how to pleat by dots for smocking

[@hasanmurtaza8339]

When i was young i saw ladies in my neighbourhood use butter-paper and punch holes in them in grids. They would then use a washable blue dye to spread over the paper to get the dots on the fabric. That piece of fabric was reused till it was was completely torn and unuseable 😊 Always wanted to try smocking but have not even attempted yet, it still seems that daunting to me ! I just saw a vid where the lady stappled a simple graph paper onto the fabric and just used the graph paper as guide to run the pleating thread through the fabric. (Yes on top of the graph paper).. can't get cheaper or easier than that 😄 Now I'm definitely gonna try it !

[@lizzydy3955]

Thank you so much for your lovely videos. I had a wonderful sewing teacher when I was little teach me how to smock, and now that I have my own daughter I want to be able to do it again, so your videos are wonderful.

[@memewalkerb5305]

Love it! Just took a beginner's class and not ready to purchase a pleater yet... Thanks for this:-)

[@suhakhaled1984]

What a lucky baby to have a mom like you!!! Now I am obsessed with your videos.. and ah your baby is adorable. May God bless you n your family

[@sarahclassicsewing]

+suha Khaled you are too sweet. Thanks so much. Glad you're finding the videos helpful, and welcome to the channel 😙

[@juliaaguino6314]

Hello, I live in NY, I want to make dresses for my granddaughters, where can I buy the paper, thank you for your help,

[@tammyinwv1]

I have a piece of plastic canvas. I tried making dots thru ut on paper and if i use every 3rd dot it was just a teeny bit more than 3/8", and every other dot was 1/=". I assume this will work? I am expecting a new grandaughter in few months and want to make her some smocked dresses.

[@joysi5686]

this is still the only pleat by dots tutorial on youtube in 2022!

[@terphinaagong7194]

Very good idea to have it and very thankful to you too.hope I have to learn more from you.

[@chelseajane9626]

thank you so much for your videos. I started traditional sewing this year as I wanted to push my creativity and your videos have been so helpful!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

You are too sweet -- thank you :-)

[@lynnferguson394]

These4Walls i

[@waheedakm556]

I am from calicut Kerala. From where does I get this paper

[@tammyinwv1]

If I place the dots by hand without using the iron on ones, how far apart are the dots and rows? Love your videos,

[@sarahclassicsewing]

3/8" apart on each column, 1/4" apart for each row. And thank youuu :-)

[@tammyinwv1]

Thank you so much for such a quick reply. I am trying my hand at smocking and love it.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Awesome, welcome to the world of smocking :-) It's addicting.. ;-)

[@amarjitbhui669]

Like it but where to buy transfer dots paper reply

[@pachiecakes8467]

Thank you sooo much for this video ! I have been contemplating about buying a pleater machine so this will be great to try out! Btw I LOVE your channel 😍

[@naveedchodhry4224]

hi Sarah thank uuuuuuuu sooooooooooo much 😘👍👍👍 I was looking for an easyway to smoke my daughter frock neck. but could not found any easy way but u have solved my problem...thank again..

[@luciareis8762]

Onde eu posso comprar o knott's dots?

[@roxiemullinix6551]

Smocking question. I live in Maryland and am trying to teach myself how to smock. I cannot find anybody in my area to help me or answer any questions. Your KZbin videos have been a tremendous help. I’ve had to use smocking dots because I don’t have a pleater. I just started a little dress with a smocked skirt attached to a slightly curved yoke. The front and the back pattern is exactly the same. I pleated the front using the dots. When I started to pleat the back I realized that many of the dots were out of line so I marked the pleats with a water erasable marker and a ruler. But after pleating the back I realized that the pleats are not the exact same height because they don’t have the same number of pleats. My markings were off. In the same amount of fabric the front has 98 pleats and the back has 82. Since the front and back don’t meet but are on the front and back of the sleeve, do you think that they’ll look much different. I have the option to gather the back instead. What should I do?

