Archive
Smocking
Tutorial: Designing Smocking Plates in Illustrator Pt 1
Posted by Claire on Feb 11 2011
This tutorial is designed to allow smockers to create their own smocking graphs in Adobe Illustrator. It’s what I use to create the free vintage plates I offer here on my blog, like the one here and which I use to design many of my magazine projects, too. Pretty, no? Why Illustrator? Well, there is […]
WIP: Gail Doane’s Eloise
Posted by Claire on Aug 05 2010
I mentioned in an earlier post that I’m working on a version of Gail Doane’s exquisite smocked wool dress, Eloise, from AS&E 87. I don’t usually succumb to buyer’s lust. I try very hard to be controlled in my stash building, especially when it comes to ‘wanna-sews’. There aren’t enough hours in the day and […]
Book Review: Simplified Smocking by Helena Buehler
Posted by Claire on Jul 23 2010
I picked up this interesting book, “Simplified Smocking” by Helena Buehler from Abebooks last year for a song. My copy was published in 1916; I’ve since since re-prints issued by several online sellers on Ebay and Etsy. This book is notable because while several of my Victorian-era embroidery books mention smocking among other techniques, it […]
It’s All About Me!
Posted by Claire on Jul 22 2010
After a mammoth couple of months of ‘business’ sewing, including five Christmas/winter articles, a Valentine’s Day cross-stitch and more, I’m finally taking a bit of a break from ‘gotta-dos’ to sew some ‘wanna-dos’. Last night, I cut out the lining for my Ottobre raincoat. Yes, yes, I know it’s taken me until now to get […]
Do You Know This Man?
Posted by Claire on Jul 13 2010
It’s been a very hot few weeks in Ontario and while it eased a little over the weekend, according to our weatherman, we’re once again due for a nice mix of mugginess and thunderstorms. So, given all this heat and stickiness, what am I working on? Something cool and seasonal? Hardly. Guess: This is an […]