anyone know anything about smocking???

[taytotayto]

i would love to learn how to do smocking and make baby dresses. i have basic sewing skills. i have no idea where to start looking. is it hard to do?

Try youtube for some videos. I did it at school and don't remember it being that hard you just had to get each row of stitches the same

its pretty easy, esp if you start with gingham as its easier to keep it straight. I have bought from house of smocking i the past

would second the gigham option and it can give a really good effect as well.

you could google smocking machines and see what your getting yourself into.

Also look at smocking transfers. They give you a good guide to work on different fabrics.

Smocking Kills.

I did smocking years ago....I would third starting with gingham, makes it so much easier to get the pattern even when you are learning. From what I remember, it's fairly easy to do once you grasp the (very simple) basics, I taught myself from a library book...

youtube didn't exist then

Hello, if you mean shirring (which I think is the same as smocking?) there's an excellent tutorial on this blog: birgittadesignz.blogspot.com/2010/07/shiring-tutorial.html

thanks to you all xxx

Love your crisps, but very few outlets in the UK unless you know where to look

There is traditional smocking which is gathering the fabric then stitching the gathers together with embroidery thread to give a decorative effect. It is non stretch.

Or there is shirring which looks like smocking, except it expands as you use elastic in the bobbin. It is an excellent, easy choice for children's clothes as it stretches, so no zips etc required, plus it looks cute as button!

For shirring tutorials, look no further than the fabulous Flossie Teacakes blogspot where she does the most simple and amazing tutorial on shirring you can imagine. Tutorial here. I warn you though, Flossie's blog is addictive as you want to know what clever and amazing things she's made recently (and no, I'm not Flossie, nor do I know her, I am just a big fan as I've learnt a lot from her blog!)