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Hand Smocking

Information

Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch. Before elastic, smocking was commonly used in cuffs, bodices, and necklines in garments where buttons were undesirable.

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About smocking:

Smocking developed in England and has been practiced since the Middle Ages and is unusual among embroidery methods in that it was often worn by laborers. Other major embroidery styles are purely decorative and represented status symbols. Smocking was practical for garments to be both form fitting and flexible, hence its name derives from smock — a farmer's work shirt. Smocking was used most extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Group Posts

A demonstration of smocking embroidery. 8 Replies

Stitches labeled as follows: A-cable stitch B-stem stitch C-outline stitch D-cable flowerette E-wave stitch F-honeycomb stitch G-surface honeycomb stitch H-trellis stitch I-vandyke stitch J-builli...

Tagged: surface, honeycomb, trellis, vandyke, buillion

Started by Susan. Last reply by annamc Jun 14.

Comment Wall (15 comments)

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15 Comments

Comment by Suzie Lambert on August 24, 2009 at 3:08pm: Martha Pullen's book "The Joy of Smocking" is the best I have seen for a new smocker. Pictures of each stitch are printed clearly. Also your local SAGA chapter can teach you.

Comment by LouRay on August 23, 2009 at 5:08pm: i would love to learn how to smocking
its so cute on little girl dresses

Comment by Suzie Lambert on August 22, 2009 at 10:55am: Also try
http://maggiebsmocks.typepad.com/smocking/
This site has lots of smocking help.

Comment by iluvmysix on August 21, 2009 at 2:52pm: I am technologically challenged. I tried to add a link but it didn't seem to work. The name of the blog is "mariegracedesigns.com" She shows how to pleat without a pleater.

Comment by iluvmysix on August 21, 2009 at 2:50pm: This blog has some wonderful info about hand smocking.

Comment by Constance M Barlow on July 27, 2009 at 8:09pm: My grandmother taught me to smock using gingham material with the checkered squares there are several sizes so depends on what you want. the little checker material makes up cute aprons I made some with red and white for Valentines day making it into a heart with a red ruffle around the edge. Came out real cute and my daughters and daughter in laws loved them
I have never tried smocking with out the gingham guess I will have to get a pleater and try it. Have some little ones it would be cute on.

Comment by Ann Hirsch on May 28, 2009 at 10:56am: I agree with Suzie the small one is quite sufficient.

Comment by Jill Dewar on May 27, 2009 at 9:20pm: thanks for asking that question Karen, I was thinking the same thing! Loved your answer Suzie, now I know what to look for!

Comment by Suzie Lambert on May 27, 2009 at 11:28am: Don't bother with the super duper big one. Mine has something like 24 needles. I've only ever used 9 at most. So I think they have 16 row pleaters. That is probably more than sufficient. I like using the pleater rather than pleating by hand only because it is faster and i can get to the smocking faster!

Comment by Karen Gass on May 27, 2009 at 11:20am: If I were buying my first pleater, what would I look for? I've seen them for sale here and there, but without having experience, I'm not sure what to buy and what I should forego.