How to Sew Honeycomb Smocking

Honeycomb smocking is a beautiful embellishment design of pleated diamonds for an extra special look.
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[@TheCamillion]

I've been watching smocking videos for the past hour, and it still blows my mind that you can make fabric stretchy without any sort of elastic.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

it's like magic :D

[@blackmber]

I’m going to try this on some gingham so I don’t have to measure and draw dots.

[@sakurasepuku4374]

thank you for sharing it, this is so well explained, and looks so clear everything, and loved the explanation style, even I who has issues to understand things, could understand it, loved it, never before did I understand sewing. You are talented at teaching it, bless you!

[@muhammadikram5735]

I'm 43 years old, I had forgotten this technique. Thank you From Sri Lanka.

[@gladtidings4all]

This is the best explained tutorial on smocking! Thanks!

[@GunnarDeatherage]

technical question! so you are using one continuous thread to secure your pleats together rather than making each paired pleat it's own knot? also wondering if you would work your way down with the same thread, or if you work your way across, or whether that matters. working on doing this on a larger scale so im trying to configure which direction to work the knots.

[@stephaniekidoodles7655]

Following

[@adelawiley2929]

This video was very well explained, for someone who has never done it like me, I think I will try a pillow, just to see if I can do it, this would be very pretty on alot of home decor things, curtains, the valance on the top. Nice and very well done.

[@Brightfantasy]

So well explained! I’m going to do this on my wedding gown!

[@four1629]

alexandria, that sounds so gorgeous! i hope you enjoyed doing that and it turned out well. congrats btw!!

[@meganmccarthy8114]

So clear and easy to understand, thank you! And I don't know if it's intentional that your nails match the fabric marker, but that was delightful. ☺️

[@MissLovesMichael]

Thanks for explaining so well! Does anyone have a kind of equation how to know the exact shrinkage of the fabric?

[@junebrown8207]

I love this video. Thanks for the tutorial. I have not done this for years so I had forgotten the technique. Thank you for the reminder.

[@sabrinal3633]

Oh this made me so happy! Thank you I can't wait to apply this to my fashion. :D

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Sabrina L do it! :) and then send me a pic

[@charleyandsarah]

New to your channel. Smocking is one of my favorite things and I've done honeycomb smocking a few times. The dots are a good method without a pleater... and definitely make you appreciate having one lol. Thanks for the video.

[@10Raccoon]

Between this video and Bernadette Banner's pirate shirt tutorial, my Westley costume is looking easier and easier by the minute!

[@caronhortara1944]

Thankyou I have a dress that I purchased and the shirring is coming undone and am wanting to repair it. Your explaination has cleared my mind in how to do this. i was trying to follow the stitching already there and thinking that they worked down rather then across and working from the back Excellent discription and video.

[@jesstoselli]

You're a genius. Thank you so much for this perfect explanation!

[@rosehep3301]

Thank you for the excellent tutorial! Are there any mathematics for calculating size of smock pleats and how much fabric it would take to accommodate them? For example, the half-inch pleats you made... How much yardage would I need to create 16" of pleated fabric?

[@livbjorholm7526]

Rose Hep I’d love to know this as well!

[@rosehep3301]

​@@livbjorholm7526 Just finished a smocking project (besides a practice one to figure out the "maths") thanks to this video. Basically, if you want the diamond pattern to be nicely dense and not stretched to the max, you need about four times as much fabric as the desired finished length. I watched this video to make bicep bands on a reenactment/pirate shirt for my BF, and for his nerdy 12" bicep measurement, I wound up smocking a whopping 46" of fabric! He's gonna have some billowy sleeves! Sixteen rows (eight on each sleeve) of 1/2" dots on 46" of fabric took about 16 hours of intense work. BTW, it's good to work on a tabletop while you're doing this, so you can swish/stretch the fabric around and maneuver the needle. I'd also recommend marking horizontal lines in addition to the dots, because when you draw up the pleating threads, you actually wind up stitching in between the dots, and it's easier to see where to stick the needle if the horizontal lines are there.

[@OxfordComma47]

Rose Hep great hints!

