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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: Mom of Six
Date: 07-08-2007, 09:36 PM (1 of 14)
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told my DD I want to make smocked dresses for my DGDs to where at Christmas. They will be 6 months old. does anyone know of a good (semi simple) pattern? I haven't done any smocking since I made my little sister a dress when she was 7. She will be 42 next month! I hope I can handle 2 dresses!
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: ninifav
Date: 07-08-2007, 09:52 PM (2 of 14)
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http://forums.marthapullen.com/list. Not too good at making hot links; but you get the idea...The ladies on this forum will be glad to help...I do a little smocking and mostly stay with simple geometric b/c it is easy and is also easy to cover small "mistakes." Picture smocking takes too much time for me..Good luck |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 07-08-2007, 11:47 PM (3 of 14)
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Thank you I will check it out more thoroughly tomorrow. I opened it but it looks like it could get almost as addicting as this site.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
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From: ddreev
Date: 07-09-2007, 03:50 PM (4 of 14)
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Do you want suggestions for plates to use or actual dress patterns? You can never go wrong with bishops for the little ones. I've used Childrens Corner and it makes up nicely just make sure it is the length you want before you cut out. Some of the older patterns are shorter than people want them today. Also be sure you are happy with the neck measurement..so you tie off to the size that is right for your little ones. Ellen McCarn has a nice bishop, it is cut very full . Check the length on this too because I think it is given in European length which is long. You might want to make that shorter. I have found that the little ones just starting to stand and walk trip on the very long dresses. I think Martha Pullen has a bishop pattern but I have not used it. I'm sure there are other patterns out there that maybe someone else likes. Just be sure when picking a smocking pattern for the dress not to put to many rows on it, you don't want to get into the curve of the arm hole. Most patterns give you the suitable number of rows for the size. I have only used Childrens Corner for yoked dresses. If you use theirs again just check the length. There are a number of Christmas plates out ..Christmas trees by Ellen McCarn is cute and gingerbread by Molly Jane Taylor . I don't know if they are still in print or not but they can be adapted to a small bishop. There is the classic candy cane plate but I can't remember who put that out and I don't have it. Here is a web site that has some plates and childrens patterns if you are interested. http://www.sews.com/index.shtml When I lived in the Memphis area ,we would take road trips to shop at Kathy's and we would take our berninas there to get them serviced. Keep us posted on what you decide to do. I love seeing and hearing about the clothes for the little ones. Dorothy Dorothy D.
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User: ddreev
Member since: 05-29-2007 Total posts: 69 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 07-09-2007, 04:49 PM (5 of 14)
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I think I want a yoked dress with a simple geometric pattern. I don't think they legth will matter a lot at 6 minths but I could be wrong, their aunt was walking be then. I will check out the web sites & keep you updated. I don't want to start to early & have the wrong size but if I wait until fall I will be back to work.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
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From: Mom of Six
Date: 07-09-2007, 05:11 PM (6 of 14)
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I just reserved these 4 books at my library 155 smocking designs / Theresa Santoso, Contemporary smocking / Dorothea Hall, Creative smocking : contemporary design, traditional techniques / Chris Rankin, Every kind of smocking Has anyone used any of these? Is one better than another? They have a couple more that I might check out when I go tomorrow but I don't want to be greedy if someone else wants some. Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
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From: ddreev
Date: 07-09-2007, 05:36 PM (7 of 14)
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Geometrics are beautiful and they don't overwhelm the little ones like some of the stacked patterns do. Are you making these dresses for the twins? they are beautiful little girls. I haven't used any of those books but you will probably get some good ideas from them. If the designs have to many rows just take out the parts you like and adapt them. Dorothy Dorothy D.
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User: ddreev
Member since: 05-29-2007 Total posts: 69 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 07-09-2007, 08:39 PM (8 of 14)
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Yes Dorothy I want to make them for the twins to wear through the holidays. After I looked at the Childrens Corner site it came to me that maybe I would get some hints & tecniques from the books & maybe make some small samples before I start on the real thing. I promised Dd we would go tomorrow to pick up her books so I will get mine then.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115
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From: pucktricks
Date: 07-11-2007, 08:08 AM (9 of 14)
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I just finished making a bunch of smocked dresses for my 6-month old daughter. You might look into the "Australlian Smocking Magazine," the name may not be quite right. But, it's a smocking magazine that has all sorts of projects and will have dresses in different sizes. But for each projects it has a pattern and a smocking plate for doing it. The only thing is you have to make sure that the outfit you're looking at is the right size for what you're wanting to do. That being said, I'm sure you can find some awesome smocking patterns. YEAH! I can't wait to see what you make. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570 
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From: ddreev
Date: 07-11-2007, 09:34 AM (10 of 14)
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Ticia, you are right Australian Smocking and Embroidery magazines have great patterns and plates. All the A-Z books(smocking, embroidery,bullions,etc.) they put out under the name of Country Bumpkin publications are also good and have great illustrations and clear instructions. I just bought their book Beautiful Bishops and hope to get some made. Dorothy Dorothy D.
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User: ddreev
Member since: 05-29-2007 Total posts: 69 |
From: pucktricks
Date: 07-11-2007, 03:12 PM (11 of 14)
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Yeah, the A-Z books are on my wishlist of books to get. I just love to look at their magazines and drool over them. Ticia |
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 570
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From: pamlg1223
Date: 07-11-2007, 03:38 PM (12 of 14)
| Does anyone have suggestions for an easy dress for a 4 yo. girl? (This will be my first dress.) |
User: pamlg1223
Member since: 07-10-2007 Total posts: 10 |
From: ddreev
Date: 07-11-2007, 04:01 PM (13 of 14)
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What kind of dress do you want to make?...smocked or some sort of dressier dress, sundress or casual type dress, I'm sure someone can come up with some good suggestions for each type.
Dorothy D.
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User: ddreev
Member since: 05-29-2007 Total posts: 69 |
From: pamlg1223
Date: 07-12-2007, 05:50 PM (14 of 14)
| I'd like to try a twirling dress- |
User: pamlg1223
Member since: 07-10-2007 Total posts: 10 |
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