DIY Smocked Top Made from 3 Rectangles of Fabric! (Ultimate SLOW FASHION)

How to make a puff-sleeve top using smocking techniques (from 3 rectangles of fabric)! Shop LDH Scissors: ldhscissors.com?bg_ref=Ol3q8HPRD7
Shop my sewing patterns: www.roseryapparel.com/shop
What I'm wearing: • DIY Babydoll Dress | M...
Things mentioned:
How to smock fabric video: • How to Smock Fabric - ...
Fabric I used: Vintage bedsheet
DMC Cotton: amzn.to/3EhcJHZ *
LDH Scissors: ldhscissors.com?bg_ref=Ol3q8HPRD7 *
LDH thread Snips: bit.ly/3tkHNRL
LDH Imperial Scissors: bit.ly/3fVvTuK
Shirring elastic: amzn.to/3EtTwnt *
My Instagram: / roseryapparel
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:58 Smocking the sleeves
10:18 Making the top
13:14 Attaching the sleeves
13:58 How does it look?
Equipment Used:
Camera: Canon G7X ii
Sewing machine: Brother FS101 (gifted)
Overlocker/Serger: Singer 14sh644
My fabric scissors: ldhscissors.com?bg_ref=Ol3q8HPRD7 *
Where to find me:
+ Shop: www.roseryapparel.com/shop
+ Instagram: / roseryapparel
+ Twitter: / roseryapparel​​​
* Affiliate Link. This means that if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive a small percentage of your purchase (at no extra cost to you).
Disclaimer: This video was sponsored by LDH Scissors.

[@karenstimson2683]

This is absolutely adorable! Just one suggestion--if before you smock the sleeves you at least fold and press the hems while the fabric is still unpleated, I think this might make it easier to then sew the finished sleeve hems after the smocking is done. This has to be one of your most amazing projects--I absolutely love it!

[@kray3883]

Yesss, this was my thought, too, since it's just rectangles you're not going to be changing the shape when you hem so do the hemming flat. You can even do all the shirring flat. Sleeves: hem, pleat, smock, seam. Body: hem, shirr, seam. Then attach the pieces.

[@NoOne-bp2jw]

Definitely want to hem sleeve before smocking.

[@susankidd9963]

Your sewing gets more beautiful with every garment.

[@selinasalgado6280]

This top is so stunning! I love when you share your new interests with us (quilting, smocking, etc)! It inspires me to try new crafts too 😊

[@RoseryApparel]

Thank you! I’m soo in love with it 😍

[@foreveragox]

I aspire to have the same level of patience and commitment as you when it comes to sewing. It's my biggest downfall and leads to so many mistakes. This project was totally worth it! It looks stunning on you and fits your style perfectly 🥰

[@lizw5587]

I used to be so impatient too. I learned to thread mark recently. It takes up at least half of my sewing time depending on the project

[@noahellinsonbaker6833]

That smocking on the sleves and shiring is so stunning and beautiful, such a statment and music to my ears hearing those scissors.

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

Those cuffs are stunning!

[@RoseryApparel]

Thank you! 🧡🧡

[@bridmcgrath3606]

When the sewing queen uploads. Thank u for giving all ur information for free. All ur hard work u put into videos doesn't go unnoticed. Thank u again. Bríd💜🖤💜

[@RoseryApparel]

Ahh thank you so much for this lovely comment!! It really means a lot 🧡 xx

[@annebrown886]

Absolutely lovely Janelle. Living in the UK we’re well into the Autumn and short daylight hours, this is an ideal project for the longer nights ahead, a great idea ✂️🧵🪡💕

[@katrinalevin4064]

What a lovely top for summer. The smocking detail is so special.

[@corinnefreret8026]

Oh soooo cute and inspiring🤩🤩

[@ksecombe]

Beautiful janelle

[@wolfgangshuman]

Absolutely gorgeous Janelle 💕😎

[@patbuegeler7770]

What a fun Looking blouse. Great job.

[@monical.3892]

That dress is so perfect!!! You have such an eye for picking the best colors😊

[@messymia2899]

It’s Beautiful!! I made need to give smocking a try. Maybe after the holidays when things slow down. Definitely something to ponder.

[@ginaburgess9759]

A beautiful make. It would be lovely as a dress too.

[@monikadonnelly7105]

Love, love, love! You picked the perfect fabric, the perfect embroidery thread colours and smocking pattern. Now, you'll have to try some smocking in another area on a pretty dress and show us that, too!

