New to me Technique Contest - 1.08. - 31.08.2019

[indigotiger]

I'm thinking about changing my entry, from a dress with a detachable collar (which is currently languishing mostly in pieces, with the collar not even drafted yet) to a smocked linen Renaissance apron, that I am making as a gift for a friend. I have never done smocking before ever, so I think it will still count as "new to me". It is almost finished, as I have been working on it for the last two weeks as my carry-around handsewing project.

[Iminei]

OOhhh @indigotiger  Do post pics and how tos

[BrendaP]

It looks as though you are doing that the way cushions are smocked (aka Canadian smocking?) by securely stitching two dots together.

The way I was taught (at school, goodness knows how many years ago) to do smocking on clothing is to put in lits of rows of running stitches, guided by the dots to form a series of pleats, and then embroider over the pleats.

[Manuela]

@BrendaP, I learned both the techniques as smocking (smoking in German).

[toileandtrouble]

@indigotiger  I had to use that technique when I had a smocked cushion in for repair. The 'good' side is the opposite to the one you showed - it makes a series of zigzag pleats, like the side of a tyre. 

[mudcat]

That lobster is fabulous BrendaP

[Bodgeitandscarper]

When I made baby smocked dresses, I did it by stitching the dots, I was led to believe that gathering into pleats, then embroidering was the "cheat" method 

[Manuela]

Hmmm, I hoped for some more entries. There is still time until September 7th....

[indigotiger]

I put together a blog post about the current status of my smocked 16th c apron project, which is very very close to being done... will be done tomorrow for sure. In the meantime, here are pictures of the front and back of the upper portion of the apron:

The finished upper edge of the apron has a lovely texture, similar to historical illustrations of aprons as being worn...

The back of the smocking, on the other hand, is nowhere near as pretty, but does show how the thread runs (between the pleating) back and forth to join together the alternate dots, as well as how the stops and starts of the smocking threads can be hidden in the folds.

[Manuela]

Gosh @indigotiger, that takes me back to 1979 when I was an apprentice. I haven’t done any smocking since then....

[BrendaP]

When I made baby smocked dresses, I did it by stitching the dots, I was led to believe that gathering into pleats, then embroidering was the "cheat" method 

In that case the cheating method takes twice three times as long to do - unless you have a machine to do the gathering

[Lilian]

I will be photographing my entry/ies tomorrow, hopefully   

[wrenkins]

Me too @Lilian although I'm not sure it's worthy of such exalted company but sure....
It's techniques I've never even dreamed of using or trying and you can chart my progress as I improve with each section. 

[Manuela]

I should have an entry soon @Manuela - I just need to get my act together and photograph it!

No worries, you’ll have until September 7th.

[toileandtrouble]

No entry from me I'm afraid, all still in the waiting pile.  Really want to have a go at some time in the near future.