Best way to sew a smocked bishop together | No shoulder seams | No broken needles | No frustration

[@saltlifegull4091]

More,more more - help with little boy outfits. Great videos, Sarah!

[@scotishcovenanters]

Wow!!! I love watching this. I keep watching your channel even though I only embroider basic simple stitches on linen. Love to see these precious little dresses you make!

[@thutrinhvo]

scottishcovenanters you can tell me the place was sell that machine???

[@esscee54]

Thankyou so much for this great technique. Certainly will try it for my next project as those seams can cause a problem.

[@kamcjenkin]

Thank you, Sarah for this video! It was a great learning experience to smock without breaking needles, which happens to me all the time and is frustrating! Great explanations and love all your videos. One comment I will make is that I should have reversed the fabric (right side down) when smocking because it caused me to have to create seams on the right side of bishop. I've been sewing and smocking for many, many years and I should have known better! Most of the batiste fabrics can be smocked on either side and it's fine; but I was using a small cloud fabric and now have the (small) french seams on the outside. But I'll just smock over them and try to cover them up! But it was a great learning experience and I'll know for the future. Thank you for all your friendly advice, too!

[@TheMaggieMia]

I am learning so much, I smocked years ago for my daughter and her dolls, back when it was dots and gather by hand. I now own a pleater and will be having a lot of fun with doll dresses!

[@donnasisk6291]

Sarah, just wanted to say thanks for this tutorial. I’m on my second bishop using this method & you r so right it’s a game changer. Love how much cleaner the seams look & it’s not that hard!! Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate what you do!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

You are too sweet, thanks so much :-)

[@middlechild6956]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have broken so many needles that are so expensive to replace! I never thought of assembling the Bishop dress this way, but it’s a great idea. Enjoy your channel!

[@lindalennard9497]

Duh! What a great idea! I despise pleating just because of having to deal with seams. Genius!!

[@sagitteaius]

So glad to have found your channel! Thank you for sharing your skills and tips with us!:)

[@mmcgee5449]

Thank you Sarah for your videos and help with my first project, a baby bishop dress. It was way more challenging than I anticipated! Your advice and inputs were so helpful!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

aww my pleasure! thanks so much!

[@wendywhelan7374]

I’m giving this a try with my granddaughter’s Christmas dress. Thanks!

[@lindanelson360]

I just tried this technique but with two sides of a button front. It worked so well, now I can smock two sides at once.

[@shamaal-hajri2176]

Such a lovley channel god bless u and ur family and your AMAZING work 😍❤

[@Kat-Crox]

Just tried this - super easy! Thank you!

[@heathermiller6885]

Hi Sarah! What a genius method. Question though - how does this work with cc bishop view B with the continuous back placket? I can’t figure this out since there’s only one back piece. Thank you!

[@patriciaswaim5133]

omg genius! this will be my new way for bishop

[@satyavanid2753]

Hi Sarah.. I am from India. Is this pleater machine available online. You are doing a great job 😊

[@UtahGmaw99]

Great idea! This looks a lot easier than I thought!

[@susanmcalister3557]

I love using this technique for pleating a bishop dress. Is it possible to use this pleating technique when pleating a bishop with a collar overlay? The finished look would have the smocking stitched on the wide lace insertion.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

hmm that's a good question. it seems like it would work, and then you could join the collar overlay and your bishop fabric into the same seams. not sure what you mean by the smocking on the insertion lace, I just can't picture it...

[@margaretbambuy6160]

How can u block it as normal when the pleating threads r not attached to each other but loose at the ends of the different pieces.

[@aletcloete6910]

Beautiful

[@roxiemullinix6551]

You’re so sweet to help me. When I hand pleat, the threads are on the wrong side of the fabric. So if I put right sides together the threads cross over the seam and in the way of stitching by machine. What am I doing wrong?

[@roxiemullinix6551]

I finally figured it out. I brought out the threads on the right side of the fabric. Works great now.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

ha, sorry, but glad you got it ;-)

[@chrisb5391]

Another great video and tutorial! Thanks for sharing. Peace and blessings.

[@pegballou9629]

Where do you get your Bishop pattern?

[@theresalatham3954]

I’m not sure I’m understanding correctly. Are all the pieces smocked together or separately?

