How to Smock Fabric - 3 Ways! | Smocking Tutorial (Cable, Wave + Honeycomb Stitch)

In this video I share an in-depth tutorial on how to do my latest craft obsession - smocking!
Shop my sewing patterns: www.roseryapparel.com/shop
What I'm wearing: www.roseryapparel.com/pansy
Things mentioned:
Pleating machine: ebay.to/3rfLTtA
How to calculate the amount of fabric you need: bit.ly/3riKYbL
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:50 How to pleat the fabric
03:04 How to make a cable stitch
05:44 How to make a wave stitch
08:58 How to make a honeycomb stitch
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).

[@judithjohnson8157]

BEAUTIFUL WORK AND AN EXCELLENT TEACHER. THANK YOU FOR SHARING! ❤

[@LadyBirdieBop]

My mother and grandmother handmade all the baby clothes for my sister and me, most of which involved smocking across the chest. While my mother did the basic construction sewing, it was my grandma who did the smocking. My grandma now has dementia and I’m unable to learn this technique from her. It’s one of my biggest regrets in life that I didn’t ask her to teach me years ago. Thank you so much for this video. I’m so grateful that I can continue this legacy of smocking. As soon as my kids are comfortable holding a needle, I will pass along smocking to keep this craft alive. Thank you thank you thank you!

[@PatMcFadyenGrowingGradeByGrade]

What a great tutorial! This will be a go-to video for beginners in smocking. You're a great teacher!

[@evepaludan7713]

This is so neat. I remember as a girl learning the honeycomb smocking from an aunt. She had me do it on gingham because you do not have to mark the dots!

[@emmalikesflowers]

Genius!

[@the_silver_lining_]

THAT is very clever!!

[@honeybadger8942]

Your aunt was very nice and loving.

[@louisacuriel4651]

Lucky you, I don't see anything wrong by marking the dots. It's great this way. For that you have my thumb 👎.

[@anaramirez9813]

Great video

[@CandycaneLane999]

My Aunt (who taught me to sew) made a crepe back satin romper with a smocked yolk for my son for a christening outfit, it is a cherished heirloom now 40 years later

[@rosemaryarnold3918]

That sounds so precious! I'm glad you have this cherished special piece of clothing. I still have a finely crocheted bib that was made for my daughter 49 years ago.

[@RoseryApparel]

That’s so special!! And a lot of work and love put into it I’m sure 🧡

[@emmalikesflowers]

🥰so special..

[@user-yg1tm9dm7z]

😅​@@emmalikesflowers😅😢🎉😮🎉😂,

[@marymary5494]

Thank you. I remember yrs ago in needlework class some girls chose to do smocking, where as I chose to tie dye fabric to then make make garments from. (It was the 1970's ☺️) Now I'm in my 60's and have a little more patience I'd love to try this.

[@evec9449]

I've wanted to try this on gingham for a while - with no need to mark endless dots.

[@zoes_story]

This is so cool! I think a smocked cuff on a blouse is just the most elegant and interesting looking finishings you can do 💕

[@RoseryApparel]

100% agree! Such a pretty detail 😍

[@abbycatherine]

This looks like it would create really cool bust, sleeve, etc details for clothes. Excited to see what you'll do with smocking next!

[@jayasundharesan6783]

So many memories with this

[@ranajolie]

Thank you so much for being so easy to understand and showing visuals. Very much appreciated

[@ginaburgess9759]

Hi Janelle. I used to make and sell smocked dresses many years ago. Before I got a pleater, I used to use printed heat transfer sheets to mark the dots on the fabric. I don't know if they are still available but it's worth looking into as it saved a lot of time.

[@RoseryApparel]

I need to see if I can get my hands on some as that would save so much time. I think I’ve also decided a need a pleater in my life too! x

[@ginaburgess9759]

@@RoseryApparel definitely worth the investment if you know you'll use it

[@pmclaughlin4111]

Bless you...Did dots once. Own a pleater.

