Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Smocking! But not for clothing...

When you think of smocking, if you're like me, you think of this:
http://blog.fidmmuseum.org/museum/2009/12/smocked-frock.html
This is from the mid-1890s, and it's Liberty of London!
Or, perhaps you think of this:
http://newarrivalclothing.blogspot.com/2010/03/smocked-clothes-for-easter.html


Or, you might even think of this:
http://oliverands.com/blog/2013/03/the-new-smocking-an-obsession.html
 Bottega Veneta
I must say I love this pink dress.  Smocking is an interesting way to add elasticity to a garment, especially back in the days before rubber & elastic.  For me, just another ingenious technique humans came up with to solve problems.  

I learned a bit about smocking when I lived in Abu Dhabi.  The quilting group there had a demo about it & I was fascinated how flat fabric became richly textured fabric with a few simple marks & stitches.  When I was at my sewing class last week, I bought some fake suede remnants to do some experimentation with smocking.  I'm thinking that when we get our sun room finished and finally buy a couch, we're going to need pillows.  And smocked pillows would be pretty fun.

Also, it's a by-hand hobby (like knitting or crocheting).  Whereas I can only do sewing in my sewing room.  I can smock in the comfort of our sun room with the new fireplace! Obviously I'm planning for winter already!  

Here's a photo of some before navy suede.  Next post I'll show you what I've been doing with it!  

2 comments:

  1. I just learned to smock this weekend and have always thought of it as restricted to little girl dresses, so I can't wait to see what you do with it!

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  2. Thanks, Erin...I'm enjoying it, but haven't done a lot more lately. The weather's been gorgeous so we've been outside more. But, I really look forward to getting a lot done by the new fireplace once the weather stops being nice! I can't wait to try out some of the other patterns I found on the web, too.

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