[@urvashiparmar3278]

From where to get that dotted paper?

[@janiewerner]

Mer-sir-ized....is the way to pronounce it. I have never used those dots and they seem so easy to use! Perfect solution for the occasional smocker. Favor to ask-- could you do a video (ASAP) on your bernina and what you like about it? I have used a Viking and I think I am ready to jump ship. I recently got a new Viking and have to make a decision by Monday whether I'm keeping it or exchanging it for a bernina. Thanks!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

+Janie Werner Hey Janie, thanks 😂 and I'd love to do a video for you, except my machine is currently getting serviced by branum's until end of next week. Anywho vikings are great machines, but I've heard so many longtime sewers say the same thing - "nothing sews like a Bernina." Stitch quality is wonderful and they are still made in Switzerland with steal parts, etc. When I buy my next Bernina (years from now), I don't want one with the embroidery attachment. I also want one with a longer arm space for quilts. Make sure you like your dealer. Are you able to try out a Bernina?

[@sborigami]

How many times cloth is needed for 12 inches final smoked cloth how I know this

[@gwynreiber2462]

i have a question about spacing of the dots. i want to pleat a very fine voile by hand and have no idea what the correct spacing would be for drawing my dots. I would think a finer fabric would call for smaller spacing? Also, your video is very helpful, thank you sew very much!!!!

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hmm that's a good question. I think some of your answer depends on how you'd like the pleats to look. The simple answer is to keep the same spacing and then pleat more fabric than normal. So if you'd normally pleat 1:2.5 for a batiste, then maybe you'd do something around 1:3.5 or so for a finer fabric. Play with it and see what you like :-)

[@gwynreiber2462]

Thanks!

[@mariavicente9420]

Onde posso comprar a maquina ?

[@HeavyboxesDIYMaster]

You do some good work! Watching your videos will make me an expert in no time.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey there Andrew, thank you :-D

[@dilciamartinez8598]

Hi Sara is esplendit subtitle spanish is my first languaje, may yuo explanada how calculate total fabric for make smocking dress please?

[@Caddywoman]

Your videos are awesome. But, I have one question. After pleating, either by pleater or by dots, how do you know how far/tight to "scrunch" your fabric up? O do you scrunch it up enough to fit the pattern area? But if that is the case, the next question is, how tight or loose do you space the pleats so you know when to add more or cut some off? I hope that makes sense.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Yes, that all makes sense and I've been meaning to do a detailed video on this. But a general rule of thumb for most applications and fabrics is 3x your finished length. So if you are using a cotton batiste/lawn/etc and you want your finished pleated length to be ten inches, then you would pleat up 30 inches of fabric. That varies some if you are using a thicker fabric or want to do picture-smocking (that's generally 4x). Thanks, and I hope to make a video better answering this question soon. :-)

[@cybersecretary]

Thanks for showing me the dots and Mer-cer-ized thread. Did they stop making the dots? I'll sub! l am setting ip a sew area again. My table and machine have been in all 4 rooms of my house! I was moved from room to room over the past 6 year's! Yay I can set up permantly. I saw the corner desk you made and you did a great job. all that wiod and table legs must have been expensive.. we have a lot of stuff on our property so I'm sure I can find some materials to start.

[@yoselinfuentes2031]

wow it looks beautiful and simple thank you

[@littleloversnursery]

just love your videos i really want to start sewing these type of outfits i just love the style iv got a basic machine it would be awesome if you did a video on all the type of edutainment you use to sew

[@sarahclassicsewing]

+Angel Creations hey angel, I'd love to do a requested video for you. So you're asking about what notions I use? Or tools? Just trying to clarify. Thanks 😊

[@annapappachan5086]

Where we have to place the dotted paper...right side of cloth or wrong side?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Right side

[@houseofsmocking]

Dots should always be on the back and cut along the length of the sheet so the spacing correct, not top to bottom, if cut top to bottom it will give you really deep pleats and use more fabric. Hope this helps.