[@RoseryApparel]

For sure! I feel like this is just the beginning of my smocking journey 😍

[@kaytiej8311]

Well done on teaching yourself this incredibly detailed skill. And so worth it for the outcome! Beautiful work!

[@NatalieMadeThis]

yeeeaaaas! this is my favourite thing you've ever made so bloody cute and I looove the slow slow fashion emphasis

[@moutainbells3906]

Wow that hand embroidered smocking is stunning! Also, I love the new music in your videos. The vibe matches your videos better.

[@mrsx8819]

The patience and hardwork you put on every dress is wonderful!!! You motivate me to create one! Love from PH

[@carolyngrotaers4454]

Looks beautiful, Janelle. 😍 You will wear this a lot. 😀

[@RoseryApparel]

Thank you so much! I’m obsessed 😍

[@pavlal.4552]

You are really skilled, this looks amazing.

[@NancyNeedhima]

You are so inspiring, Janelle 😊 Thank you for the videos 😊 I am glad your channel got my attention.

[@VG-cz7yg]

Brilliant top.

[@lianapalumbo8457]

You've done an AMAZING job Janelle. The top is gorgeous 😍I smocked dozens of pieces of clothing for my children when they were young. Even my son is make him overalls and pants with smocked waistband and cuffs. I just might have to get my pleater out of retirement 😊 xx

[@carolbarbee5653]

Very cute❤

[@ilnacastelyn6310]

Gorgeous!

[@celestebrown6170]

Absolutely gorgeous ❤

[@patriciaconiglio6717]

Absolutely adorable. Loved seeing the smocking process.

[@alexandra.in.the.garden]

Wow! 🤩 this is art! Such a gorgeous result! 💕

[@MNic13]

This top turned out gorgeous! In love with the smocked sleeves ❤

[@trinesandns4947]

Wow! Amazing job!

[@sharonbrinders1224]

Beautiful and simply stunning Janelle. Well done!!

[@MaryAM-ll1ol]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@eebeegee8325]

Such a gorgeous top! Love the video, thank you so much for sharing!

[@aquietjoy]

I absolutely love this! The top looks gorgeous on and I love the style!

[@vools8621]

Simply exquisite!!! 🥰

[@hannahbuciu9160]

What a gorgeous and unique top! ☺️

[@lynette.]

Your smocking is beautifully done.

[@theresachucle5362]

Your top came out beautiful 🤩 thank you for sharing your tutorial 😊🧵🪡🤗🤩

[@thaisaykroyd5113]

This top fits so well with your aesthetic! I can see you wearing it a lot this summer.

[@lorrainedash3045]

Gorgeous top Janelle. I would love to see another one of those tops with a gathered skirt. Stunning.

[@beatrizgaddini]

Thank you so very much. I a 24 yeard old visual arts bachelor that have shifted life towards helping others thru physiotherapy. I'm in the beggining of physiotherapy college and my mom (who is 61) have just found out she needs catheterism and possibly another cardiac type surgery. That slow, slow fashion sewing and embroidering by hand... I need that. Thank you.

[@scythian6829]

I'm in love!! Will definitely give this a try, I love how you did the sleeves. So much work but absolutely worth it.

[@cathytarapacz]

It’s amazing janelle

[@RoseryApparel]

Thanks Cathy x

[@bec5250]

This is just beautiful, and it really suits you.

[@bridgetisadreamer]

Wow!! What a cool technique! Your eye for colour is so on point :3

[@luzvidot5725]

So beautiful. I'm going to make one. Your videos are wonderful.

[@vikkibendle1749]

Just looks lovely and you explain so well….I’m still trying to make dresses so I won’t be smocking anytime soon…but lovely to watch…

[@olivers333]

WOW it’s so beautiful!!! That’s a long time to be smocking but SO worth it. It looks so sweet. I can see it being therapeutic, for sure. Haha I’m in 40’s and we used to wear “boob tubes” in the summer, which IS your bodice piece.. love it! Those sleeves are totally the best so far for me lol ❤️❤️❤️🌸🌸🌸❤️❤️❤️

[@Muccasbronza]

It's so beautiful! ❤

[@mariluanaa.718]

Beautiful 😍

[@kyladeedesigns]

Thankyou. What a great top. I think this would be perfect for me to make for my 23 year old daughter for an Xmas pressie. She has got to the age where she has no wants for presents and I know she would love this style . Best bit is I already smock for my younger children. x Thankyou for the idea x

[@alexisrushlow9036]

Toronto!! That’s where I live I am running to buy these

[@lorrainewhiting1267]

Just beautiful

[@bigsmellbad1187]

Your mind is sooooo beautiful bestie. Obsessed with the embroidery

[@moyralouise7123]

Beautiful ❤

[@cindypeterson1629]

Oh my goodness that is so incredibly beautiful you did a great job!

