My favourite dress when I was a little girl had many things I liked about it. Flowers on the collar. Frilly cuffs.
But best of all, it had smocking.
I’ve always liked it. I still do. (smocking, that is. I wouldn’t be seen dead in that frock nowadays).
But I think it’s fair to say that smocking is not something you see much of these days.
I would like to find a way to use it now.
So far, the best I have done is mock-smocking, using rows of stitches to slightly gather up fabric and give it texture.
It’s not proper smocking.
But one day, I’ll have to give it a proper go. ♥
My mother was a demon smocker. My favourite dress when I was about 5 was coral coloured linen with a peter pan collar, and the yoke was smocked in black and white. It had tiny black buttons down the front, and puffed sleeves, and I was heartbroken when I grew out of it. Amazing how you remember these things after such a long time…
Sounds amazing!
it’s lovely to see someone else who loves smocking! When I became a godmother for the first time, at the tender age of 16, I made 2 little smocked dresses for my god-daughter all by hand as I had no sewing machine available at the time! 36 year later that baby has just had her own little girl. I’m sorely tempted to find out those smocking dots and make the new babe something smocky & pretty for Christmas after reading your page today xx
Can’t beat a bit of smocking! That comment was so nearly “can’t beat a bit of smoking”! Thank goodness I re-read it
Wow Alison, you were a pretty crafty 16 year old if you were tackling smocking by age 16! I do think it is very pretty on little girls. But I also love to see it as a detail on adult blouses, and I think a smocked cushion would be lovely too.