Download PDF: Smocking Pattern 2 Flower/Diamond
You will need:
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Basic 30cm Ruler
- Pencil/Tailors Chalk
- Hand Sewing Needle
- Sewing Thread same colour as fabric if possible (Ideally strong quilters thread but if it is only a sample then any sewing thread is good enough)
Tip: You may use the width of a ruler to mark the gridlines or use a ruler to measure out 1.5-3cm evenly spaced dots. I find it is much faster to use the width of a ruler to draw a grid while some designs is better to use the dot system. Using the dot system will allow you to use either side of the fabric to show more than one design. Depending on the design, your fabric will shrink up to 50% of the original size. Mark your grids/dots on grain. Do not use thread longer than your forearm otherwise it will end up knotted or tangled. The type of fabric used also plays an important part of the design. Using scale, type of fabric and whether you choose to iron the fabric after will help greatly to achieving a different outcome.
Note: This pattern yields more than 1 design depending on which side you choose to use and which way you fold the fabric. Advisable to use a dotted grid for this pattern. I recommend not to use any smaller than 2.5cm even spaced dots/grid. 3.5cm is the maximum size I would use. Quite nice for sampling and displaying.
- Using a basic ruler, I marked out dots on the right side of the fabric. Using the width will ensure the lines are evenly spaced out without having to measure.
- You may jot down the numbers on the fabric to help you recognise where you will be stitching next. After a while of stitching you should be able to workout which stitches you need to do next. Sometimes on more complicated designs it is wise to have numbers to help you.
- Get a piece of sewing thread roughly double the length of your forearm. Thread the hand sewing needle with the thread. Bring the 2 ends together. Up to you if you want to tie the ends together.
- Follow the pattern instructions. Where there is a colour line joining 2 black dots, sew them together. You may jot down the sewing sequence to help you remember for next time.
- Each time you complete a cluster of stitches remember to tie off tightly. I tie a few times just to make sure it is secure. Sometimes you don’t require to cut off just to save time but things could get messy.
INSTRUCTIONS
Remember to use a dotted grid for this design. I am showing you with a line grid so you can see it better.
Prepare your dotted grid on the right side of the fabric.
I used 2.5cm on a heavy weight satin fabric.
Mark in the instructions.
Start at any corner of the square. Using needle and thread, pick up a few threads on the fabric at the dots/points/corners indicated.
Do this to all 4 corners and return back to point 1 which will complete the 5th stitch.
Pull to gather the corners and secure.
You should end up with 4 petal flowers. Poke the petals upwards from behind if you don’t see them.
Obviously you don’t see the grid lines if you use the dot grid system, which I mentioned at the beginning of the instructions.
Variations of this smocking
Duchess Satin compared to Poly Cotton
For the above flower design, use matching thread because the side you mark will be the side showing. The sewing must be neat. Remember to use dots to mark the grid.
Fold Variations
Extra Folding and Stitching Techniques Combined
Experimenting with Fabric with Grids, and Dots
The basic pattern is provided for you and all you have to do is sew the dots together and play around with folding the fabric to achieve all of these designs. It is very experimental and fun to actually discover these designs. This was how I discovered all my patterns. I am working on a video for this. I will let you know once it is posted.
There is so much you could do to this smocking pattern. It is one of my favourite designs because it is so versatile. Experiment with different weights of fabric. The other designs works well with medium weight fabric. Play around with pattern and scale. Only the flat diamond pattern requires ironing. You could even jazz it up with some bling!
See you in my next blog!
Shan x