WAVE STITCH (Baby or Half-space)

Back to the smocking! The next stitch we will work on is a variation on the cable stitch, but instead of stitching in a straight line, we will add one little step to make it look like a wave (hence the name!)

Step 1: find your middle "thread knot"marker

Step 2: Look at your pattern. Does it say begin on the guide thread, or does it say begin half-way between two guide threads? Mine says to begin at the half-way point, so I will bring my needle through there.

(Note - we will be stitching 1/2 the space between guide threads. That is why it is sometimes known as the "half-space wave")

Step 3: Make a "down cable". (The down cable is one straight stitch with the thread "down" below the needle.) Remember! The first stitch is always over 2 pleats, then every stitch after that is one pleat at a time.

Step 4: Instead of making your next stitch in a straight line, take your needle up half a space on the next pleat over, keeping your thread "down" below the needle again. (Sort of like a long down cable).

Step 5: Make an "up cable" (The up cable is a straight stitch with the thread "up" above the needle. Step 6: Now we are going to stitch back down to the row we started, with the thread "up" above the needle. (Like a long or slanted up cable).

There you go! You have just made a baby wave! Isn't it pretty? Now we just repeat!

Remember to ask me questions!

smocking - OUTLINE STITCH

I think I'm confusing you, my darlings, so I'm going slower today. (Because, if you are confused, it is my fault. Smocking is easy!)



Find the center of your pleated fabric by looking for your marker (thread knot). (photo 1)













Next, I'm going to look at my pattern to find the row I am to begin on.

My pattern calls for an outline stitch (today's lesson) on row 1.










So, I find row 1(the very top row) on my fabric. (photo 2)










Taking my needle to the back, I am going to poke it through in the center valley. (photo 3)










Next look at your pattern. If your pattern tells you to use an outline stitch, it will say up cable or down cable. If it doesn't say, you can pick one!









If it says up cable, make sure the thread stays above the needle. (photo 4)







If it says down cable, make sure the thread stays below the needle. (photo 5)









Mine says down cable, so I will begin with my thread below the needle.









For the first stitch, you need to stitch over 2 pleats. (photo 6)






The OUTLINE STITCH is just a down cable or up cable repeated for the entire row. For example: my pattern says down cable for the outline stitch so instead of alternating like we did for the cable stitch, I will always keep my thread below my needle. (photo 7)

The end result should look like twisted rope. Ask me questions!

Let's Get Smocking! - CABLE STITCH

The first thing we will do is thread the needle. Almost all the smocking you will ever do will use 3 strands. If the pattern wants you to use a different # of strands, it will specifically say. If it doesn't say, use 3. From now on, when I refer to the thread, I'm referring to the 3 strands.

I usually begin with about a yard of thread. You can use more or less - just remember that the more thread you use, the easier it is to get tangled. Thread all 3 strands through the eye of the needle and pull through until the ends are almost even, (You want one end to be longer, as in cross-stitch). Tie a knot in the longer end.

TO BEGIN:

You will always smock from left to right, and you will always begin in the middle of the fabric. (If you are left handed, you will smock right to left). To find the middle, fold the pleated fabric in half (photo 1). Take your needle and pull it through where the fabric folds. You should have a knot on one side now. Tie the other side in a knot and cut it off. Now you should have a visual aid to tell you where you are to begin each time.(photo 2)

All the smocking patterns I have used begin with a cable stitch. The pattern will tell you which row to begin on. You will use the gathering threads as your guide to keep your rows straight. During stitching, your needle should always be parallel with your guide thread.

CABLE:

Thread alternates below and above the needle, stitching just the top of each pleat. Take your needle to the back of your fabric and pull it through on the row you will begin on, remembering to start in the middle.(photo 2) The first stitch you make will always cover 2 pleats, after that, you will stitch one at a time.

