Smocked Dresses!

 I mentioned in my first post that I have made smocked dresses for years. My very first smocking project was in 1987 when I was pregnant with my second baby. I didn’t own a pleater machine (used to make the tiny pleats on which the design is hand stitched) so it didn’t turn out too great, but I was intrigued with the process. After my daughter was born in 1992, my husband gave me a pleater machine for Christmas and I’ve used it ever since. Here are a few of the many many dresses I have made for my daughters and well as for my smocking business. 





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Some days aren’t for sewing.

Image
 Today I’m trying to start the sewing process for a red bolero jacket….and I’m just not feeling it! Taking another nap sounds SO MUCH better! Why am I having a lack of desire to make this jacket? Well it’s because of several things. I never originally planned on making it. Here’s the story. I used some $10/yard vintage fabric (from the 50’s….it’s only 35” wide so that’s the first clue that it’s vintage), to make a semi custom dress for a lady who messaged me of another dress I have listed on Mercari. She said this: “I just love your vintage dresses, but I’m a size 16. If you ever make a dress in a size 16, I will buy it!” So I chatted back and forth with her and showed her this pattern I had recently purchased (it’s a reprint “Retro” series that includes modern…larger sizes which is rare in actual vintage patterns). I also showed her this fabric. She said she loved it all! So I made this dress in a size 16. It’s a brick red print. Can look orange/rust to red depending on the light....
Read more

Worked on skirt today.

Image
 I decided to sew on a few parts of this dress today. I got the skirt completed (this one is actually double lined), and I constructed the lined puffed sleeves. Next up will be the bodice front and back. Stay tuned.  My dresses (no smocked dresses) are for sale on Poshmark (@cjfiore27) and Mercari (Carolyn Fiore).
Read more