[@meganmccarthy8114]

@@rosehep3301 this is super helpful, thank you! Also, "nerdy 12-inch bicep" had me cackling. I've definitely dated a few wiry nerds in pirate shirts in my time-- can relate!

[@robfrydryck127]

Thanks. I was really struggling with this concept. You explained it really well. No other tutorial came even close to how well this was done. If I wanted to do the top of a sleeve do I make the rounded part three times wider and stretch out the arch? Thanks

[@piarles]

I came to this video after looking at a textbook in my college lesson and getting really confused. But this video has helped me understand what I need to do 🙌🏻💗

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I'm so glad you found it helpful

[@andreab919]

Gee this is lovely. I want to try this on a dress for my little one. I would like to have this on the middle front of the dress. Have to figure out how to fit the neckline with all that extra fabric. I guess I just have to iron the pleats down?

[@truelearners9778]

very nice design. you also explained beautifully. thanks a lot

[@graybones321]

I know this video is 5 years old but I still wanted to say thank you! This was super clear and easy to understand. I’m excited to try my hand at it!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Glad it helped!

[@pmccomas2717]

Wow - you made that beautiful and intricate embellishment look really easy to do! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@KimnMilesSnyderServes]

Thank you for the video! Very informative and detailed. I needed every step you did to understand what you were doing! You rock!

[@danglesbanglesmoreco]

How much shrinkage should be expected in the overall panel based on the spacing of the dots?

[@ghulamali5624]

Embe

[@wildheart5]

This tutorial was very helpful and I love your new intro!

[@ivywindchaser]

I'm currently working on my first smocking piece - double width, lined curtains panels; it's a huge project, but has been so-much-fun! Your video is very clear and easy to understand. I like your pre-gathering basting because it's useful for handling bulkier lined fabric like in my current application. Thank you for posting. However, will you explain something about your technique? Your method of working along one single row at a time has quite a bit of unnecessary thread waste and creates long horizontal lines along the back that have to wrap around a full inch of pleat. Other smocking tutorials I've seen operate on two rows at once, alternating between the 1st and 2nd rows (then 3rd and 4th, etc.) as one unit so their only thread loss is in shorter, vertical spans that are stationary and aren't actively stretching or contracting. There is less thread waste, and the connecting stitches on the back are perpendicular, flat, and never move, which seems better and more secure to me. Is there are reason you are working on a single row at a time instead of two? Is there a benefit to smocking this way?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

+ivywindchaser you can do whatever way you prefer. I've also done it the other way but, for some reason, it's easier for me to screw that way up and I end up skipping over the right pleat. Then I get all the way done and see I screwed up in the middle. But you're right that it saves thread. For me, I find it easier.

[@ivywindchaser]

+Professor Pincushion I totally understand sticking with a preferred method that just works better for you. Thank you for responding so quickly. :)

[@ivelissebouet9563]

The best tutorial. Thank you 🤩

[@stephaniekidoodles7655]

If I do this on a blouse that is too big will I have to also reduce the back to make the fit correct?

[@saradavis538]

if I wanted to add a smocking detail like this to the bodice of a dress, is there any sort of formula to estimate how much larger I need to cut my pattern piece? how would this work? any good links/resources/videos?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

+Sara Davis I found this about fabric prep that might help you. You might be interested in getting a book like this. They say you want 3" of fabric for every 1" of finished smocking books.google.com/books?id=NlNyXy4UtlgC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=how+much+does+smocking+shrink+fabric&source=bl&ots=r4i8__MfIY&sig=WOgu4wF0LGnEUD4ELT6lb_pJUIU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiB9vP0sdzMAhVO4mMKHe77CFoQ6AEIHjAA#v=onepage&q=how%20much%20does%20smocking%20shrink%20fabric&f=false

[@abielaird]

How much does it shrink the fabric?

[@UtahGmaw99]

Using a large print gingham fabric is much easier than marking everything if you have never done this before. Just make sure it is printed straight. New intro is great!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

UtahGmaw99 that's a great tip. thanks! :)

[@irfanrushdiya3144]

Very good explanation...I'm just gonna try this tday

[@shirleyann1901]

Beautifully done. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@motulica1]

GREAT TUTORIAL ! THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

[@shilohscott]

Would it be best to smock the fabric first before cutting a pattern first?

