Smocking or heirloom sewing

[Chris' Mom]

Does anyone do smocking or heirloom sewing? I have done that a lot. I like preserving the old needlearts by learning how to do them, so that they don't die out. I also do handmade Battenburg lace.

[Lisa]

I've always wanted to try smocking. I was making a christening dress for my great niece a few years ago and considered it but it looked a little too complicated for the time frame I was working under. I LOVE Battenburg lace! I have curtains with that trim.
I'm more of a sewer and for the last few years, quilter.

[Chris' Mom]

I learned to smock originally when my sailor son was born. I made one outfit for him when he was a baby/toddler. Then I let it go and instead learned to do Battenburg lacemaking. I love that, too. I haven't done it in 13 years now though. I made my sister some placemats and finished them right after my daughter was born 13+ years ago. That is the last thing I have done with Battenburg. It's beautiful. Smocking is a lot easier than it looks. I belong to a smocking guild and have friends who do it too. They just had a weekend retreat/getaway last weekend that I didn't get to go on -- bummer. Next year I will go! I made one heirloom sewing by machine dress for my daughter when she was three. That is a beautiful needleart, too. I have not quilted yet. My smocking guild is making a quilt right now that has the front half of smocked doll-size dresses on each block. We are going to raffle it off in June at the Martha Pullen Sewing Market in Arlington, Texas. Have you been to a Martha Pullen thing?

Where are you from ?
Thanks for replying to this forum inquiry. I posted it in December, and you are the first to respond. It's March.
--Tina (Chris' Mom)

[Lisa]

I am in mid-Missouri. My mom was a wonderful seamstress. She made all my clothes when I was little and even as a teen. I can't say I've reached her level of expertise yet but I'm trying!! I've gotten distracted from garment making and into quilting for awhile now. I'm right now working on a wedding quilt for my son who got married last September. He is the first of my Navy sons and decided to get married 3 months in advance so I didn't have time to make a quilt as I sewed the flower girl and miniature bride's dresses and made all the flowers. No, I've never been to a Martha Pullen thing. I think I've seen her name in some of the fancier sewing magazines. I'd LOVE to go to some of those classes but there never seems to be time or money and especially now with 2 sons away from home that I want to visit.
I admire you trying to save some of the lost arts! I want to try smocking. Do you use a pleater or do it by hand? I did some research when I was working on the christening dress I was talking about but have yet to try it. I have a new grandbaby on the way and maybe if I find out it's a girl I'll get started on a christening dress for her. Little girls things are so fun to sew! I recently made a christening dress for another great niece and designed it myself. She looked like a little angel in it! Sewing is one of the things that soothe me and keep me busy and not missing my boys.
Where is your Chris?
Lisa (Tyler & Casey's mom)

[Chris' Mom]

Hi Lisa,
My son is in Pensacola for A-school. I'd like to go visit him, but money is an issue like you said.
When I pleat, I use a pleater. Sometimes you can get pleated insert panels at stores that sell smocking supplies. Sometimes I've done that instead of pleating my fabric myself. I have never done it by hand with the dots -- there are some old patterns that had dots to use to pleat by hand.
My distraction from sewing for myself has been because of fit issues. I'm not a perfect pattern size with a B cup. I've been trying to get help with that so that I can sew for myself.
You might want to visit a Smocking Arts Guild of America (SAGA) chapter in your area. There are some in Missouri. My friend Lisa answers the phone and mail for SAGA and knows all about the chapters there. The women in SAGA could help you learn smocking or direct you to other people or fabric stores that offer classes in smocking and heirloom sewing.
Girls are fun to sew for. Most of my smocking sewing was for my daughter. I relearned smocking when I was pregnant with her nearly 14 years ago, and I didn't know whether she would be a boy or girl. I was thrilled when I found out she was a girl and I could sew a lot of things for her. I then learned heirloom sewing after she was born. She was christened in my grandmother's baby dress, which featured heirloom sewing techniques and was beautiful. My grandmother was 88 at the time and was there for my daughter's christening. Now my daughter is of age to not like or appreciate smocked dresses. So I smock baby gowns for premature and deceased babies for a local hospital when I have time. That is SAGA's service project -- Wee Care gowns. I don't have as much time to sew or smock as I would like because of work and family obligations, though.
Gotta go and let my husband have the computer soon.
Tina (Chris' Mom)

[Inchon Lady]

I also do smocking and heirloom sewing. I've been sewing for 33 years, got into quilting 10 years ago and am finding all kinds of ways I can include heirloom sewing and smocking into that as well. I have never tried Battenburg lace but I admit to a fascination for it. I also love to crochet and so I have added crochet doilies and trims to some of my projects as well. I tried needle tatting, but that didn't appeal to me after I tried it. I just finished a quilt for one of my daughters that included 4 pieces of counted cross stitch she had done so I guess I am passing on some of the enjoyment of needle arts to my daughters, at least one of them.

I was just looking at the dates of this conversation and realize it was quite a while ago. I just signed up yesterday, sorry now I didn't jump into this sooner.

[NavyMom]

LOL! I'm like Inchon Lady....I just joined, too...so I guess it is better to be late rather than not here! I do lots of heirloom sewing (and modern sewing, too). You are the first person I've met in many, many years that also makes Battenburg Lace. I have even dabbled in recreating heirloom techniques on the computerized sewing machines. Years ago I was a Martha Pullen School instructor. I have not yet found a NeedleArt that I don't love. Each time my son is on a cruise I do a "Cruise Project" ...some huge, complicated thing, filled with techniques that I'm either not good at or can't seem to love...I allow myself no more than 2 hours each day to work on the Project. The goal is to finish the day he gets home. I've never NOT finished, but once I finished a week ahead...and knitted mittens! That 2 hours is my "Sailor Mom Time"...I try to not be interrupted by others and I try to worry, miss, be the most proud of my son all at once..so life can be "normal" the other 22 hours. Originally, my younger daughter would sometimes share in a project. Now, as a 16-yr-old she works on her own projects and has "Sailor Sister Time." The rest of the family watches and indulges us and hopes whatever it is we are making is for one of them!!!!

[Smoke]

I have an interest in a variety of sewing techniques. I recently "rescued" another multi-technique book from the library resale room and happened to catch the smocking page. Very interesting, but I don't know when I'll get to incorporate it into any of the purses that I'm planning to sell.

I do variety in techniques as well. Knitting is my biggest thing now, though I'm barely past mid-level fancy stitches and I refuse to try anything complex enough to worry about fit. The only non-scarf wearable thing I've attempted to knit is a chainmaille cumberbund, and that's as far as I'll go. I'm also at the very first level of crochet.

Tatting seems like an ideal discipline for anyone related to sailors, as it was sailors who were responsible for that particular lace's popularity. (I can do the needle-based, but the shuttle-based technique has eluded me for years. The one done on a special crochet hook seems harder than using a needle.)

I'm midway through sewing the dress that I'm planning to wear to my boyfriend's PIR. So much ultra fussy cutting... It's somewhat 50's prom dress and the interfacing needs a bit of abuse to soften it, but I think it will look hot while keeping me cool.

[glbeiser]

I sew dance and cheerleading costumes for the team my daughter was on. I also sew quilts, clothes, etc. I was supose to learn to smock from my husband's aunt, but she passed away before I was able to learn. My grandmother taught me knitting, crochet and needle point. Time has been the biggest factor since I went back to work. I would love to share patterns etc.