March 28, 1997
e-Mail: smockingstore@att.net
Website: Garden Fairies Smocking & Needlearts Catalog
Smocking Newsletter - Beth-Katherine Kaiman, copyright 1997-2007, 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
Hi Beth,
I just wanted to let you know what I was working on. I'm currently working on a Silk Ribbon Embroidered bunny, I took the pattern in the Inspirations #10 I think it is, and enlarged it 200%, it makes a good sized bunny that way, I've already embroidered the tail and the ears, now for the rest of him!! I've already sewn and stuffed the pieces, now to embroider and finish!! He (or she) will be beautiful when I'm done, I've put some pearl seed beads and crystal bugle beads on it too, I used a white cotton velour (stretch I think), backed with pellon fleece, and tissue paper under the velour to prevent damage to material by feed dogs (mean little critters sometimes). I have sold two bears I did so far out of the Jenny Bradford book, one for $65 and one for $75 (that one took me a week to make with all of the many flowers I had on it!! Well, thanks for the wonderful plates, I got them today, Next time I'll have to order some with bullions or something on them!! I'm printing the chats as I type, bye for now . Patty
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Dear Beth:
I wanted to share with you some ideas for adult smocking that I've made for myself.
I've done a number of Sandy Hunters less full peasant blouse. One that I wear a lot is done in "blue Jean" blue on white which I wear with a jean skirt. The most recent one, I did in rainbow colors with different colors on the sleeves. As mentioned in the beading talk, I've done evening blouses in silk which can be quite dressy.
I've done many nightgowns, usually using what I think is a Sandy Hunter pattern (have lost the envelope) very simple to do. Also have done the Florence Robertson Robe (Little Sunday's Dresses) in both long and short versions.
As I love anything having to do with a needle, I love doing collars. The Londa blouse #8904 has a lovely soft collar for working with laces.. I recently made the shawl collar blouse with some antique lace I found in a store. Turned out so well that I made a straight skirt of the same fabric to match so it now becomes an outfit. I also just love doing cutwork and have a number of blouses that I've either done a collar on, a pocket flap or a center cutwork design in the front of the blouse.
Last year Laura Jenkins Thompson came to our guild. One of the courses she taught was "perfect" padded satin stitch which involved a strawberry on a collar. The minute I saw it I remembered some strawberry buttons I had and knew I had to combine them. So I made a green micro-check dress, added the collar and the strawberry buttons. I've also enjoyed doing Laura's version of lattice smocking. I did a black a line dress with the sleeves latticed smocked. Next project was a very soft beige challis with a small floral print. I did a short sleeve (latticed smocked) jacket with a skirt that I really enjoy wearing.
As you can see, I really love the "hand" work and seem to be able to find the time to do it, although when I'm under the gun, I've been known to smock at traffic lights etc. My family and friends are all used to me bringing the needlework along. Best regards, Joyce -
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Beth,
I have a question I hope you can help me with. I didn't know who else to ask. I will also try to make the question easy to understand hopefully!!
My problem is I'm working on 2 dresses ready made. One has 8 rows and one has 12 rows. Well of course I did not notice this when I picked out a smocking plate that has only 8 rows. I need a stitch that's easy that will take up 2 rows near top of design (rows 3&4)and near bottom(#9&10). The plate I'm using is *Ellie* by Children's Corner if you have it, you may want to look at it to see what I'm trying to coordinate with. Also another problem is the pleating stitches that you would normally do a cable stitch on isn't equal distances from the piping. I mean the 1st row at top is about a 1/4 inch from piping and row 12 at bottom is 1/2 in. from bottom. So should I just cable on that row and forget about being next to piping, so everything else will equal? Is this making sense?
Sorry this is so long and complicated. Hope you can help, thanks for your time. Sherilan
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Pricing of Garments - comments
I think the sale of garments most definitely depends on the location you're selling from. I'm fortunate to be able to sell on consignment at a shop where people can't get enough of smocked garments, nor can I begin to make enough fast enough to satisfy the demand all by myself. The customers appreciate good work and will seek out these garments rather than shopping retail stores. And, of course, can have things made to order which is always a plus. A size 4 to 8 dress, for example, will sell for $85 to $120 depending on how detailed the work is. This can be 100% cotton, Imperial batiste, Imperial broadcloth or whatever. A little boys pair of smocked shorts sells for about $50. This happens to be in the Washington D.C. area which probably makes a difference too. Pat
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My saga of the rambling rose from Aussie Smocking #25. I made the dress in a Lavender linen/cotton blend. Having never smocked before I had no idea what I was getting into. Started with the wheat stitch on the bottom the first time I didn't pull the stitches tight, way too loose and I decided the color was way to light. The green I had chosen turned yellow on the lavender. I bought new floss, lots of different greens because I forgot my sample of fabric, and then found one I liked and started over. Restarted twice more because of mistakes. Then when I finally got the wheat stitch perfect started the trellis's and decided I didn't like the green hat I had chosen after all, too dark. I went to Wal Mart in the middle of the night and choose another green and redid it. Now it's beautiful, but do I really have to repeat the WHOLE pattern on the back? Kimberley
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Regarding the pricing on smocked items: you and I discussed this briefly before. I charge $55.00 for a basic square yoke geometric smocked dress. This would have approx. 8 gathering rows (could be up to 16 rows of smocking). I know that you charge around this amount or slightly less. Even I am underpricing myself. Keep in mind that if you figure the amount of time involved (between 10-20 hours from start to finish depending on the smocking design and embellishments) and the materials involved, my accountant determined that usually I average only $1.00-$1.50 an hour. That certainly doesn't make it a feasible career choice!! I wish that there was some way to educate people on the amount of work that goes into one of these gorgeous outfits!!. I am finally at a point where I feel comfortable asking for more money if it's going to be a project that I know I won't enjoy, or that I know will be a real pain to do. If they don't want to pay it, then I don't have to do the work. So far, nobody has decided not to order because of my pricing. A LOT of my customers tell me that I am underpriced. Sure they can go to Walmart and buy a Phillipine-made dress with a couple of rows of smocking on it for $22, but most consumers know that they are not getting the quality or workmanship they will receive from my work. I really think that $35-$40 a dress is way too little to charge for our hard work (that's not going to pay the doctors bills for our carpal tunnel or the eye doctor for our blindness (LOL)).
Here's my opinion. I'm anxious to see what others think. The first newsletter was great--keep 'em coming! Wendy
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Beth,
I went snooping in a "fancy children's store" today when I went to pick up some undies. Checked out their merchandise and prices. Most smocked dresses were in the $70' s up to 89$-some had no lace or extra trim. They were well-made garments though. No heirloom type in shop. Had lots with Battenburg trims or collars, cuffs, etc. Sally
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Dear Beth,
There is a small museum in the south of England that is dedicated to smocking, I will try and find my catalogue. Also, Albert Durer's Self-portrait (hanging in the Louvre, also avail. on-line) shows reddish-orange smocking around the neck of his shirt. This was painted in 1453 I believe. I'm a historical costumer. I do re-enactment clothing, which involves the proper finishes and embellishments. Take a look at my web-site for more info. :) http://www.makingtime.com
Kat Hargus, owner, Making Time