October 20, 1997
e-Mail: mainfairy@smockingbooks.com
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.
In This Issue:
From Our Readers
Smocking History
From Our Readers:
"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"
Peggy, The smocking chats are held on AOL on Sundays 2PM PDT (3PM MDT, 4PM CDT, 5PM EDT) in a private room, email me for the link if you are on AOL and on Wednesdays (same place) at 6PM PDT (7PM MDT, 8PM CDT & 9PM EDT). Along with Friday nights at the Craft Niche Exchange room.
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.
Evolution of Smocking
History is a record of the evolving process of life. As society grows and expands with knowledge so too does the expression of art forms. Embroidery is just one of those arts forms and as the women and men who take needle in hand evolve and grow and experience inspiration so too does embroidery.
I have been trying to trace the evolution of smocking history throughout the ages. There is very little written down or if it is the information is buried in obscure libraries. Research takes time and the researchers need to be rewarded for their diligence. Sarah Douglas is one of those women. I have come to respect her for her wealth of knowledge and attention to detail. I tip my smocked bonnet to you Sarah. I have also come to the conclusion that the most important phase of the history of smocking is what is happening right here and now. We are making history by all of those hours embroidering and fussing and paying attention to detail. Bonnet off, I bow to all of you as well.
I am beginning to think that drawn thread embroidery or counted thread embroidery are the areas from which smocking evolved from as those. Today we either iron on dots or else have our fabric pleated with that wonderful invention the smocking pleater, and take little time to think about times before either of those inventions because we are all in a hurry to get smocking, but if you take some time right now and think for a moment about the cloth that was made by hand and the ways that pleats were made on that somewhat even-weave fabric. Much the same as with drawn thread work in preparation for smocking the threads were counted and a evenly marked running stitch was put in place and when all rows were in place then the gathering up commenced and the fun part, the smocking was begun. (If you have never picked up the dots I recommend doing it at least once to experience it.)
Adult Smocking Musings: Here is a suggestion for inserting smocked panels into a dress. In Diana Keays book of Smocking there is one illustration of a shirtwaist dress with thin panels of smocking inserted next to the buttonhole placket. These panels contain 8-10 or 12 pleats (one inch wide) with the insert is about 16" - 18" long - 36 to 40 rows. The fabric flows into the skirt. These are easy to create with iron-on dots and are a nice way to add in that special smocking touch without a lot of fuss and fabric. You can play with any design you like in these vertical inserts, perhaps adding a picture smocked character within the panel or keeping it simple and just do waves or a simple trellis design. You are only limited by your imagination.
"If at first you DO succeed, try not to look SO astonished !!!!"
"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