bluekarin Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 anyone done it and if so is it difficult and so do you need special equipment? I have a black dress I bought for £9 in last years M&S summer sale (was £19.50), but its a size too large and the top jersey bit (as it can be worn as a skirt as well, but I'm not going to be doing that) is very, very loose. I had hoped to wear it for gardening, but I might get reported by the neighbours if I did Cheers me dears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Not done it for years, but my mum used to do it. As I recall, you have a transfer with dots on, which gives you the guidance you need to gather it all together. You could mark it out with a ruler and tailor's chalk, because you do need the gathers very even. No special equipment as far as I remember, you just draw up the gathers, fasten it off, and then you embroider over the top. Click - they're using gingham, which is obviously very easy and you don't need a transfer, but you can do it on any fabric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 7, 2011 Author Share Posted April 7, 2011 Thank you. I looked there earlier, and they have instructions on smocking with elastic on the bobbin and normal thread on the top and you sew it. Not sure my machine would like that though I shall keep on looking. There are a couple of instruction videos on youtube which I'll watch later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 Oh, sorry that wasn't what I was thinking at all - mum just used to do it by hand as I recall, not using a machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacake Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I've done it with elastic in the bobbin, it worked fine on my machine, there are lots of tutorials with good tips. I never actually wear the top but it's nothing to do with the smocking, just doesn't suit me....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I've found that women that are well endowed up top look bigger in smocked top dresses.. well I do anyway! No need for wonderbras when you have smocked tops! Anyway - I thought for smocking you used these wooden ruler type things & chalk. Then did a sort of stretchy running stitch? Hmm confused, but I also thought it was done by hand. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I smocked a couple of dresses for my daughter when she was tiny. I used an iron on transfer that put dots on the fabric which you joined together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 That's exactly what I remember using, Egluntyne - you sew through the dots, as it were, to get the gathers even. I don't recall elastic being involved, I may be wrong but since this was a traditional country craft however I am guessing it predated elastic and other such inventions! I have a lovely black-and-white studio photo from about 1958 of my mum, dad and my older brothers and sisters (I don't think they thought there would be any more in the family!) with my two sisters in matching smocked dresses made by my mum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 So, if I don't use elastic, as the top part is jersey, would it still have enough stretch in it? I was going to literally sit there are sew lines with a very small stitch, maybe starting at the back doing a panel just in case I ran out of enthusiasm and lose the will to live I've found that women that are well endowed up top look bigger in smocked top dresses.. well I do anyway! No need for wonderbras when you have smocked tops! Well, I am not little but I don't wear a bra with it. It's just for around the garden and not for the general public's viewing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Thank you. I looked there earlier, and they have instructions on smocking with elastic on the bobbin and normal thread on the top and you sew it. Not sure my machine would like that though I shall keep on looking. There are a couple of instruction videos on youtube which I'll watch later. I've used this method for smocking on my very basic machine and it worked well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