[@sailaja5877]

I too used those dotted papers, iron and transfer on to fabric. I stitched many Bishop model frocks. I love dress making esp kids wear. In India those papers are not available now. It's easy, and fun to do smoak if someone do that gathering job😅

[@LL-ue5vg]

Maybe you could print the dots onto the fabric using the cricut machine and invisible fabric marker. I’m going to try it too.

[@cjofloorish]

I smocked dresses for my daughter from baby til about 6 and rompers for my son when he was a tiny baby. I love the look of smocking.

[@TheJaniebabe]

You've taken me back to my year 8 textile and design class, thanks Janelle, lovely work.

[@astraspidastra7195]

As always, your instructional videos are so well done and easy to follow. I’m in awe of your patience with this skill - I barely have the patience to sew ‘two rows of gathering stitches’, never mind smocking😂

[@alankritakaushal]

Thank you so much. This is the only channel that has shown smocking in its "stretched" mode. ❤ from India.

[@merlin711oregon]

Thank you for the video. I smoked a lovely dress for my daughter when she was a wee little child. She's a grandma now! And I'm a great grandmother! Loved watching how much love I took putting those stitches in her garment.

[@merlin711oregon]

Smocked

[@princessthelop-earedbunny262]

She's a great grandmother lol you think she has the eyesight to see a one letter error

[@missyslittlethingsinlife1920]

I love to smock. I used smock most of my daughter's clothes. Especially her Sunday church dresses. There are many heirloom sewing & smocking "gurus" in Australia such as Judith Adams, and many others whose names escape me. They often come to the states to teach workshops. I have several years of Australian Smocking & Embroidery (Country Bumpkin Publications) in my library. I'm not sure that they are still in business. May I suggest using quilting thread for pleating. There is nothing worse than having a pleating thread break. 😳 which is likely to happen with regular sewing thread. Beautiful job with you sampler & teaching of basic steps. With these stitches you can smock a yoke, cuff, insert, bishop & so many other options. Add a little bullion embroidery if you want to dress it up. We used to joke that smocking is for those with the leisure time, well to do & wealthy, but it started out being used when making working peasants (particularly men) garments to give an elastic ease to the work clothes. 😊

[@mariacraciun5338]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful tutorial! I'm so excited to see your experiment with smocking! My mother in law uses this traditional technique while sewing Romanian traditional blouses.

[@buttercupthreads]

Lovely! I made a 1970s dress earlier this year that had smocking around the waist included in the pattern. It was so satisfying to sew and actually made for a really comfortable garment as well.

[@RoseryApparel]

Sounds dreamy! It’s such a satisfying process 😍

[@Elizabeth-pq3gt]

What pattern did you use? I've been looking for something similar, a dress with smocking at the waist

[@Richer159]

Lovely . Thank you. I also like the way you have you stitched up your top, and the chain .. all showing aesthetic and culture of the world gone by. Thank you for bringing this beautiful culture to life.

[@coralinainfantas3784]

Great teacher !!! love to found this tutorial, remember my mother making little girl’s dress, now I’m planing to make one for my grand daughter. Also I sent this tutorial to my sister Eli in Switzerland 🇨🇭 thank you!!!

[@parminderobhi]

Thank you so much for sharing this video!!! My mom sewed all of our clothes growing up and I always wanted to learn how to do this because I love the versatility and beauty of it.

[@Jmlugo]

I’ve been searching for a video like this for so long ❤❤❤❤❤ my grandmother always wanted to learn and I’m so excited to practice thanks Janelle

[@number1angel66]

Thanks for sharing! I've always loved smocked fabric and now, thanks to you, I can do it myself! Blessings of love and light to all!

[@kaytiej8311]

A great video! Thanks for sharing your journey, teaching us along the way. An easy way to have a ready made grid is to use gingham fabric.

[@terrismith9946]

Thank you for such a great video for a beginner. I hope to try it soon! 😊

[@juless9277]

Another lovely tutorial! You have a real knack for explaining simply and clearly. Can’t wait to see what is ahead with smocking!

[@carolyngrotaers4454]

A beautiful tutorial, Janelle. My favourite is the honeycomb too.😍

[@ArmindaHeart]

That’s so cool! Can’t wait for you to share your future smocking projects.

