tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post3012411057343622100..comments2024-03-28T09:14:59.192-04:00Comments on La Sewista!: The Name GameBunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-13938727707571784292012-06-14T06:17:40.660-04:002012-06-14T06:17:40.660-04:00I wasn't aware of these two different types of...I wasn't aware of these two different types of transfer dots. I am only familiar with "Knott's Dots" from the GLK company which was started by Grace L. Knott. A google search will find it easily.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-28168041744349930152012-06-09T08:20:14.729-04:002012-06-09T08:20:14.729-04:00I'm new to world of smocking and am interested...I'm new to world of smocking and am interested in English smocking. I will be hand pleating. I'm wondering which transfer dots to purchase: the "original" dot spacing or the "pleating machine compatible" spacing which gives considerably more space between the rows. I plan to purchase smocking plates as opposed to designing plates myself<br />lovinthesunnow@yahoo.comJaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08888098680407243541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-68562487524718696342012-06-05T08:49:08.836-04:002012-06-05T08:49:08.836-04:00You have written a beautiful article on smocking! ...You have written a beautiful article on smocking! Very interesting! I especially like the North American smocking and the Japanese Origami. Just beautiful!KarlaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17571554968017931589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-9040844371512185162012-05-31T08:57:19.800-04:002012-05-31T08:57:19.800-04:00I used to make smocked dresses for my daughters ba...I used to make smocked dresses for my daughters back in the 80's, there was a bit of a resurgence in popularity of romantic styles for little girls - tea length dresses with smocking and ribbons, details like scalloped hems and shaped lace. The styles were so simple to sew and it was the fine fabrics and hand details that made them really special.Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-75633780471957695722012-05-13T08:29:55.503-04:002012-05-13T08:29:55.503-04:00Thanks for your wonderful, far more knoweledgable ...Thanks for your wonderful, far more knoweledgable explanation of Italian smocking. Greatly appreciated.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-30481913954399644192012-05-09T22:47:37.264-04:002012-05-09T22:47:37.264-04:00Great explanations ! Italian smocking is done on p...Great explanations ! Italian smocking is done on pre-pleated fabric, the stitches are on the front of the piece and usually stitched with matching pearl cotton, the threads trail on the front just like geometric smocking but it is the texture not the stitches that should be seen hence the matching thread. You should give it a try, it takes a few rows before you actually see the fabric manipulation make the design.DawnBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06059456341829472319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-43863935531759076042012-05-09T15:30:39.055-04:002012-05-09T15:30:39.055-04:00Isn't it funny? Here in England we don't c...Isn't it funny? Here in England we don't call it "English Smocking", just plain "Smocking". But we say Canadian Smocking for the second photo - which is mostly used for cushion covers here. <br /><br />Great article Bunny! Thanks for sharing.Genniewrenhttp://www.genniewren.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-2698539595144215182012-05-07T08:13:19.031-04:002012-05-07T08:13:19.031-04:00Definitely shirring! I never realized that there w...Definitely shirring! I never realized that there were so many varieties of smocking. I love the American smocking. A few years ago Claudine copied a designer shirt dress that used smocking to control the waist and it was stunning.Nancy Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235347323004026695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-3639859560625141762012-05-07T06:59:26.503-04:002012-05-07T06:59:26.503-04:00Fascinating! you are so right about the difference...Fascinating! you are so right about the difference between smocking and shirring! Thought of this yesterday when we got out some photos of daughter's second birthday in 1982. Daughter and three friends at tea, all in party dresses with yokes and English smocked bodices. Fashions change! In my 1936 edition of "Mary Thomas's Embroidery Book" I find (pp. 254-255) "Smoking is a work of peasant origin, being a decorative method of gathering together in regular folds a wide width of material...As the years progressed these [smocks] were gradually decorated ...The practical purpose of smocking, that of controlling the fullness on the upper part of a garment leaving the lower part free and loose fitting, is now appreciated for babies' and children's garments, where elasticity, freedom for expansion and growth are of primary importance." But your encyclopaedia of the different types is very comprehensive and interestingAnne Francesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-23185631069787106582012-05-07T03:50:22.559-04:002012-05-07T03:50:22.559-04:00I always admire your work and time prevents me fro...I always admire your work and time prevents me from looking into smocking because it would be an opportunity cost of doing something else - however I didn't realise there were so many different types<br /><br />thanks for sharing.pdiddlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12231666147175522583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-68508696675440472852012-05-06T23:32:27.631-04:002012-05-06T23:32:27.631-04:00Thanks for the interesting info on the different t...Thanks for the interesting info on the different types of smocking. I've long admired the beautiful work you've shared with us. The "origami" smocking rang a bell, so I googled it, and was linked to an entry on patternreview.com. The reviewer used the same type of smocking shown in your photo to produce an exquisite maternity top, using a multi-colored polka dot fabric, so that each junction brought together 4 different colors of dots. It was perfectly done, using the reverse side of the smocking shown in your photo. A reader figured out how to do it and posted a tutorial online, in case you haven't seen it:<br /><br />https://picasaweb.google.com/wendlesue4/Smocking#5230521619222498626<br /><br />And the review showing the beautiful polka dots:<br /><br />http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&ID=28171Joannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-62774745454234402902012-05-06T20:43:44.335-04:002012-05-06T20:43:44.335-04:00Would love to see a picture of the dress with the ...Would love to see a picture of the dress with the flower pot picture smocking. Love your blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-10226949900104306792012-05-06T16:03:39.705-04:002012-05-06T16:03:39.705-04:00Great post! So interesting to learn a little about...Great post! So interesting to learn a little about the different styles of smacking. Your smoking projects are always so beautiful. I especially liked the white linen jacket where you smocked the sleeves. It was a subtle, perfect touch.Karinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06551387452771116176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-16307777851354004222012-05-06T15:14:57.240-04:002012-05-06T15:14:57.240-04:00LOL! We could then shorten it and just call it jus...LOL! We could then shorten it and just call it just "Mocking"!seamsgreathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16340005206033297205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-34343668780371860872012-05-06T15:11:30.219-04:002012-05-06T15:11:30.219-04:00Bravo on the simple explanations of the so many fo...Bravo on the simple explanations of the so many forms of smocking... but I too would rename the one done on machine! I like you "mock smocking"! Save the machine stuff for the construction and keep the smocking by hand! I would do it all day if there was nothing else on my "to do" list!Kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17243459628295857936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-76832819147434603862012-05-06T11:59:32.055-04:002012-05-06T11:59:32.055-04:00I think your elastic idea is a great one for aroun...I think your elastic idea is a great one for around a neckline or sleeves.Isn't the comfort of no closures what knits are all about? Great idea! <br /><br />Glad you liked the jewelry. I have been working on them all weekend. More to come.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-5607156817521983522012-05-06T11:42:09.236-04:002012-05-06T11:42:09.236-04:00I have a few RTW knit tops that have decorative sm...I have a few RTW knit tops that have decorative smocking but it stretches. It is around the neckline usually, so the focus is on your face. Do you think it would be possible to do the Nancy Zieman thing with elastic thread on a knit? The stretch makes the tops so comfortable. BTW, your jewelry is great. I have seen a lot of fabric pins lately on jackets. Yours is much nicer.<br /><br />tcsewhat@roadrunner.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-66901708389124340352012-05-06T11:12:04.373-04:002012-05-06T11:12:04.373-04:00I love smocking I love that you can buy the cheape...I love smocking I love that you can buy the cheapest fabric and smock it up and it is an instant heirloom. I have done almost all the forms that you have mentioned, I think the trick to picture smocking is overlapping the cables, so that the second course of cables overlap the top of the first. I hope that makes sense. Thanks for putting this together. I am with you shirring is not smocking and should never be called such. I think those who do it want to seem fancy and so they call it smocking so that they can feel fancy. We call them the white trash sewers (smockers) if you want.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332278945204640079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-58104419259679835902012-05-06T10:58:16.948-04:002012-05-06T10:58:16.948-04:00Thanks Bunny, for a complete explanation. I am wi...Thanks Bunny, for a complete explanation. I am with you on using language correctly in order to maintain the purity of an art.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03517527498809073174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-25854198268895831372012-05-06T08:59:32.300-04:002012-05-06T08:59:32.300-04:00How about "Mock Smocking"?How about "Mock Smocking"?Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-44150580662945789222012-05-06T08:15:26.571-04:002012-05-06T08:15:26.571-04:00My mother made beautiful smocked dresses for me an...My mother made beautiful smocked dresses for me and my sisters. She used an iron-on transfer to apply the dots to the fabric. I only remember dresses with fully smocked bodices , Peter pan collars, puffed sleeves and piped waist seams. They buttoned in the back with hand worked buttonholes. My cousin had a dress in this style with a farmyard scene on the bodice which I coveted.Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01471643987029247042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-916790767795412992012-05-06T04:33:11.673-04:002012-05-06T04:33:11.673-04:00Thanks for explaining this Bunny, you've inspi...Thanks for explaining this Bunny, you've inspired me once again! :)Make Me Overhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01891873061714385148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-18436626942297668722012-05-06T00:29:07.281-04:002012-05-06T00:29:07.281-04:00Great blog post! I wish we would come up with a di...Great blog post! I wish we would come up with a different name for Machine Smocking. It is such a gross misrepresentation of the Fine Art of Smocking. Maybe "Pleat work machine embroidery" would be a better description.seamsgreathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16340005206033297205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-83972444778479502622012-05-05T21:53:00.580-04:002012-05-05T21:53:00.580-04:00Thanks so much for sharing that link, Cynthia. Exq...Thanks so much for sharing that link, Cynthia. Exquisite bag, Cynthia. Your work is always so beautifully executed.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-42146682210953239412012-05-05T21:50:14.373-04:002012-05-05T21:50:14.373-04:00Jenny Jo, it is such a relief to know I was not th...Jenny Jo, it is such a relief to know I was not the only one that this drove nuts. And thinks for the info on Italian smocking. I did not know at all that it could be done over pleats. I will have to look into that. Thanks, again.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.com