[@mynameisboola]

Where to get this gadget from?

[@roxiemullinix6551]

Wow! Thank you for your quick sweet reply. But I need to ask one more thing. So when smocking by dots I skip over the seam allowances. Does that mean that on each of my 7 rows, I run one piece of thread through all 5 pattern pieces, and leave thread hanging between each detached pattern piece? If so, do you suggest that I thread 2 pieces first and leave extra thread for the additional pieces? Or thread all 5 pieces at the same time? Yea, I know I need a pleater, but this is my first smocking project. Yea, I know, that was a stupid project to pick for the first time, (but I’ve been sewing for 40+ years) plus I picked a striped seersucker.😢. I’ve torn this dress apart and rethreaded it twice. Now it’s just torn apart again. I don’t know if the stripes will match up on the top of the pleats if I do this. One more try, and then if it doesn’t work out, I’m going to use a solid color and save this material for something more simple. I watched your video on sewing a bishop dress probably 10 times. It’s great and I love your “hot mess” comments. But if you ever redo that video, please suggest watching this video also, before you start sewing.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

hey there, no worries at all... you can do this. actually, something with a strip is better pleated by hand imo. this video may help connect the dots for you on how this is going to work kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4C5qoFtiNOpnKs. yes, you can put a knot at the end of your thread for good measure. it will be one thread per row, taking that one thread per row over the seam allowances and connecting all your pieces. this video may also help as well kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIekd4uVg9Kir80. let me know if you have any other questions :-) i'm more than happy to walk you through, you'll get it!

[@roxiemullinix6551]

Sarah Classic Sewing When I put right sides together and pull my threads the threads are over the seam allowance. What am I doing wrong?

[@carolstephen1378]

Ok, I'm confused. I get the pattern pieces and pleating the first one. At 1:35, I believe you have taken off the first back piece, but the needles are no longer threaded, so I know you said the pieces are all pleated with one continuous piece of thread, but it looks to me that since they aren't threaded at this point, that they have been cut. Can you help me understand? Thanks!!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

So none of the threads are cut... it is one continuous piece of thread for each row of pleating. So I run the first pattern piece through the pleater, and then take that piece of fabric off my needles. Then I remove about 1/2" or so (enough for seam allowance) of the threads from the fabric. Next I start to run my next piece of fabric through the pleater with no threads on the needles... again, this is going to be seam allowance. After about 1/2" passes through, then I rethread my pleater using those same threads. Be careful to make sure you thread them in the correct order lol ;-) Keep repeating that for all your pieces and there you have it... hope that clears things up. It might be helpful if you try it out on small scrap of fabric and you'll see what I mean with the whole seam allowances. Using this method, you pleat your entire garment before sewing those shoulder seams, so that means you don't have any bulk in your pleats at the shoulder seams since they haven't been sewn yet. It's a little time-consuming, but I think the end result is so worth it.

[@carolstephen1378]

@@sarahclassicsewing So...when you originally take the 1st piece off, you pull enough thread through the needles that you have enough for all the pieces? I think I get it now. Thank you so much.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

I just pull out enough so I don't lose my threads... say like ten inches or so. You'll have the opportunity to pull out more thread length as you go along continuing to pleat the rest of the pieces.

[@mamititamunoz3175]

Me interesa una maquina para smok como la puedo comprar

[@vickirushing8298]

Is it possible to pleat the entire bishop without unthreading the needles. Leaving plenty of thread in between each piece? ( I have cataracts and threading needing is difficult). Love the idea of this method. Also, pull pleats together taught to sew seams and THEN put on sizing board?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

yes, the traditional way to pleat a bishop is to sew the shoulder seams first, and then run the entire bishop through the pleater. this method avoids the shoulder seam bump and chance of breaking a needle. but the traditional way is better since you don't have to unthread/rethread, as you pointed out. pros and cons to both :-) and yes, if you go this route, you'll pull the pleating threads out of the way, sew the shoulder seams, and then block on the board. oh... and if you go the traditional route of sewing the shoulder seams and then pleating, you can pleat multiple bishops at once... I've done that before (that's what the thumbnail is actually).

