fairies (http://www.smockingstore.com/faq.html#start) |
User: MissTaraTara
Member since: 01-24-2006 Total posts: 227 |
From: cshortsew
Date: 07-20-2006, 07:59 PM (10 of 12)
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Here's an update on my thoughts of beginning smocking. A few days ago my daughter and I were looking at patterns in Joanns and talking about smocking, a lady sitting at the pattern book table told us about a shop about 30 minutes away that offered smocking classes. So I found the address and today we went to check it out. There were 2 ladies working in the shop and they gave me the name and number of the lady who teaches smocking and said there was a beginners class on Saturday and intermediate class on Tuesdays, I was a little excited on the way home. Unfortunately when I called the lady she said she is only teaching on Tuesdays right now which won't work for because I have to go back to work in 2 weeks. So plan B, I ordered prepleated insert and a couple of smocking plates from the Peanut Butter & Jelly Kids website and I'm going to give it a go on my own. Thank you everyone who gave me suggestions and websites. I will keep you updated on my progress 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: 07-21-2006, 01:27 PM (11 of 12)
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Here is a great book that will help you teach yourself.http://www.karenfaylor.com/id16.html My thoughts are to start with geometrics and move on to picture smocking after you have your tension down. The basic of smocking is the cable stitch and probably one of the hardest thing to master, is a nice straight row of cable stiches. All other stitches are just variations of the cable stitch. some people prefer to pleat their fabric by hand, there are iron on dots you can purchase, just iron them on and pick up the dots. We have a gal in our smocking guild, that to this day will not use a pleater. I say try it, it might be something you enjoy doing. I for one am with the 'no way' group. Many places like PB&J for kids sell the pre-pleated inserts. Contact SAGA and see if there is a smocking guild in your area. These ladies are more then willing to help you learn to smock. We have many smockers that can help answer your questions feel free to visit. http://www.everythingsewing.net Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: cshortsew
Date: 07-21-2006, 03:14 PM (12 of 12)
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I have the A-Z of Smocking book, I ordered it kinda on whim but once I got it I reeeaaalllly wanted to learn smocking. I've visited everythingsewing briefly but think I need a longer visit. I didn't think to check SAGA, but I will now. Thanks for the advice and moral support. The smocking plates I ordered were geometric, I think I actually like the look of them better than the picture smocking but that may change when I figure out what I'm doing. I got an email from PB&J for Kids today that my order would be shipped out Saturday morning, so I will anxiously be watching for it next week. 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 |
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