DOWN CABLE: the thread is "down" below the needle (photo 2)

UP CABLE: The thread is "up" above the needle (photo 3)

Go back and forth (down cable, up cable, down cable, etc. ) until you come to about a half inch from the end, re threading if necessary. (photo 4) When you come to the end of the row, pull your needle through to the back and tie a knot. Turn your fabric upside down, pull the needle up one pleat to the left of the middle, and beginning with a stitch over 2 pleats, repeat everything that you just did all the way to the other end.(photo 5)

If you began with a down cable, when you flip it over, you will begin with a down cable also.

Remember:

• The first stitch is over 2 pleats. After that, it is one pleat at a time. Down cable, up cable


• Your needle should always point towards the middle.


• Your needle should stay parallel to your gathering threads.
• Stitch just the top of the pleats. You shouldn't touch the guide thread with your stitches.
• Any questions, just ask!
• Yes, I do need a manicure. Sorry!

Tutorial Tuesday!

I know, I know, Danna give it up on the cutesy theme days already! :-) I've decided to do a smocking tutorial and share with you the little that I know about it. It's not a lot, but it will allow you to smock about 90% of the plates(patterns) out there. I'm going to go excruciatingly slow, because I am pretending that I am teaching myself! Even if your children are too old or don't wear smocked clothing, they make wonderful baby gifts! It's incredibly easy, just start early. (It's much more relaxing to do a little at a time while watching t.v., than to stare at a needle and thread for hours!)

Okay, Lesson 1: MATERIALS

You will need embroidery needles and embroidery(DMC) thread. Important because the needles have a longer eye than regular sewing needles. Both of these things are very inexpensive. Each color thead is about 25 cents. The pattern will tell you which colors to get. Some patterns call for many different colors. I, however, never go by the colors it calls for. I just make up my own color scheme.

Fabric - I have always used either gingham, batiste, or broadcloth. Usually broadcloth because it's cheapest. You will need to have the fabric pleated. You can ask around and usually find someone you know who has a pleater. If that's not an option, places that do tailoring or alterations will work or a local fabric store can give a recommendation.

Alright, that's all you need to begin: needles, thread, and pleated fabric. No embroidery hoop necessary. Next Tuesday's Lesson - threading the needle and the basic cable stitch!

I have to give props to my friend Amy today. She read about how I was taking on an enormous smocking project and offered to help me out if I started running out of time. She has three girls of her own, so this was a very generous offer! To answer my friend Lisa's question, smocking is stitching across pleats. You should try this, Lisa! You would be very good at it.

This is Sophie's Easter dress. Maddie's will have purple on white and Eliza's will have either blue or green. Can't decide. This weekend I have to take a break from the smocking and work on some poodle skirts (that don't actually have poodles on them.)

Question of the day: if Dora is a girl, why doesn't she have eyebrows?

Firsties

Okay, first blog... I guess I could give an update on my life, but the last four years can be summed up pretty easily - pregnant, baby, pregnant, baby, pregnant, baby. Yep, I have three children and the oldest one is three. It's still blowing my mind. Here is a picture of my darlings. Eliza ( the youngest) wasn't really feeling it. To be honest, she never really does. She may be in pre-school before we get a decent picture of her.

Right now I am consumed with a major smocking project. I decided last week that I was going to smock their Easter dresses. What's the point of having three girls if you aren't going to dress them alike, am I right people? Anyhoo, since I haven't really smocked a whole lot, I ended up picking a pretty complicated pattern (or "plate" in smock-speak). I should probably just go buy the Easter dresses, but I am stubbornly forging ahead with my plan. I'll let you know how it goes!

In other news, those of you who know of the battle my mother has faced will be happy to know that she is doing fantastic. She will never be cancer free, but she is chemo and radiation free for the time being. And she has the sassiest wig! Thanks for the prayers!

Well, I don't really want my first blog to be unbearably long so I will sign off with a few more pictures of the girls. God bless!

Maddie Eliza Sophie