[@ooo2963]

Great video ! Thank you so much ! So helpful 😊

[@alidalloyd2996]

Hello Sarah, please let me know what weight of pearl cotton you recommend for smocking instead of the regular embroidery thread, thanks

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey there Alida, I like size 10 for larger babies/little toddlers and save size 12 for children. Thanks.

[@ivajankolova9963]

Hi Sarah :-) rhank you very much for all your videos,they are extremely helpful.I would like to ask-I have noticed you used gathering threads in half way distance in upper part (nearer collar).Is it on purpose to make it easier when you embroider afterwards (using it as guiding lines)..?Thank you very much.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Love to hear that the videos are helpful :-) Okay yes, the top thread is a pleating thread. It's kinda extra since it's purpose is to "hold" the pleats together while you sew the neck binding on to the pleated fabric. I hope that makes sense... I plan on doing an updated pleating video here soon. :-)

[@ivajankolova9963]

Hi Sarah :-) thank you very much for your reply.I know about upper and bottom gathering threads as extra-they are used as help (not to be smocked).But in this video( the pink flannel bishop you were pleating) -you have four upper pleats half size and following four pleats full space size.So I was asking the purpose of it-is it because of fabric (as it would have more stability in upper part) or is it for smocking...?Thank you very much Sarah :-) hope Im not confusing you :-) .

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Oh those threads... that's just because I want to smock along there for my smocking design. They aren't needed for stability :-)

[@ivajankolova9963]

Thats what I thought-I was asking it in the first question If you are using those threads as guiding lines for your embroidery.Thank you sooooo much Sarah :-) you are a Star ! :-)

[@iluminadalozada-ortiz8883]

Great idea 👍Gracias

[@dianagray2906]

Hi Sarah, Thanks for the lovely informative videos. I am from South Africa and I am battling to find the bishop collar smock and block guide here locally, where did you buy your smock block guide?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Thanks so much. Everything should be linked in the description box. I buy from farmhousefabrics.com and they do ship internationally.

[@jennyyahaya7605]

Lovee yr channel alot.Pls,can you give me the link to the pleating machine...thanks.😍😘💋❤

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Thanks so much. I bought my pleater (the Amanda Jane model) a few years back off craigslist. Amanda Jane is no longer being produced, but farmhouse is selling a few variations of the read pleater. here is one shop.farmhousefabrics.com/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details_side.asp?Shopper_id=4718124106364718&Store_id=198&page_id=23&Item_ID=39567&Name=MAXI-Read-Pleater,-24-Row-with-Half-CM-Spacing-(8-7-17)

[@jennyyahaya7605]

Sarah Classic Sewing Thank you,for yr quick response,thank you for the link,i will check it out....😊😍.God bless you...😘💋❤😊😍

[@leoniestovall1307]

I need to know where I can get the pattern for this smocked dress with the angel sleeves. I have gone to the website you noted and can’t find it. Please let me know if I can buy a pattern anywhere. Thank you, Leonie

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey there, sorry you were having trouble. It should be in the description box, but here you go bit.ly/2JShkHo happy sewing! :-)

[@roxiemullinix6551]

Can you use this technique if you use smocking dots? How?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Yes, sure can... just skip over the seam allowances

[@patriciaswaim5133]

ive use this technique and it was great. thanks! now if i wanted to do the bishop with a front closure, does that require a specific pattern or can " reversing" the pattern pieces do the trick

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Wonderful to hear :-) And to answer your question, kinda both. The pattern should be cut for a front closure (or you could just add some space for the facing to your current pattern if that makes sense) and you'll instead order your pieces through the pleater as front right, right sleeve, back, left sleeve, and front left (so yes, "reversing"). Hope that makes sense :-)

[@patriciaswaim5133]

it does make sense . thanks for your quick response! keep making videos girl-- we all could benefit !

[@janiewerner]

Hey Sarah! When you are blocking your neckline into a circle, your pleating threads are in 4 different sections, as opposed to long, continuous threads...right? If i am correct, do you have any tips for controlling the pleating threads while shaping?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey Janie, nope... that's the beauty of this method, all the pleating threads are continuous. You are simply taking the threads on and off the needle as you feed your pieces of fabric through. But you never cut the threads, so they stay continuous. After you sew the shoulder seams once the pleating is done, the blocking is the same process as what you're used to.

