SMOCKING NEWSLETTER VOL.1 ISSUE 15a
October 20, 1997
e-Mail: smockingstore@att.net
Website: Garden Fairies Smocking & Needlearts Catalog
Smocking Newsletter - Beth-Katherine Kaiman, copyright 1997-2004, all rights reserved. Please respect my creativity and hard work and ask permission before you copy something from these newsletters for your non profit goup, I always ask that you quote me correctly and give me credit with a way for people to get back to me. Thank you. IF you wish to quote me in a venture for profit please contact me separately concerning royalties.
I would like to create a new section called HINTS FROM OUR READERS to other readers concerning smocking. Please send me your best hint or tip that you have learned along the years. This is to be an archive of information which will be posted on my website when finished.
"Dear Beth, I'm new to smocking and I have to tell you that I love your newsletter, however, could you please tell more about picture smocking, I have several books, have seen people try and demonstrate this technique to me etc. I am hitting a brick wall on this one, I just don't get it, how do you stack nice and neatly so it really looks like the pictures? I have bought so many picture smocking plates, just hoping that one day, I'll click and I'll get the hang of it, so far I've bought about 20 plates and have done.........none of them! Help! Thanks, Lana "
Ok Lana, the next issue we will start working on picture smocking step by step. Meanwhile I will search for a log from a chat we had here on AOL about Picture Smocking and pass it along - that is if it's still around and wasn't damaged by the corruption that occurred that damaged my files. There are two things to start looking at. The first is to count how many cable rows make up the figure between your pleating rows. The first time I tried an apple I ended up with a tomato because I didn't count LOL. Try not to make your cable stitches too tight or bunched up. If you find your floss is not covering the fabric then you need to perhaps add another strand. Most of us use 4 strands for picture smocking. Some lady even ironed her floss while another starched it! Now that's dedication. The 2nd thing is to slightly angle your needle when matching cables, this will make them "kiss". Also try to keep your stitches coming from the same spot, this is somewhat tricky at first but when you are starting up a new row if you pay attention to where the first stitch started and match it your smocking will look great. Another tip is to take a bigger bite than you would with geometric smocking.
I am new to smocking and was looking for an answer to a question. When you are done with the smocking, do you pull out the gathering threads or leave them in? Silly question I'm sure, but the pattern doesn't say. Thanks for your help. Are there going to be any more smocking chats?
Peggy, The smocking chats are held on AOL on Sundays 2PM PDT (3PM MDT, 4PM CDT, 5PM EDT) in tprivate room, if you're interested email me and I'll send you the link and on Wednesdays (same place) at 6PM PDT (7PM MDT, 8PM CDT & 9PM EDT). Along with Friday nights at the Craft Niche Exchange room. I will add your name to the invites list if you like or to the logs list (you will automatically receive a log from a Friday night chat). (For those of you off of AOL I am working on creating a chat for internet users as well.)
As to the answer to your question - yes you take the pleating threads out (although a pattern designer tried to get us all to leave our threads in - we didn't go for it as it was too hard to see the rows when using thread that matched the fabric). You keep them in until the top of your pleated fabric is sewn into your yoke (or whatever you are sewing it to) keeping the pleating threads in until your blocked size is stabilized. I am not at all surprised that your pattern didn't say when to take the threads out - perhaps you missed the fine print :-). That was a joke, actually there are some patterns out there that miss that important step.
I'm just starting out, and want to see if it's something I think I can do, and whether I can invest time and money (which is dearer?)in this art. I'd love your advice on how to start, and which projects are easiest! I can embroider, bead, and sort of sew. Thank you so much! Bridget
Dear Bridget, I am answering your question in the newsletter so you will know that I answer each and every question that people send in. So, what to start smocking? Well since this is your first project you may consider making a baby's bonnet (they are easy) or perhaps a pillow or blouse for yourself. If you have any children to smock for the field is wide open. I suggest you take a look at the patterns that are on my website and see if something sparks your interest. I also suggest that you get a good beginner's book on Smocking (see below) to get you going.
GF: Thought you'd like to know ... I've taken my first smocking lesson and I am absolutely hooked. I watched my video for my pleater and even pleated my first piece of fabric! I'm going to do one more practice piece and then I'm going to be brave and try a doll dress. Love the newsletter! Hugs, Joan Wilson
Dear Joan, We are all thrilled to hear this. Smocking is great fun and soon you'll be smocking everything.
"No self-respecting bee would be fooled into thinking that a muddy bear holding on to a balloon was actually a small black cloud -- even if someone was walking below, carrying and umbrella and saying, "Tut-tut, it looks like rain." -- Eeyore
" Every morning is the dawn of a new error. "