[@SamanthaMadison197]

Thank you for this video! I’ve been wanting to get into smocking for awhile and your tutorial makes it look much easier than I was expecting.

[@sharonbrinders1224]

What an interesting video Janelle! ! My fav would be the Honeycomb stitch. You really good at teaching, thank you so much. Remain blessed xxx

[@nora.han.r9]

Thank you so much for sharing. Love how you do the step-by-step esp easy for beginners to follow. I grew up wearing smocking dresses made by Mom and I hope to be able to continue Mom’s tradition (and of course continue to make my own smocking dresses). Thank you. For sure love all your videos. ❤

[@lynette.]

Very clear instructions taking the mystery out of smocking.

[@josiedemlakian4837]

Thank you for sharing this technique. Instructions were so clear and your work is lovely ❤

[@lyndapeterson9948]

Thank you Janelle that was lovely to watch.

[@wolfgangshuman]

Very excited to see what you create with this newly learnt skill.

[@noahellinsonbaker6833]

This looks stunning and i would love to try this, can't wait to see what you make with this technique.

[@kawoyaamargaret9121]

Thanks for teaching.

[@madelinegrudens]

Really excellent tutorial and you made it clear and easy to follow!! Gives me great ideas to add those touches on some projects I have in mind! Thanks for sharing 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@annak1371]

Thank you. I appreciate that you took the time to show how to do this. I can't wait to try it.

[@christinewalsh7262]

Absolutely brilliant

[@chantaljobidon9846]

Thank you for your video Canada. 🇨🇦👍💕

[@lori6178]

I’m so happy I found you! Have been wanting to learn this and your video is wonderful!!

[@pmclaughlin4111]

Couple of tips: Even if using all 6 strands-strip your floss and reassemble-makes floss lie flatter and creates almost a pearl bead effect For English smocking (The cable and trellis stitches) Instead of knotting and pulling up at nadir of valley. Use a waste knot in outside. stitch into first pleat at normal depth (just above halfway)take first two stitches. Cut waste knot and anchor tale on backside in next few cables. Also, if you do a lot of trellis stitches and you need to keep the section stable: Backsmock (Cable for stable; wave for stretch) Helps the pleats stay neat

[@nannettepiasini9824]

Thank you for expanding your request to more advanced smocking skills. I was lucky enough to have a local Smocking Arts Guild in the area with extremely talented artisans sharing their skills.

[@celestethompson4891]

Yay a new video from you 😊so excited to watch ❤

[@cesarinasomogy7833]

You're tutorial is so easy to follow! Thank you so much! Can't wait to start practicing :)

[@eebeegee8325]

Thank you! I love smocked shirts, their so pretty! 😍

[@debedwards1717]

OMG thank you. I was just about to research how to do some smocking.

[@yahoo.com07]

Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us!! It's really magical!! XOXOX

[@cinnamonteeth]

A smocked detail on sleeves would be so cute!

[@RoseryApparel]

I can’t wait to try it! 😍

[@charlotteg1635]

What a job! Bravo, it looks amazing and it's very well explained, even for a French seamstress 😂😂

[@Ly0604]

Very clear instructions!!! Thank you!!

[@Handmadebynaamamush]

Wow it’s beautiful!!

[@franug]

Omg! I'd love to make a smocked dress for my daughter, they look so cute on little girls! Thanks for the tutorial😍

[@justme1492]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you very much.

[@bethduffus4598]

This is a really clear tutorial. Many thanks

[@damayanthiranaweera7292]

You explain very clearly, thank you!

[@keziahlee2216]

This is such a great video! I cannot wait to start trying it out! :)

[@mregister3945]

Thank you for sharing! 😊❤

[@laurenposcoliero8489]

Thank you for this video! I found some vintage (early 90s) little girls smocked dress patterns and I've been wanting to start them... But also super nervous about having no idea what to do. So referring back to the video will be a great start! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@jayadoley9307]

Amazing, thanks for sharing the video.

