Technique
Manipulation of fabric into three-dimensional forms by sewing and gathering fabric.
Materials
- Fabric
- Thread
- Elastic sewing thread
- Sewing needle
- Sewing machine
Smocking
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- first attempt // choice of fabric is too thick and the pattern is too big, so it is not as visible
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- second attempt
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- behind the scenes
Shirring
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- first to third attempt // finally learned how to gather the edges nicely and tuck them into the centre so the thread lines are not visible
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- shirring with elastic thread
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- shirring with elastic thread in a circle brings out a three-dimensional shape in the middle
Reflection
The smocking technique is quite time-consuming – most probably because I’m not used to sewing. In addition, I have not learned how to finish off a stitch properly because some of the smocking stitches came off after a while. But all in all, I enjoy trying out different smocking patterns and seeing it come to shape little by little.
Shirring with the elastic thread, on the other hand, is straightforward. Though I did enjoy making the bun-like shapes with the shirring technique – I think I would love to try other types of shirring by hand-sewing.