Product Description
Complete instructions, clear diagrams show you various ways to smock including basic stitches and diverse patterns. Ms. Durand provides easy directions for making over 10 beautifully smocked articles: Smocked Pillow, Mother/Daughter Sun Dresses, Boy/ Girl Bib Front Outfits, much more. 125 illustrations including 24 in full color on covers.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Hit or miss
I purchased this book at an auction and while it does have quite a few patterns they are very old style (to me a 1970's look).I did not help me to learn smocking but had a few insightful tips.This book could be hit or miss depending on your style of smocking you are interested in.It does have detailed photos.

Not easiest to learn with
I purchased this book to learn to smock.It has pictures and written instructions.The written instructions are very short and not detailed.If you learn well from reading information this book will most likely notbe the one for you.Treasury of Smocking by Allyne S. Holland gives betterdirections.There are some cute patters in here but keep in mind that thecopyright on this is 1979 and that most of the patterns in this do reflectthe 70's.Heavy patterns.There are a couple of patterns suitable forkids (a train, children holding hands and a basket print).If you arelooking to smock a tuxedo shirt directions are in here! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful reference
This book is a wonderful reference for many heirloom techniques.The instructions are clear with pictures to illustrate.Between this book and the forum on Martha Pullen's web site, I might just pull out that expected christening gown, lol.

Excellent Book on Heirloom Sewing Techniques
Excellent, excellent book!! The instructions and illustrations on techniques such as windowpane motifing, pintucking and Battenberg applications are superb. I have completed the Williamsburg Daygown with Front Lace shaping and insert and it turned out beautifully. This is one of the best books on Heirloom Sewing I have come across in a long time. Having learned these techniques by word of mouth many years ago, I have been on a quest to locate a book that provides the same quality of insight on a sewing form that is slowly being forgotten. Now I have something I can pass along to my children and grandchildren! I highly recommend it as an acquisition for those seriously considering heirloom sewing.

Brought me back to a time of lost beauty and quality sewing.
With Martha Pullen's research, this book is incredably historical to the time of the early 1900's. It is both beautiful and inspiring. As someone with experience in this type of sewing, I have found it to give meinspiration. It has been a springboard to design my own Christening andBlessing dresses in the heirloom style. I was taught these things at my owngrandmother's knee and had forgotten the beauty of fine sewing. Sewing hasgotten caught up in the hustle and bustle of how quickly it can becompleted. These items do not show the lost art that demands that theseitems be passed on generation to generation as they were in the past. Ihope to inspire others in my area to appreciate, even if only byobservation, this precious and almost lost art when they see the results ofmy work as inspired by Martha's skills, enthusiasm, and requirement ofquality.

Big and Beautiful!!!
This book is amazing!It's nice enough to be a coffee table book, and it actually is useful!The accompanying patterns are easy to read.It isn't too helpful for beginners, but it sure gets them interested!!

Beautiful book of heirloom sewing.All patterns included.
Martha has done a wonderful job of including beautiful heirloom sewing with all directions and patterns included.The pictures are breathtaking!This is not a good book for the beginner, however,- some heirloom sewingexperience is necessary. But, its a great way to get inspired! And itsHUGE! ... Read more

Product Description
Smocking is no longer just a practical means of gathering fabric. In this manual, Dorothea Hall seeks to put a contemporary spin on this traditional craft. She combines exquisite fabrics and exuberant colours with highlights of twinkling beads and buttons, giving modern applications for smocking. There are instructions on all the basic techniques, along with a stitch library and a section on finishing. There are ideas for projects, ranging from the simple to the more complicated, and including: cushion covers and bolsters; curtain tie-backs; pot pourri; confetti sachets; a laundry bag; a shoulder bag; a baby's bonnet and dress; a house and garden sampler; and Christmas tree baubles. ... Read more

Product Description
15 Pages. Smocking is an ancient form of embroidery, originally used to make comfortable clothing for farm workers in the English countryside - and it might even be older than that. These lovely patterns are made by gathering a large piece of cloth into folds, and by weaving a needle through the folds, these lovely designs are made. This book contains 22 lovely designs, from simple stitches to elaborate patterns, along with full instructions. A wonderful book full of ideas! REPRODUCTION ... Read more

Product Description
15 Pages. There is nothing more beautiful than the ancient English art of Smocking. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is a lovely method of gathering a broad piece of cloth in a garment such as a dress into small pleats with decorative stitching. This edition of Weldons contains many lovely patterns for smocking with a wide variety of stitch designs. REPRODUCTION. ... Read more

Product Description
24 pg PB with patterns and instruction for nightgowns and pajamas. ... Read more

Product Description
Designer look without the designer cost, what's not to like? Designer Smocking for Tots to Teens empowers you to create modern clothing with contemporary catwalk character, for less money and in less time than it can take to decide on the perfect outfit. Within the 10 charming outfits featured, including patterns for 16 items, there are small accents including a smocked pocket on pajamas and patches on a pair of denim shorts, plus cute dresses, skirts and tops for children from newborn to size 14. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Beautiful, original smocking designs
This book is great for anyone who wants something more imaginative and contemporary than the classic square yolk dress and bishop dress smocking designs. The designs are interesting and unusual, and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. The instructions for the stitches are well illustrated. The book even includes instructions for fun, coordinating accessories. Proves that smocking need not be confined to traditional, conservative garments. I am really enjoying this book.