[@meredithlaverty3366]

Thank you so much - an excellent tutorial. ❤

[@olgamstelveen]

Thank you very much! I will definitely use it in my next sewing project

[@clambarn1218]

Great work.

[@rebeccasabourin6193]

Can't wait to see what you do with the smocking in things.

[@thereversepolarbear]

So lovely!❤

[@rosemaryarnold3918]

Very beautiful. I really enjoyed your talent. God bless you.

[@AnuRadha-tn7rt]

Very clear explanation 👌

[@kaydyanful]

My friend lent me her smocking machine, and I just did some smocked sleeves to your willow dress pattern on some red and beige calico gingham, And it looks great!

[@moyralouise7123]

Thank you, great tutorial 😊

[@carolyndymond4065]

That's so pretty I'm going to give it a go.

[@traditionalcooking8482]

Such a clean n easy to follow tutorial 😊thnk you

[@RoseryApparel]

I’m glad you found it helpful 😊

[@marilynwood6934]

Beautiful, time for me to revisit smocking.

[@lauramartinezbautista6881]

Beautiful work!!!!

[@RoseryApparel]

Thank you 🧡

[@vickycompton9578]

I would love to learn this ❤

[@barbaraandrews402]

I smocked dresses for my daughter and eventually for my granddaughter using pretty prints and matching threads. You can buy sheets of iron on dot transfers in different spacing.(Sorry if you know this but prefer to draw them,) I am 🇬🇧 and there is a specialist on line shop.

[@jennifershea7587]

Great info! TY

[@RoseryApparel]

Good to know! That would be soo helpful!

[@barbaraandrews402]

@@RoseryApparel Here is the website I used to order from.They ship internationally. Amazon also have them here in the UK so that's a possibility for you. Search for smocking dots. Happy stitching x

[@bhanupriya5698]

Your teaching process is very very good thanku dear love from india 🇮🇳

[@barbedwards6270]

Great video! You have an excellent way of explaining things (it is a skill! I am spectacularly crap at it!) You're a natural teacher!

[@RoseryApparel]

Aw thanks! That really means a lot x

[@barbedwards6270]

@@RoseryApparel ❤❤

[@yasasripiyumika195]

Thank you for the vedio definitely I am going to try ❤

[@felinetherapy4782]

I smoked a baby dress when I was in high school. It looked so good and surprisingly easy.

[@elsewakker230]

Ohhhh I love it! It seems like I've found a new hobby :)

[@monya-shafy2106]

I like it it's so beautiful >>thank you for this video

[@emilyemily7837]

So cool!!!

[@strwbrryfinchy]

Very interested to see what you create with this skill!

[@bridgetisadreamer]

The stretchiness is so interesting!! I wonder if you could use it to make a kind of waistband? I know people do it with shirring so I'm curious!

[@clirea]

Love it ❤

[@Ngwyddon]

such beautiful work tho! thank so so much

[@anaramirez9813]

Great great video thanks soo much!!!

[@RoseryApparel]

I’m glad you found it helpful 🧡

[@user-kc2wm5fx2l]

شكرا لك على هذا الشرح الجميل والواضح 👏👏👏

[@engratiabanks9033]

Thank you

[@jamierguillory]

How dare you! Now I want to do all the smocking. Beautiful tutorial as always!

[@Alaskaraised]

Thank you so much for this great tutorial! Now I gotta go learn another sewing technique! 😂

[@subacostacosts3500]

Super. ..👍👍

[@gingerginger3413]

Thank u

[@alannarhodes55]

I really enjoyed this, you make everything look achievable! I hope you do a video on different pattern suggestions to implement these techniques. 💙

[@iwasalllikeomg]

I hope you make another video applying this on a garment you make!

[@RoseryApparel]

That’s the plan! 😄

[@lynette.]

Hope you show the next stage of how to incorporate it into a garment.

[@ghinaam2842]

It's so hard for me to wrap my head aroud the tutorial that you gave me about how to calculate the fabric that I need.

[@a.sobriquet6220]

Fabulous tutorial…thank you! I wonder if this technique is what dressmakers used before there was elastic?