Monday, April 7, 2008

One done, five more to go.

The most boring part is copying the pattern to the fabric. Wish I could come up with a speedier way. I'm using a pencil to trace over the pattern, can you spell t-e-d-i-o-u-s... :-(  But I'll be great at basting after this... always look at the bright side.
The pattern is repeated 4 times in each direction, and the finished piece measures 8" long and 6-7" wide (depending on how tight I pull it in.)

I starch the fabric until it behaves almost like paper. I just wonder, if I were to smock on a firm weave fabric (like the author did, using muslin), how would I copy the pattern? Hmm, yet another thing to ponder as I baste away.


10 comments:

  1. GOODNESS! That is going to be GORGEOUS!

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  2. Oh my, this is breathtaking.
    I want to come over and watch. I want to know more about this process.
    I had my own adventure with smocking last year, after not having smocked since my now-adult children were infants. But it was Nothing like this!

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  3. Wow. Is smocking something you can do while watching TV or helping kids with homework, or do you need to have absolute concentration? I'm in awe of your work.

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  4. It's possible to trace through light-colored muslin. Quilter's do that often.

    To trace through darker fabrics, I draw the pattern on tracing paper and tape it to the bottom of my acrylic sewing table (the one that fits around my sewing machine bed for machine quilting).

    Then I put a flourescent light from the hardware store (the flat kind meant to mount under cabinets).

    Lay your fabric on top and trace away with a white chalk pencil.

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  5. That is absolutely gorgeous! I haven't made a smocked piece in quite some time, but it's really fun watching it progress.

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  6. Oh I want to come watch too! I must have been very busy lately because at first I just had to look at your photos in awe before I really began to figure out what was going on. Gorgeous, just gorgeous! I have that book too, although I haven't tried that technique yet. I pulled it out last year after several people were inspired by Bottega Veneta (see Marji above, and Claudine at www.couturedetails.blogspot.com) but never got beyond inspiration stage. I can't wait to see how it evolves.

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  7. Thanks for your nice comment on my blog...
    I'm amazed by this smocking work! I love the result. I don't know about tedious but you can surely spell fastidious and neat ;o)

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