Excellent!
What a great book! It has wonderful illustrations of stitches, full patterns and great ideas. I loved looking at the book and can't wait to try some of the garments and stitches. I especially like that I will be able to use this book to smock for my grand-daughters past the baby age.

Something For My Wife
This was on my wife's Wish List and so I purchased it for her.I do not know anything about smocking except that she drives me up the wall at times talking about it.She does all sorts of crafts from beading to hand quilting to knitting and etc.I do not believe she would have asked for it if she did not believe it offered her what she was looking for.I only rated it as a 3 since as I stated I really do not know anything about smocking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

old-fashioned
The book has some useful tips, but the designs aren't really applicable to modern clothing.

A reference, an instruction book, a source of ideas
This book was published in 1982. In that sense, one might think that it is dated. Actually, it's not. Smocking is a traditional craft, it's still done today the way it was in the last century, nothing new has been invented and the designs, by the very nature of the craft, have the same overall look they have always had. Of course, the fashion of the dresses to which they are applied change and the colors you might currently choose to work with might currently might be different, but the process of smocking will be the same whether you use dots or a pleater or gingham.

So, keeping all this in mind, this book is an excellent source of ideas, instructions, and projects. These projects range from pillows, baby clothes, children's clothes, adult dresses and blouses, to Christmas ornaments. All the projects are lovely and timeless. The instructions are clear and appear in both American and metric measurements. The charts are clear, the photograps (regrettably) are almost all in black and white.

I am a beginner smocker and haven't gotten past the simplest of the geometric projects on gingham and, even those, with difficulty. Most of the projects are geometric with only a few forming images. The overview and general instructions are clear, but I'm finding smocking to be one of those skills you can't just jump into: you have to practice and practice and practice. I'm happy to have this book to give me the incentive to keep trying.

It's useful but outdated
If you are looking for smocking patterns this is not the book for you.It has useful information on technique but is very outdated on styles.I do use it but A to Z Smocking is much better for "how to" instructions. ... Read more

Product Description
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A pleat (older plait) is a type of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and securing it in place. It is commonly used in clothing and upholstery to gather a wide piece of fabric to a narrower circumference. Pleats are categorized as pressed, that is, ironed or otherwise heat-set into a sharp crease, or unpressed, falling in soft rounded folds. Pleats may also be partially sewn flat and allowed to fall open below. Small pleats sewn in place down their entire length are called tucks. ... Read more

Product Description
15 Pages. This edition of Weldon's contains excellent, well illustrated instructions for many a variety of lovely smocking patterns. There are a wide variety of stitch designs and finished project ideas, which include clothing and curtains. It does show the placement of these smocking patterns on garments - but it does not give patterns for the garment itself. There is also a section of the book devoted to the art of Shirring or Italian Smocking. A treasure trove of information on this lovely needlework! REPRODUCTION. ... Read more

Product Description
Designs with geometric smocking, ribbon smocking, and picture smocking. ... Read more

Product Description
Periodical. Article titles include: Memories - Sparkling voile gown smocked to the waist, embroidered with leafy braids (size 2, 3, 4); Woven Dreams - Bold floral print coat dress higlighted with beautiful bullion roses; Wallis - sensuous georgette adult dress with easy smocking at the high waistline (Adult sizes 8 - 18); Bright Spark - Mystical dinosaurs picture-smocked onto an eye-catching playsuit; Cornsilk - cleverly designed counterchange dresses in print fabric; Florentine - Wispy angel top and matching knickers for summer babes (newborn, 3 & 6 months); Selina - Quaint four piece outfit for a soft-bodied Glorex doll in silk (19" doll); Saltbush - Endearing dress of petite gingham with white overlay; Prelude - Elegant cream adult blouse with pearls and diagonal smocking at the shoulders. Pattern sheets should be attached. ... Read more

Product Description
Periodical. Article titles include: My Pretty Maid - white pique square yoke party dress with smocked bows (6, 7, 8 years) The Precious Bundle - Sleeveless baby romper with brightly coloured insert (6, 12, 18 months); Goldilocks - Bishop dress with wheat stitch scallops and bullion flowers (2, 3, 4 years); The Pillow Fight - Full length nightgown in cosy printed interlock (6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years); The Tea Party - Pastel floral square yolk dress with silk ribbon embroidery (3, 4, 5 years); Star of the Show - Toddler ensemble with jacket and sleeveless dress (12, 18, 24 months); The Little Leprechaun - Delicate long sleeved square yolk dress in winter twill (2, 3, 4 years); Wee Care - Precious bishop gowns with miniature smocking designs in five tiny sizes. Should have attached pattern sheets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Definitive book on heirloom sewing
This is the definitive book on heirloom sewing by hand.It's also out of print and very hard to find.It's the first book of a four book series (#2 concentrates on embroidery, #3 on lace, and #4 on cutwork... though each contains a variety of other skills and techniques).I found them all on ebay over the period of a few months.

It's not all that long ("book" is sort of generous: it's more like a long pamphlet), but covers all of the basic heirloom sewing techniques: edges, sewing on lace and entredeux, hemming, tucks, and more.The directions are clear and accompanied by plenty of line drawings illustrating each technique, and several pages of color photographs.In addition to running through each technique one by one, there are several complete projects in the back of the book, including a sampler pillow which includes all the important stitches.

If you are interested in learning how to be a better hand sewer, this book and its sequels are the best books on the subject. ... Read more