[@joelsea1160]

@@sarahclassicsewing I hope this gets to you, even though the original reply was three years ago... I am confused about this step also. After you pleat the first section, you remove it from the pleater so you can pick out the threads by the seam allowance. Don't you have to cut the threads at this point? Do you just pull out a super long amount of thread so you can rethread the needles and have enough to go around all the pieces? I love the idea of no seams through the pleater, but I just don't understand how to make the pleating threads continuous across all the pieces.

[@janiewerner]

A question..... when you run your first piece through pleater, and pull it off your needles, do you pull out for LONG extended threads? This is where my confusion comes in.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Just the normal length I guess... ten or twelve inches. I don't care for the ends to be massively long since they just get in the way, but that's my preference. At the very end, I'll pull out more so I have enough to work with when blocking. Maybe you should do a test run with small amounts of fabric... I'm thinking you are overthinking it. :-) Let me know how it goes.

[@caterinawhitwell3880]

Hi Sarah. May I ask where you got your pleat threader....the acrylic box your pleater is sitting on? Thank you.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey there, it's this box here. Then I used a soldering iron to put the holes in the top. amzn.to/2G51aol

[@caterinawhitwell3880]

Wow. Easy enough. Thank you so much for your reply.

[@roxiemullinix6551]

What about the arm hole? Won’t they have to be adjusted?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

no, it's the same as doing a french seam first and then pleating

[@LR-fz5us]

Please i want to buy a blocking board but i cant find one please help

[@sarahclassicsewing]

here you go bit.ly/3iisbrr

[@MariadeFatima-yi5no]

Sarah não entendo inglês e gostaria de fazer vestidinho para minha neta. Aqui em Aracaju não têm a revista e o gráfico de ajuste do smock e o papel pontilhado para fazer o franzido. Caso possa me oriente.

[@ramadevithondapu7237]

Thank you madam. What is that rolling mechaine

[@beesan7478]

its a pleater machine which pleats the material to do smocking stitches.

[@razanreda7906]

This machine from where please?? I need one ☝️

[@donnasisk6291]

I looked for this flannel on Farmhouse fabrics but they have lots of flannel. Can you specify which one you used? Thanks

[@sarahclassicsewing]

There's a link in the description box... bit.ly/2jODzk3. Their super-fine flannel is my favorite.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Oh, the link is for their pink flannel, but they have other super-fine colors available.

[@donnasisk6291]

Thank you so much! Can’t wait to try this method for my granddaughter ‘s 1st birthday dress! Love all your videos! Many thanks

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Of course, hope you love it :-) Happy 1st birthday to your granddaughter.

[@wzrdreams]

What is a "bishop"? I've never heard that term except in reference to a sleeve shape, but I don't think that applies here.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

oh yeah, I know what you mean with that sleeve. so a bishop used here is this style of smocked dress. it's smocked all the way around the neckline.

[@whitneymcpherson4613]

Trying to find a way to message you but I can’t figure out how. Do you have any videos on attaching gathered heirloom lace to a collar without entredeux? This is my first heirloom project and my sewing store is closed. Any help would be appreciated!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Attached to a Peter pan collar or just a neckline? Or round collar?

[@whitneymcpherson4613]

Peter Pan collar on the outside edge.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

I dont think i have any videos, but if the peter pan collar is lined, then i would place the lace right sides together with one of the peter pan collar, gathering the lace so it can go around the curve of the collar. And i would place the lace at the seam allowance for your collar, pin in place, and straight stitch into the header. Then put the lining of the collar right sides together with that, and stitch over those previous stitches. Turn your collar right sides out and voila 😘 basically like pipping except you need to gather the lace at least around thr curved areas of the collar so the lace isnt stretched out. If your peter pan collar isnt lined, again gather around the curved areas of the collar and place right sides together, and then zigzag over top. The zigzag should roll your fabric up intoa nice neat bundle. Hope that helps 💕

[@whitneymcpherson4613]

You’re the best!! Thanks so much. Love your tutorials!!! 😘

[@mmcgee5449]

I am sewing a baby bishop dress and I am confused. The sleeves are curved at the bottom edge. How do I pleat a curved edge?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

The bottom edge of the sleeve should be straight for a smocked option. What pattern are you using?