[@valerie6647]

I have been looking for this for a long time . I thank god for your life God bless you more .Thank you

[@rahilalrasbi1183]

The best video I have seen ❤ bless you

[@isabelbastos8530]

Com certeza o melhor vídeo , agora sim aprendi como se faz casinha de abelha! Muito inteligente, usou tecido claro e linha escura, permitindo uma excelente visualização! Parabéns! 😍

[@umadharshiniduraisamy7349]

Hey, thanks for the video!

[@SamadKhan-zb4fz]

its beautiful. for one pillow how much cloth we need to make this design.

[@aandistudiophotographyvide2986]

Excellent tutorial

[@gattbe5611]

your teaching is still the best..

[@andreamuller4266]

Hi there, smocking fans.... I wan´t to make a valance for a Stage. Can somebody tell me how much of the hight gets lost when I form the diamond-squares

[@mariepouilhes456]

Je ne comprends pas l'anglais mais j'ai bien saisi car bien filmé, bravo et merci, c'est super.

[@fabiolaromeroherrera328]

Excelente! ,👏From Colombia!

[@alyssakoontz5821]

How much extra fabric would you recommend adding to the pattern piece you're smocking, so it still fits with the other seams?

[@surabhigaikwad6081]

My exact thoughts ... would love to make it on a top but unsure how much extra is needed

[@fludrbywest3886]

Awesome tutorial ❣️👍🏻 thank you 🙏🏻

[@abielaird]

If i use elastic will it be strtchy like shirring?

[@tracyborland5471]

This is brilliant

[@ViralVault_69]

Wonderful, thank you so much!

[@carolinabenavidesvanegas196]

Thanks for this excellent tutorial!!!

[@gomathythanuja]

Beautiful. Thank you

[@iremify]

Thank you for very clear instruction :)

[@TheAgeofFabulous]

Love the new intro!

[@user-dr4zh8tr7n]

Thanks

[@dhanalakshmidl8979]

Is this a cotton fabric?

[@iniobongjohn4740]

How to make smoking hand

[@silverfish3856]

Best tutorial thank you

[@taetaebaby5497]

Thank you

[@ramyaramesh4325]

Can we do on a stiched umbrella dress which is too long I. Don't want to cut so can I use this smocking idea on my dress

[@ProfessorPincushion]

the smocking will shrink the area so it might work.

[@torisimmonsofficial]

Very Helpful for work!

[@melissawesterlund4478]

I tried this yesterday but it isn't stretchy. Any advice?

[@sristykhadijascrafts8004]

Thank you for this tutorial 💜

[@MsKreynold]

Is there a faster way to this?? Ot seems so tedious for something like a dress skirt

[@ProfessorPincushion]

hmmm...maybe finding fabric that already has the marks for you, but I don't think that exists. Sorry, hand sewing is time consuming but it does look cool.

[@chibicibi6034]

thank you for this

[@elisbethadiari7510]

Lovely details. Thank you for this video. My sewing machine has a honeycomb stitch, will it come out lovely if I use it

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Elisbeth Adiari hmmm...I guess, if it can pleat as it goes, but I'd just try it on a scrap and see if it's a true smock or just a design stitch in which the stitches are just in a honeycomb pattern. :)

[@ruthmorgan1007]

Easy to understand

[@rosiedercole2402]

Beautiful tutorial thank you :)

[@RyanBMoore]

This video was very informative, but extremely long. I skipped ahead on most parts, because I didn't need to see you draw every single dot, or do the same thing over and over.

[@furioustrekkie]

@@Indusxstan , because calling people names is constructive...? Ryan may have been unintentionally rude, but insulting people doesn't help.