[@houseofsmocking]

@@user-fc3sx2cw5x they are not designed to wash out but they sometimes do, best to test before applying to the fabric, this is why they should always be on the back

[@kikkolauzanne9621]

Dear Sarah... May I know where to get those Knott's dots? I've searched it but still couldn't find online store that have it. Any suggestion for me ? Thank you

[@sarahclassicsewing]

+Kikko Lauzanne theres a link in the description, but those are no longer in stock. They have these instead though shop.farmhousefabrics.com/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Store_id=198&page_id=17. Thanks

[@ansmahmood3197]

Ye papers kha sy Mily gy ?

[@ivajankolova9963]

Thank you very much for video Sarah :-) .Would you have any trick how to pleat bishop (curved neckline)by hand..?I dont have pleater yet and I want to try it but with curved lines (pattern by Ellen McCarn or Pat Garretson) is quite time consuming :-) .Thank you Sarah :-) wishing you alle the best.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

So you'll start off the same way -- pleating straight lines parallel to the raw edge of your neckline. The way you get the curves in there is to block around a curve. Personally, I would buy some 3/8" gingham so the grid is already land out for you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4C5qoFtiNOpnKs Hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions. kzbin.info/aero/PL_UbtY5bDJ3nYLr0bvuMPMdGBbNdCPCBw

[@ivajankolova9963]

Thank you very much for your reply Sarah :-) .I will probably do it the way I will make a curved template with little holes for dots (to mark onto fabric) for pleating.And another question-I have noticed you dont use any blocking before you do your smocking-embroidery.Would you recommend to block bishop (as I am only a beginner) before I do smocking on it (as tension of pleats is lesser in lower part than nearer neckline)?Thank you very much again Sarah :-) wishing you all the best.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey sorry, this comment got buried. Well... that's kinda the thing though - you do need to pleat it parallel to your raw edge of the neckline, and then block it into a curve. That'll adjust all your tension and spacing. I hope that makes sense, there's not really an ability to vary from that process.

[@ivajankolova9963]

Thank you very much Sarah :-) !I have learned so much from your videos-may God (Universe) bless You and all your family.Thanking you again :-) .

[@jeanninehess]

Found packages both red and green in an Etsy store. $6.75 each. Ordered some as I'm just starting this smocking adventure and don't want to invest in a pleater just quite yet.

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Thanks for sharing, and welcome to the smocking world. It is addictive ;-)

[@fannycifuentes6049]

Thank you so much. 👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏

[@brendabelcher3197]

Mur- sir- ized Cotton. I Can't say somethings Myself! But I can say this, so I hope I am helpful. Thanks for the tips 😀

[@marta77inf]

great Thank you for the video. I am form Buenos Aires and my daughter know 36 remember the smoked dresses when she was a little girl.

[@martinagarcia5306]

Yo necesito unas plantillas así sé bordar smock pero no tengo plisadora

[@jillianm218]

i am so excited to find this video! what kind of fabric do you use for your dress? do you order online or buy it from a fabric store? i am very new at sewing. just made my first piece yesterday...a basic pillowcase dress (from a pillowcase!) Now I really want to try my hand at smocking for my little darlings :)

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey Jill, welcome :-) I LOVE shopping at Farmhouse Fabrics. They are mostly an online fabric store (they are open to the public a few days throughout the month) based out of Augusta, GA. I love cotton fabrics -- batiste, lawns, voile. The world of smocking is incredibly addicting hahaa.

[@jillianm218]

Sarah Classic Sewing oh perfect! I'll check them out. Augusta is our 2nd home :) Now, I just need to find the dots. Who carries them? I asked Hobby Lobby & JoAnns, also checked on Amazon and they don't have it. :(

[@sarahclassicsewing]

+Jill Quigg wonderful 😊 oh and the dots are linked in the description box. I try to link any supplies for my video in the description box.

