Greystone's Creative Hands, Various Issues (1976-78)

Garnet Hill: Fall/Winter 2010

Weldons Practical Smocking

 An English Ebay purchase.  I can't find a year, but it's from Weldon's, who printed many needlework guides reproduced here.  These are just a few of the pamphlet's beautiful pages.

Preen

Preen Spring/Summer 2011 via The Sartorialist

Smocking Class Examples

I went to a smocking class with the Rose Trellis Smockers, a local branch of the Smocking Arts Guild of America.  I learned so much.  I can't wait to practice my pleats.  Here are garments brought by our teacher Cindy Foose.  They were such an inspiration.

There was a visit from The Smocking Queen as well, who waved her beauty queen wave in good luck to us.  Thank you, Queen.  I will need it in my future smocking pursuits!

First Finished Smock: Heart Tank

 The main fabric is 100% quilting cotton, and the smock is Kona 100% cotton in white.

I inlayed a 3 inch smocked panel into a basic tank top pattern.

The back lining is extended a few inches to cover the back of the pleating, and finished with a small button closure.

 

It's wearing well, and doesn't feel as delicate as I imagined it would.  This is the start of a long smocking habit, I'm sure of it.