Do I count my pleats for smocking? | Highly requested video

[@joannem.s.layton7496]

I’m a retired professional who used to make all the tailored suits I wore to work. Now I’ve decided to teach myself heirloom sewing, including smocking. Your videos are fabulous! Especially WITH your little angels in the background! They are blessed to have such a gifted mom. You go girl! Thank you!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

omgosh thank you! welcome! and by all means, add to that conversation on how to do things, I'm always open to better techniques ;-)

[@mlsdesigns]

Just rewatching this video, and getting all inspired! The pinky-coral silk with beads? all over the bodice and sleeves looks intriguing, as does the green silk with the smocked back but embroidered front! I'd love it if you could do a sort of show and tell video of all your collection of garments!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

lol that would be a loong video! i've got hundreds...not sure people would watch, but thank you! the pinky coral silk with beads is something I made for audrey's 2nd nutcracker show... it's silk dupioni with seed beads if I remember correctly, and the green taffeta was an outfit for christmas.

[@onemercilessming1342]

Welcome back. I hope the babies are doing well, and you, too. I did the math for you: 5 / 23--about 22% didn't work out. Less than 1 in 4. Thank you for taking the time to make this video; I enjoy them so much. I just spent a huge hunk of time counting pleats in a pre-smocked insert that I bought (while I continue to find a RELIABLE source for the smocking pleater needles I need to replace). The smocking plate called for 176 pleats. Yes, I counted them--twice--and gave up when I hit 200. So, what did I do? I folded the pre-smocked piece in half and found the center. The closest pleat to the center won the lottery. When I am pleating my OWN fabric, I steam press the shop fold out, measure the fabric (not all of it is 45 inches any more; it's more like 42 - 44 inches when it isn't 35-36 or..well, you get the idea) and then I hand baste a few stitches on the center line of the length of the piece to be pleated. After pleating, the pleat that falls closest to that, wins the center pleat honor. The basting is easily removed when I don't need it any longer. And, BELIEVE ME, I am NOT an expert smocker.

[@janiewerner]

One MercilessMing thats how i do my center pleat!

[@onemercilessming1342]

Janie Werner--Thank you for the moral support. I was awaiting the center pleat police to come a-knocking. I was prepared. I had a pre-pleated insert and a smocking plate all ready for them. (J/K). I know les grandes dames of the heirloom world had rules for all of this (like which end of the embroidery floss is "up"). However, that was their employment and their professional business and, since they did all that for a living, they had TIME (paid for, more or less) to count pleats and wait for floss "bloom". Until I retired, I never had the time. As a single mother and a licensed public school teacher, I never had the luxury of spare time. I was either teaching, grading papers, ferrying my own progeny hither and yon to activities, keeping my credential current, etc. Now that I have the luxury of time, I want to create as much for my children and grandchildren as I can, and counting pleats is, well, BORING. Frankly, unless the plate's pattern has an OBVIOUS center (I have a bishop plate that takes the center four plates to create a front center line with nothing on it but rosebuds down the front and the smocking starts on either side of the rosebuds), your eye is NOT going to develop astigmatism by finding the center pleat by folding instead of counting.

[@ivajankolova9963]

Loving your sense of humor Sarah :-D and you are reading my mind- I consider counting the pleats as loss of time,nobody is gonna noticed anyway.Thank you-you go girl :-) !

[@rosiehinesley1508]

Thanks for your honest answer. Also your demo of the backs. Your are right it will never be seen on a running child. I do love seeing your children in your video's. Happy sewing.

[@janiewerner]

This was a fun video to watch! I loved seeing all your pretties that you have made.

[@jebobarr4091]

I so loved this video. I can remember being in the middle of counting pleats and my husband asking a question. So then I would have to start over. I finally learned I could usually get it to work out if I started in what looked like the middle and smock to the closing. I would have loved to have this video when I was younger.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Ha! I can just picture your face looking up at your husband while you were in the middle of counting pleats. Poor thing! Too funny.

[@jmheirloom794]

Loved seeing all those outfits layed out u have made so many plus

[@vickiclark2222]

Yay! It’s good to see you back. My goodness you have done a lot of smocking! Thank you for the information. I’ve tried to count because that’s what the book or pattern would say but that is hard to do. My little granddaughter’s long hair covers it anyway. You’re family is so beautiful. ❤️

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Yes, exactly, gotta love that pretty baby hair :-)

[@UtahGmaw99]

You are so busy being a good mom. You need more hands sugar. Thank you for all your advice and help.

[@susanmurphree6604]

great news on counting pleats - one question-if a Smocking Plate says to start in the center- ( I guess just mark a center on the fold? ( do you have to start in the center & go to the end & turn it upside down & finish - or does it work as well not to begin in the center ( Geometric Smocking ) ???