[@mmcgee5449]

Sarah Classic Sewing it is the Grace L. Knott baby bishop 18 month size.

[@mmcgee5449]

@@sarahclassicsewing I am using the Grace L Knott Baby Bishop Dress pattern (18 months)

[@sarahclassicsewing]

I don't have that one in my collection, but I have the grace knotts smocked daygown and the bottom of the smocked sleeves are straight. I would just make it straight for your project.

[@mmcgee5449]

Sarah Classic Sewing Thank you, Sarah, I’ll give it a try!

[@elenagallo7143]

Eu estou na mão, não tenho a maquina mas tenho muita vontade de comprar. Qual o centímetros que devo por para ficar perfeito

[@sarahclassicsewing]

about 3/16" for half spaces and 3/8" for whole spaces = cerca de 3/16 "para meios espaços e 3/8" para espaços inteiros

[@elenagallo7143]

@@sarahclassicsewing muito obrigada.

[@satyamchouhan6989]

Is this machine available at online

[@sarahclassicsewing]

It's a smocking pleater, bit.ly/2uE0zWe. Thanks

[@satyamchouhan6989]

Nd whats the of machine

[@theresalatham3954]

Why can’t I find her notes?

[@esthersmith4357]

I followed the instructions on your video but as you know long is wrong so I had to pleat my bishop with the right side down. The problem is that my seams were all on the right side of the bishop and I don’t know how to go about fixing it. All the seamless thread is on the back. This is my third try and I’m tired of threading needles (15 needles time 5 ,times 3 times is a lot of threading) if you have a solution for me that doesn’t involve redoing it I would greatly appreciate it. I love your video, I watch them just about every day. Please help.(if there’s an easy solution). Thanks ( by the way your children are beautiful)

[@sarahclassicsewing]

hey there, i'm so sorry, but I did the wrong side facing up about a week ago and realized my mistake. you are right, the fabric must facing up in order to do this. I'm really sorry about that :-/

[@esthersmith4357]

@@sarahclassicsewing how can I fix it with having to take it apart for the forth time?

[@janiewerner]

😳didnt you say you are trained as an engineer? I can tell. I tried this a few years ago and created a mess...but your directions are more thorough, so i will try again.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Thanks Janie. Yeah, I have a degree in mechanical engineering, but it's just a fancy piece of paper... never worked as one after college. Anywho, yes give it a try :-) I hope it goes well for you.

[@lindanelson360]

I love your story about college and ordering your first pleater.

[@dijahitonot]

Amazing the Channel....new fans !

[@fuadfuad3368]

Where from canect this machine. I live in Bangladesh. Please,please, please, ,,,,,,heal me.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

bit.ly/2trcQhT

[@fuadfuad3368]

@@sarahclassicsewing Thanks, ,,

[@ingalinko581]

I am new in this pleating world...😊 Just to verify. You used the same continuous treads to combined front ,back and sleeves than you stitched seams with sewing machine, correct ?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Yupp :-) Welcome to the world of smocking :-D

[@CandaceDallas]

Sarah Classic Sewing thank you, Sarah for this (and all) video and for clarifying here as I had the same confusion. I have a bishop cut out and waiting to pleat. I’m gonna give this method a go.

[@idrissiyabentcheikh3939]

Good

[@rashidfelaifel9001]

I'm beginner , I need your help please❤ I love your work 😍

[@josysilveira941]

Nossa fica lindo

[@nadeenforce4516]

Whats. The name of this machine

[@sarahclassicsewing]

It's a smocking pleater. The brand I have is the Amanda Jane, but there are many different kinds out there. Here's a video that explains more kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYjFoHiedqxjp8U

[@fatitadj5761]

❤❤❤

[@nyansaid1512]

i hope to be like u someday🙏🙏🙏

[@sarahclassicsewing]

You're too generous, thank you :-D

[@لميزلعزيز]

خياطة روب مولود جديد

[@omamani8845]

👌😙

[@mikym2096]

What is the name of the machine pls?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

It's a smocking pleater. This is the Amanda Jane brand, which is no longer in production. Here is a similar one bit.ly/2trcQhT