My mother loved to smock. One year she made and smocked matching dresses for me, my sisters, and herself. They were pale pink cotton with dark pink smocking. This is a terrible picture, from about 1950. (Maybe I’ll eventually be able to repair it with Photoshop Elements—ever the optimist.)
Seated on the floor, from left to right, are my sister Marge, me, little sister Katrin, and brother Don. Directly behind Don is our mother. To her left are my grandmother and my great-grandmother. My father is wearing the bow-tie.
They were pretty dresses, and I remember that I liked wearing mine.
Now I want to show you some really beautiful recent smocking. Remember June-to-the-rescue, my neighbor who showed me how to thread my new Simple sewing machine? She also loves to smock. Take a look at this bridal garter.
Or see it enlarged at Flicker:
Isn’t that a great idea? Here’s how June makes them.
First, she machine-pleats a strip of cotton batiste. Then she adds lace edging.
Next comes the smocking, the addition of the elastic, and the finishing. On the left garter, you can see traces of red guideline stitches which will be removed.
June is making seven of these garters for her granddaughters, and possibly she’ll make an eighth for a future granddaughter-in-law.
For her eldest granddaughter, June made a diaper bag for her first great-grandchild, who is now age six. Here are some smocked motifs on the diaper bag. Can you imagine actually using a diaper bag with such fabulous work on it?
That’s not all. Here are some of the clothes June has smocked for her granddaughters.
Plus this baby dress and bonnet, modeled by the baby, over her pajamas.
And then there’s this pillow cover:
Detail of the pillow:
Such a pleasure to see. Although I am not interested in doing smocking, I do enjoy seeing such lovely work. Don’t you?
I think there is nothing prettier than a little girl in a smock dress.
Your neighbour is very gifted, she has made beautiful things indeed.
Beautiful work! Thanks for showing us…
And I would have been very wearing that pink dress, too. I always wanted my mom, sister, and I to wear matching dresses…but my mom didn’t go for the idea. Too bad!
I’ve always loved the look of smocking, but I never learned to do it. Thanks for sharing your great photos.
such a great idea the smocked garters!
i’ve always coveted a smocking(pleating) machine to aid me with shibori.
neki desu
Thank you for this lovely post! Smocking is a passion of mine and it is so inspiring to see the handiwork of others. The pictures say it all. Beautiful!!