What is the technique?

  These techniques include manipulating fabric, plastic, lather and paper. And two of them we learnt through class were: sewing with elastic and smocking.

   Sewing with elastic can create gather patterns on the materials and produce flexible stretchy pieces.

  Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch. Smocking requires lightweight fabric with a stable weave that gathers well.

 

What are the relevant materials needed for the technique?

  • Fabric, paper, plastic, leather and etc.

  Sewing with elastic:

  • Elastic thread
  • Flat elastic
  • Sewing machine

  Smocking:

  • Hand sewing needle & thread
  • Fabric chalk or pencil & ruler

 

How to achieve technique?

  Sewing with elastic:

  • The first way is to put elastic thread in the bobbin for the sewing machine; simply sew straight stiches onto the fabrics either in linear manner or randomly; the fabrics will gather as we sew; tie the thread when done.
  • The second method is to use regular thread in sewing machine and the flat elastic strap; stretch and match the strap onto the fabric and cut out; pin it down and sew it with the zigzag stich on sewing machine

  Smocking:

  Use ruler and chalk to mark out pattern on the back of the fabric following smocking patterns; using a hand sewing needles to sew each pattern as required and secure with knot; Adding beads is optional and it could hide the stitches.

 

What are the uses and applications of the technique?

  Elastic is most often used to create waistbands in clothing, but it can also be used to create fitted cuffs on a shirt, the top for a dress, or to provide a snug fit in other areas of a garment.

  Smocking is commonly used in cuffs, bodices, and necklines in garments where buttons are undesirable.

 

Experiment

 Sewing with elastic thread

Sewing with flat elastic 

 

 

Three attempts on smocking

  The first smocking piece wasn’t as neat especially at the back side of the fabric. I tried a different design with a softer fabric. Both sides of the fabric looked quite interesting.

  Lastly I decided to try the first design again and it turned out neater as shown below.

  We also learnt a small simple technique where we cut out a circle piece of fabric and hand sewing it. When we went around the circle with the thread and pulled it, the fabric gathered and formed a smaller piece as shown. Using fabric crayons, I printed some designs on the fabrics and made some small ones with them as well as one with a fluffy fabric.

 

 

Personal Reflection

  I like how we can make a fabric even those stiff ones stretchy and flexible by adding elastic thread or flat elastic. The gathers created have very nice texture as well. More importantly, it allows more generous tolerance in making designs that fit different sizes. Smocking is quite tedious and repetitive but the end result is very organized and neat. I like how stable and strong the patterns actually remain with smocking in comparison to boiling of polyester fabrics.