[@sarahclassicsewing]

That really depends on the design and your preference. I've done some designs where i start in the middle, and flip for the other side, but then ive done others where i start on one end and im cool with however it lands

[@CarmenCastro-fq1zj]

Quiero en español

[@jenniferwhite1127]

Hi Sarah, your videos are lovely to watch. Have you done any on a smocked sundress? I have just bought a pattern but cant quite fathom the instructions.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Thanks :-) You mean a sundress for women? Yes, and I really want to get into doing more women's dresses... but the time keeps getting away from me. For now I'm focusing on my little ones.

[@babyjenks1784]

On the subject of the smocking not lining up in the back "If it can't be noticed from the back of a galloping horse, don't worry about it!" Also I am curious to know if you had your little boy in the hospital or at home? If you had him at the hospital what did he wear for coming home? I'm having a little boy in late July and want him to have a traditional going home outfit, probably a little bubble since a gown would be hard to strap him into the car seat. I don't think I'll have the time or skill to hand make him an outfit though.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hahaa yess exactly. And I had both of my babies with midwives -- loved both experiences, although Henry was born at the WNC birth center and that was incredibly amazing since they had birthing tubs. But both times I did store-bought onies for the coming home outfits. They are way more practical with the car seat and comfortable for the baby to ride in. Instead, I brought what would've been the coming home outfit and placed our newborn in that for their first photos. And if you want to make him an outfit - go ahead and make it. You have plenty of skill, and more importantly, it'll be special for your family. That should be the focus. Nothing I make is perfect, but I get a lot of joy through the process and seeing my little ones in the garment. Congratulations on your expected bundle xoxo.

[@vickisharpe1]

Is the smoking plate used on the bishop shown in the cover photo available?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

it's something I put together based off a picture on pinterest

[@rebeccashromshrom4227]

Thanks for the video! Now, since you don't count the pleats, do you start your smocking in the middle of the bishop/pleated insert? If you do, do you just eyeball the middle? Or do you just start smocking from the end and work your way to the other end?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Ah good question. It depends on the pattern. If there's a defined middle of the smocking pattern, then I start at the middle pleat (found by eyeballing), and work to each side from there. Otherwise, I just start from one side and smock until I reach the other side.

[@bhanupriya5698]

Your baby so sweet plz take care him......l love him so much

[@dhcherry65]

Oh my....you are just too cute. I am probably the only crazy person lieing on the beach in Ocrocoke NC smocking a bishop and laughing at you right now. And NO. I'm having to much fun smocking and watching the ocean TO COUNT PLEATS.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

hahaaa love this.

[@snehalatha4918]

Hi sarah can i know the measurement of cloth for smocking

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Typically 3x longer than your finished length.

[@janiewerner]

We had a smocking sit in tonight in an attempt to start of saga chapter. Chatter started about you. All was positive. Everyone had nice comments about you!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Ahhh thank you for this. Last night things just keep going wrong with sewing logistics - so frustrating, but it was nice waking up to this, thanks Janie

[@shankzblue]

Omgggg 😱Are you Born for smocking??? Omggg where are you actually??? I have to meet you once in my lifetime.... very creative.. talented women... really 👍🏻 proud of you... are you giving smocking classes??? Please do more and more videos we would love to learn ..

[@sarahclassicsewing]

hahaa thanks so much! i'm in the Asheville area of north Carolina, you? and I plan on doing classes ..someday.

[@geryahobejarano3681]

Muy lindo tu trabajo, y creo que todos tus suscriptores te seguimos para aprender, no para que presumas de lo que has echo 😒 mejor enséñanos a elaborar paso a paso esos hermosos vestidos 😊 saludos desde Costa Rica 👍 Pura Vida!

[@theresamiller7333]

Sarah, I absolutely love your channel! I smocked a few things when my first daughter was born. Unfortunately I let it go when the second third babies came. I’m very excited to start learning again!! What is the name of the smocking plate on the pink bishop dress with pinkish roses in an arch. It is the picture next to this video on your channel. I’ve been looking for that smocking plate and can’t find the it or the name of it anywhere. Thank you for all the wonderful videos!

[@aneebarua7725]

Very nice 👍

[@callicoat1]

Please don’t climb into a chair up and down with a baby strapped to you. I know you are young and strong but just error on the side of caution! I love your videos and you are probably the best seamstress and smocker I have seen. Is smocker a word?

[@dhcherry65]

Jacki C SMOCTRESS???? I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT WE ARE CALLED... CRAZY PROBABLY!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Ha, not sure if smocker is a word, but thanks. And I wouldn't do it if I didn't feel comfortable with my balancing abilities.

[@thetruecitizen569]

Hey Sarah love to see you back welcome Sarah with your cute little baby.viewed all your smocking great 👍 Audrey h

[@nyansaid1512]

super woman

[@CarmenCastro-fq1zj]

Hola

[@aneebarua7725]

Very nice 👍