[@RoseryApparel]

Thanks Cindy 🧡

[@bhartikapadia9592]

I like your tutorial. Fantasticks. I will try to sew top with smoking stitch.

[@fuzzles93]

Beautiful it looks so fun to do

[@dacrayzblaze1]

man I have wanted to do smocking for a long time!!! and you're reminding me why! it is beautiful! Also now I think I want to start including embroidery in my makes. Like in the yokes and stuff.

[@RoseryApparel]

Do it! It makes for such a special garment 😍

[@dacrayzblaze1]

@@RoseryApparel I mostly wear my hand made clothes these days so this would really elevate them further

[@Becuador7]

Your videos are always sooo inspiring - your quilting video this summer inspired me to finally dig into my quilting pattern stash and go for it, and now I love it. This video is inspiring me to learn smocking - so cute and whimsical!

[@RoseryApparel]

Yay I love hearing this! 🧡

[@amritkaur1571]

Fantastic

[@marathorne6821]

It is SO cute, Janelle! I am in awe of your creativity. I have recently mastered shirring, and that's fun, but I am pretty sure that I shall never have the patience to try smocking... 🤷‍♀️

[@BlijVrouw]

Omfg that's so pretty.

[@yougotmeinstitches1847]

Haya. WOW, so super adorable 💙I 'need' 1 in my life. The smocking is just soooo pretty 💙Thanku 'sew' much for sharing. xx 🪡🧵

[@taniaferreira3790]

This must be the most wonderful channel in the KZbin. Such an amazing job Janelle, congratulations ❤

[@RoseryApparel]

Aw thank you!! That means so much to me 🧡🧡

[@ZarishTaylor]

Amazing

[@sanajamal3166]

Very nice ♥️

[@imamonstr]

I'm totally inspired ! I was gifted a pleater machine and might use it to make my first smocked top. I'm thinking an awesome Christmas themed top !

[@RoseryApparel]

Ooh have fun!! It’s such a relaxing craft 😍

[@Sandy.Lourenco]

You are very talented. Wish i could make projets like those 🤍

[@RoseryApparel]

Thanks lovely! It looks very impressive but is actually a lot easier then you’d think 😄

[@sefergumus3141]

Çok merak ettigim bir şeydi nasil yapilicağini anlatmişsiniz çok da güzel renkler kullanmişsiniz elbise için .Türkiyeden selamlar👋🏻

[@lfuentes4098]

Very cute. If you want to remove some of the excess fabric in the underarm area you can cut out half a U shape out of each rectangle. If I can find a tutorial I will post it here. But maybe you can do that version of the peasant top in the future.😊

[@BellaVCruzz]

Could you please share the link 😭, I have way too much excess fabric. Thank you!

[@annicerader6021]

This helps when you're doing your shirring, if the shirring is wavy 〰️ this means the tension is off. Adjust the setting until it is a straight line. Have fun.

[@Macacihna]

Beautiful! Would you adjust the shirring pattern for a larger size or larger bust? Or would it work just as it is?

[@susanac5869]

😍

[@SaraNyaannyan]

Soo pretty 🥰 shirring scares me but I like the look of it 😢 also I don’t have a steam iron so I don’t know how I would shrink it 🤔

[@emilytaylor8527]

You can shrink it in the tumble dryer! Just make sure you pick fabric that is okay to go in the dryer

[@janyreboux8701]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@maureencullen1008]

Your top is lovely and the sleeves look so special. An excellent tutorial. Would it be possible to hem the sleeves and prepare the channel at the top of the sleeve before smocking?Also.would it be possible to mark out the lines for smocking on the body of the top before sewing up?

[@RoseryApparel]

You can, but once you stitch the sleeve together (once the smocking is done) it might close the casing for the elastic. I found hemming the sleeve afterwards gave a much nicer finish. And yes, you can mark out the lines for the shirring on the body of the top as well 😊

[@HandyHandwork]

very nice design, love it so much!!!May I know how many fabric did you use for this top? e.g 1m? Thank! and also how many fabirc did you use for the vintage midi and maxi dress? i am wondering how many fabric i need to buy..Thanks a lot!

[@celestekimball4571]

Are we doubling the sleeve cuff length before smocking? How do you figure out what starting length is to finish with something that fits my arm?

[@audreyhanson1921]

I have been wanting to make a project just like this, and wasn't sure how. Thank you! Now I can get to it! One question, I have heard people mention "back smocking" their projects to keep the smocking from stretching out. What are your thoughts? Is this top holding up fine without it?

