Replies

1. 
   Palady | Mar 13, 2009 01:36am | #1

   Until a knowledgeable member posts to you, and I'm certain there are many in the group, consider opening the following Google page for starters.

   http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=smocking+only+how+to+do&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

   nepa

    

    

2. 
   starzoe | Mar 13, 2009 01:37am | #2

   Have you tried Googling for smocking instructions?

1. 
   foxfyreutk | Mar 13, 2009 04:50pm | #3

   I've found a couple of sets of wonderful instructions ... however, they both start at the point where the fabric is pleated. So, there is no way to know if they used a "pleater" board .. the accordian looking board .. or another method and how deep the pleats are. Secondly, they seem to be (hard to tell w/out exact measurements) producing the kind of smocking I want, but for the bodice on a baby dress. I haven't seen any instructions on how to increase the scale. May end up that I have to play w/the instructions until I get the scale I want. Marlene

3. 
   Palady | Mar 13, 2009 07:56pm | #4

   A thought came to me.  As I remember, before the arrival of pleaters, early smocking patterns came as a transfer sheet with aligned dots.  The spacing, if memory serves, differed a bit depending on the stitch.   Might you be able to make yourself a grid?

   nepa

1. 
   KharminJ | Mar 15, 2009 10:34am | #5

   Greetings, foxfyreutk! There was a large miscellaneous thread from a couple of months back - one of the items discussed was the old smocking pattern transfers, and how to replicate them. The relevant part starts at post 9372.39. You may want to look for an old pattern with smocking, that will probably include much better directions, and maybe even a transfer. Member Gail (gailete here) sells old patterns (her sigline includes several websites - you can find them all here: post 9610.13), as do many many others - Google is your friend! Good luck in your hunt - it can be very frustrating to find only step 4 when you need 1, 2 AND 3!Bright Blessings!

   Kharmin

1. 
   Palady | Mar 16, 2009 12:52am | #6

   Your post is most informative.  Most surely foxfyreutk will read it if she scrolls through. 

   My need to want to do smocking diminished some years ago.  I posted my thought in the hopes it would help the original ISO.

   nepa

1. 
   KharminJ | Mar 16, 2009 08:18am | #7

   I do hope she sees it - I must have hit "Reply" to the wrong post!Bright Blessings and Happy Monday to you, too! Kharmin

1. 
   Palady | Mar 16, 2009 08:35pm | #8

   >> ... hit "Reply" to the wrong post! <<      BTDT more than a few times.

   Thank you for the blessings wish.  Those are a comfort.  24/7/365

   nepa 

4. 
   suesew | Mar 17, 2009 01:31am | #9

   My mother used to do beautiful smocking and she pleated the fabric first by hand. She said that that was the most tedious part. She would run parallel rows of 1/4" long stitches - getting them exactly side by side and about 1/2" apart and then pull them all up to gather at once. I an remember her telling us to leave her alone while she got it done. This was before the iron on dot thing that she thought was a wonderful invention.

1. 
   Teaf5 | Mar 18, 2009 01:00am | #10

   Your mother "telling us to leave her alone while she got it done" is a precious memory! To this day, I can't figure out how our mother made all of the clothes for all of her eight children while we were busy asking her questions about homework, lost toys, life problems or food, or just running all over, teasing each other unmercifully. She never asked us to leave her alone--probably because it wouldn't have worked--yet her work was beautifully done. Truly an inspiration that I try to remember when I'm frustrated at my sewing machine!