What is the technique?
Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch. Before elastic, smocking was commonly used in cuffs, bodices, and necklines in garments where buttons were undesirable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smocking
What are the relevant materials needed for the technique?
- Smocking template
- Big piece of fabric
- Sewing Needle
- Threads
- Fabric chalk(or any pen/pencil for marking)
How to achieve the technique?
- Draw the smocking template on the back of the fabric using fabric chalk.
- Sew the fabric according to the lines indicated on the template.
- When completed shape the smocked fabric accordingly.
Round smocking
- Cut out a piece of fabric into a circle
- Sew the corner of the fabric together with equal spacing( change according to needs)
- When completed, pull to gather the fabric.
- Cut and tie the thread.
What are the uses and applications of the technique?
This technique could be used to make accessories, wearables, cushion covers, etc.
Photos
Smocking template drawn onto fabric
Round smocking
Experimentation with different pattern
Own personal reflections
I find this technique very fun as it doesn’t requires much thinking, and it’s a lot of repetitive actions. The final product come out really nice and uniform. And just by changing the size of the template, very different texture could be created.
However if one wants to create own design, a lot of thinking is required to come up with new template.