[@adraineanime1522]

Hi! So I just got a ton of simplicity clothing patterns and I noticed that next to the pattern number is some random letter. Example: on 1406 there r BB next to it, on 1154 there is an A, on S0423 there is a R5. What do these mean? Also I'm kinda new at sewing. I have done a little bit of quilting and am ok at it. I was wondering if you would make a video (or videos) on how to do some of the patterns I just got. I'm more looking into how to specifically make them my size....... My sizes are bust: 42, waist: 38, hips:48 and well I know u have videos on altering sizes, but it would really help if you could show me how to specially do one of the patterns I already have.... I want to do a dress pattern, so simplicity number 1061, 1154, or 1406 would be great oh and ps I'm 5'7"

[@ProfessorPincushion]

adraine anime Does the letters have the word "size" next to it? That's just Simplicity's coding for size groupings that are included in the pattern. For example, you maybe have pattern 1234 but one envelope has an A and one a B. The envelope with A may have sizes 6-12 and the envelope with B may have sizes 14-22. You just want to make sure you grab the envelope with your size included. I don't know when we'll be doing more pattern tutorials but if you get stuck at a pattern direction you can always post a pic on our ask a question and I'll do my best to help.

[@nayomi6419]

Is smocking stretchable?!

[@krizzalozano6026]

Can u do cable stitch

[@Art_Smsh]

Thank you ❤️

[@reshur1571]

wonderful explanation tnx

[@lavanyakarthik1587]

u r really amazing & it is very easy

[@drhelenloney1426]

nice new opening graphics!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Helen Loney thank you so much. we've been working on it for awhile and it's nice to finally get it out :)

[@user-qw6gi2bm4j]

Helen Loney γ

[@DarkMoonDroid]

So cool!

[@wildheart5]

I could not sign into your blog, but my suggestions are Organdy, Satin, Picot. Cute dog!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

wildheart5 thanks for the suggestions :)

[@shajnabegum5656]

Thank u

[@tayabakhan000]

wow ! you made it super easy for us :)

[@nfs7023]

Very nice

[@pooramcity]

This is the Best Tutorial lots of Thanks

[@kmovki834]

what do you do at threads at 4:57 after you've created the pleats? do you cut them all or something else?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I don't cut them. I just leave them as they are

[@user-hl2om4fu4i]

ربنا يعوضك كل خير

[@lightnirvana2900]

I dont have that plastic thing like you what should i do?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

you can really use any type of ruler

[@lifeisjourney96]

Beautiful

[@sumansinha5861]

👌Thank you Where will we use it?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

you can use it for costumes or home decorating like on a pillow

[@pratiksharay595]

What is that ruler called

[@Allinone-mt9go]

I just want to know from wherei can get this scale type mirror

[@jiya5445]

All in one you can buy a similar one from Walmart

[@aparecidacandidamouradebri1474]

Minha lindo mesmo 👏😍😍💞💞

[@rutujadusane1776]

Which fabric is that?

[@valdirsousacorreia741]

Lindo amei era esse o bordado que eu procurava,eu sou Suely Carvalho Correia estou usando o celular do meu esposo Valdir, parabéns 👏👏👏👏👏gostei vou tentar fazer pra minha neta Ana Clara 😁😉😀😀

[@mariajosemartinezherrero6467]

Beautiful! Where can I find the ruler?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I picked mine up at JoAnn's

[@basavarajng]

Professor Pincushion

[@sayalimayekar5845]

Dimond smoking plz

[@isdoragomes6453]

Oi. Muito. Lindo

[@TorchwoodPandP]

Honeycomb is six-sided. What you show at the start is the basic diamond pattern. Nothing wrong with that, you are just mis-naming the pattern. For honeycomb, repeat row two on row three, and then go back to the pattern for row one on row four. Traditionally smocking is worked rather differently, without the basting stitches first to pleat the fabric. However, your technique may well have certain possibilities, for anyone needing to pleat fabric - either for smocking or just for pleating any kind of fabric, and maybe sewing it together on the wrong side, rather than the front? (Which may have been how they managed their pleats in the Renaissance...) Historically smocking was used for work-wear well into the 1800s, and for children’s wear well into the 1900s.

[@SPACEPATROLELENA]

nice! does the fabric stretch enough to replace shirring?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

lollipop6234 I would say so. Just realize it's a 1 way stretch, so really only horizontally but not up and down.

[@user-gu2wi3yj4c]

how?uch cost

[@mgenimahfudh2604]

Like it

[@user-hx9vz6fp6g]

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