[@bilalsaeed2924]

mam i am from pakistan i am very thank ful to you for your nice videos i have no such machine for pleating i wanted to learn the method of pleating for smocking by hand and you obviously solved my problem please answer me

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey there, I get a lot of views from pakistan. Do y'all dress your kids in these garments or have businesses for sewing? Either way, welcome to the channel. Glad you saw this method of pleating by dots that doesn't require a pleating machine. Happy sewing :-)

[@bilalsaeed2924]

thanks for your reply i am sister of bilal i am a student and these days i am taking classes of stitching i have keen interest in designing i watch different videos about designing i want to learn smocking but here expert tutor is not available i saw your smocking videos they all are for round neck and on simple chest line designs i request you please teach step by step smocking by hand to those who initial learners

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Oh I have a video that teaches smocking... here you go kzbin.info/www/bejne/h53UmYuhfLRloKs.

[@classicbabywhites]

Hi Sarah, Thanks so much for the videos! I am just doing this for the first time and having so much fun! But I have a couple of questions. How tightly do I pull the threads after it is pleated? I pulled them up quite tight but it looks tighter than yours and difficult to smock. If I don't pull them up that tightly, how do I keep the pleats even? Also - is there a rule for how much flat fabric will gather up to how much pleated fabric?

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hey there -- great questions and I am so happy to hear that you are enjoying this :-) Seriously happy. Okay yes, don't pull them super tight. I typically like my pleats on the looser side (say 2.5x) but many like 3x. I think picture smocking is around 3.5x or so. And by these scales I mean 2.5x the desired finished width is the amount you should pleat up. You can use freezer paper to keep your pleats even and in place as you sew -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppnHmX6sl7p0ntU. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[@classicbabywhites]

Thanks Sarah, I pleated my fabric at 2.5 (thanks for that tip) and I did a cable row and a row of waves. The stitching looks good but the pleats look messy. I just can't seem to keep them even while I am smocking. Some pleats are close together and some are further apart. (I don't think it's the fault of the pleats since they pull up very nicely if I pull them tight.) I am having a lot of fun but I'm obviously doing something wrong. :)

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Hmm you made sure to distribute the pleats evenly before you begun smocking? Tied off both ends of pleating threads? They'll move a little bit on me, but I just wiggled them back into place right before I smock that area. I've heard of some people liking to pleat on a blocking board, but I personally think it's excessive and really uncomfortable. You are welcome to send me photos -- that might help pin-point what is going on. [e-mail]

[@classicbabywhites]

P.S. Thanks also for all the links! VERY helpful.:) LaQueta

[@aminahabdullah3457]

Love you tutorials . Where can I buy this papaer .

[@janheppner101]

Yes please. I would also like to know where to buy the Knotts Dots or something similar. I am in Canada.

[@sehryn]

Thanks for the nice video. I do a lot of textile crafts and always wish to learn smocking. Maybe I will. Thanks. It’s pronounced like this “Mer” “sir” “rise” “d” . Mer as in mermaid, sir as in “Yes Sir”, rise as in ‘rise up’, ‘d on the end. Hope this helps

[@aneebarua7725]

Very nice 👍

[@naveedchodhry4224]

just subscribed your channel

[@classicbabywhites]

This is awesome! Thanks so much for posting hard to find how-to videos. Just placed my order for the dots (and a couple more things) and can't wait to try this. LaQueta

[@sarahclassicsewing]

Awesome, glad to hear it. And thank you for the kind words :-)

[@margaretrussell2527]

Where did you get the dots from I’m in uk

[@kjzach11]

Where did u place the order for the dots?

[@philby611]

mer sir ized

[@sarahclassicsewing]

+Phyllis B is this Phyllis Brown of heirloom beginnings by chance?

[@philby611]

no

[@sarahclassicsewing]

My bad, thought it might've been a long-shot. Thanks though.