[@RoseryApparel]

You’re welcome! It’s holding up perfectly so far! This tutorial is designed to have the smocking stretch out a little bit anyway and I also find steaming it with my iron shrinks the smocking back slightly too 😊

[@risenqueen7751]

So the x3 was to account for the smocking?

[@mirandaherselman3315]

beautiful, but I do have a question - is the smocking bit on the sleeve "stretchy" at all (from all the pleets)? or is it effectively like a normal stitch , with no stretch?

[@RoseryApparel]

Yes, the stitching makes the fabric stretchy! It’s like magic 😍

[@theemylya]

So stunning! I am already planning to make my own version of this. Roughly how many DMC thread spools have you used for the entire project ???

[@RoseryApparel]

Thank you! I bought heaps thinking it would take a lot but ended up only using one of each colour for the whole project (it depends on your size though) 😊

[@theemylya]

@@RoseryApparel Thank you so much for your reply! I have roughly the same measurements as in the video , so this is really helpful 🙏

[@victoriajordan7793]

Keeping my fingers crossed that you see this one, Janelle-- this top is so lovely! I've decided to give it a go and I'm currently working on the smocking. I have a question about the size of the sleeve-- is it possible to pull the folds too close together? Your sleeve looks pretty small while working on the embroidered detail so I'm hoping it stretches out a bit when the blue threads are pulled out. I ended up pulling the first sleeve so tightly that it's measuring about 8 inches right now, while my initial measurement was 11. Hoping it ends up all right but even if I have to start over on that, I'm totally down to do so :)

[@RoseryApparel]

Yes I completely forgot to explain this in the video! The stitching makes the fabric stretchy and once the holding stitches are removed the circumference of the sleeve is a lot larger 😊

[@victoriajordan7793]

@@RoseryApparel thanks so much!

[@mailboxmatty]

I may have missed this in the video, but when you gather all the stitches before you start the smocking, does it have to match the arm length that was originally measured? It doesn’t look like the smocked parts can stretch so I’m afraid of gathering it down too far and it not fitting

[@RoseryApparel]

When actually doing the smocking, the pleats are tightly pressed together because of the blue threads - meaning it will be a lot smaller then your arm measurement while smocking. Once you’ve finished and the blue threads have been removed, the smocking stitches make the fabric stretchy (similar to the shirring) and the sleeve will sit comfortably around your arm 😊

[@BellaVCruzz]

Hi Janelle! I’m doing something terribly wrong, I measured my sleeves but the finished smocking/ ruching doesn’t quite reach the circumference of my arm. It’s roughly similar to yours. What am I missing? Thank you! I absolutely love this tutorial.

[@RoseryApparel]

Hi there! Have you removed the gathering threads? Before they are removed, the circumference will be a lot smaller than your arm, but after they are removed the smocking stitches will make the fabric stretchy 😊

[@lindasevers5109]

I'd LOVE to make this top but I'm late middle-aged so need to cover the abdomen. How could I lengthen it? Just make the body piece rectangle longer and only smock the bust portion?

[@RoseryApparel]

Yes that exactly what I would do if you’d like it longer! Will create a cute peplum look 😍

[@Jmlugo]

My only question is when you pull the threads how tight do you go? To the actual wdith of the final sleeve?

[@RoseryApparel]

I went pretty much as tight as it would go! Once the threads are removed the finished smocking wont be as tight and will have a nice amount of stretch 😊

[@motherofachaosorganiser]

How would you make it if toy want the back to be closed

[@charlie.wildflower]

Maybe a silly question.. but is the smocking on the sleeves stretchy even without elastic?

[@RoseryApparel]

Not a silly question at all! Yes, it magically makes the fabric stretchy! (I explained it in my ‘how to smock’ video, but completely forgot to mention it in this one too) x

[@YarrowNjune]

Janelle, what size of elastic is it? I can't find anything that would fit my bobbin

[@YarrowNjune]

@@mrsr559 we don't have it, this is why I need the size. I asked many times for shirring elastic and never found it

[@RoseryApparel]

Here is a link to the shirring elastic I use: amzn.to/3EtTwnt 😊

[@YarrowNjune]

@@RoseryApparel thank you! I should be able to find it with the size now

[@niurkitapena1085]

It’s beautiful but too far and can’t see how you made the pattern

[@BlijVrouw]

"30 hours to complete" ... No one: Me: Laugh/crying in two months to knit a nice sweater. 😔 Clearly I need to learn how to sew.