Smocking a Dress From Scratch (It Took Months!) | DIY Smocked Dress

How to smock a dress from scratch (the ultimate slow fashion project)! Head to squarespace.com/roseryapparel to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code roseryapparel
Shop my sewing patterns here: www.roseryapparel.com/shop
Things mentioned:
Fabric shopping in Tokyo video: • Nippori Fabric Town (9...
Armhole template: www.roseryapparel.com/videos/...
Squarespace (ad): squarespace.com/roseryapparel
How to smock fabric video: • How to Smock Fabric - ...
Free pocket template: www.roseryapparel.com/videos/...
What I'm wearing:
Statement collar dress: • How To Sew A Ruffled C...
Green embroidered dress: www.roseryapparel.com/daisy
Gathered burnt orange skirt: • DIY Gathered Midi-Skir...
Gingham b+w dress: www.roseryapparel.com/pansy
Polka dot dress: • Making a DREAMY Dress ...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:12 The mistake
04:59 Cutting out the pieces
06:00 Ad break
07:39 Pleating the fabric
13:40 Smocking the neckline
15:50 Smocking the sleeves
18:05 Sewing the dress together
21:51 The finished dress
22:18 Thanks for watching!
Equipment Used:
Camera: Fujifilm X-T4
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 Squarespace.

[@donnahawley126]

My Mom smocked all my dresses when I was little. I learned how to do it when my daughter was little. You are lucky to have found a pleated. I did it by picking up the dots.

[@audreyhanson1921]

Beautiful! Your first smocking video plunged me down the rabbit hole of this hobby, and I recently made a smocked bishop style dress for my newborn daughter. I love the idea of a bishop style dress in an adult size, it has my wheels turning now. 😊

[@margien1942]

Loved your work on the gingham. I have two pleaters which is crazy and a 1940s pattern book for adults included working with striped fabrics. I’ve made adult nighties with Bishop necklines and doll and baby clothes. A completed dress with scattered grub roses and a fine linen petticoat awaits a future great granddaughter but it might outlive me.

[@Finny_finn_finn]

3:34 please know that this wasn't a fail moment. I love that you chose a bold print fabric and that it didn't line up...that's not a failure, it's a lesson and not only did you learn something but you shared your experience with us...thank you...great job 😊

[@CreativeDee]

Yes, I agree to redo it. Shame it happened but life is about learning. I missed an opportunity where a friend was going to teach me how to do smocking nearly 30 years ago. I love the look of smocking.

[@theresachucle5362]

Beautiful dress thank you for sharing your tutorial have a wonderful weekend 😊🧵🪡🤗🤩

[@judyrobinson2282]

OMG-- you have SO much patience! But it is truly a work of art! SO cute on you!!!!

[@RoseryApparel]

Aw thanks so much! Yep, this one definitely tested my patience at times but the actual smocking part is so fun!

[@carolyngrotaers4454]

Janelle, the dress is beautiful. It's my favourite dress that you have made. Congratulations. 😀

[@RoseryApparel]

Aw wow! Thanks so much! 🧡

[@fh4595]

Smocking looks sooo nice on long sleeves too 😍 but its so much work !

[@michelledalton2629]

It's such a beautiful Art. I have planned to do exactly what you have done and thankyou for showing the steps you took. Beautiful work

[@RoseryApparel]

You’re welcome! Have fun making your own smocked dress 😍

[@cynthiafisher9907]

I remember little girls’ smocked dresses back in the 60s and 70s. I thought they were so cute, but I was never inclined to do that much work. I’m impressed with your smocking! I think you did the right thing in redoing it, although it was a ton of work. I wonder if a small ruffle at the bottom of the dress would give it a little more shape?

[@gailrodgers3079]

I noticed it right away, but sewists see those things. When my mom came to visit my new house and I had made the drapesx for one of the rooms as she was next to the one set, I could tell that she was checking to see if the patterns matched between the two curtains. I was so glad that I hadn't flubbed them. 🤣 Such a cute dress. Make it even shorter it would be a great top, also great for maternity wear for those that need it. While pregnant with my second munchkin, I had worked very hard to make a perfect Peter Pan collor on a black and white gingham top. It was looking so great and I was on the home stretch and had to leave my sewing for a few minutes (probably a bathroom break) and came back to find my 2 years old had gotten a hold of my scissors and cut a huge hole in the abdomen area. I just wanted to cry. I had to make all my maternity clothes and didn't have many so it was devastating. I think that is the last time I tried sewing gingham for me.

[@lorrainedash3045]

Just beautiful work Janelle, I think it’s a work of art. Well done.

[@RoseryApparel]

Thanks so much Lorraine x

[@eebeegee8325]

Yay! Been waiting for this, what a lovely collar at the end! ❤

[@RoseryApparel]

Thanks for watching! It definitely took a lot longer to make then I expected so I hope it was worth the wait 😊

[@twinnish]

I love the smocking and I totally appreciate why are you did a re-do on the bodice. Right decision!👍

[@jeanlinder1310]

What a cute dress! That gingham would also look cute with some cross-stitch or embroidered details.

[@beverlyosborn5240]

We have been learning smocking. Used the pleater then used decorative stitches on our sewing machine for the smocking

[@tanyabannon2455]

Soooo Beautiful 🤎🤍🧡🤍🤎 Thank You for Sharing

[@IshtarFish]

Very cute! And comfy

[@helenharding1397]

Janelle, your a very talented girl, look forward to watching you each week . Dress is beautiful on you , well done ❤❤❤

[@elizabethkey1827]

The first dress is super amazing! Keep it!

[@johannesingleton1788]

It is lovely to see smocking return to the dressmaking seen. I too smocked our girls dresses for many years. I bought a READ brand pleater. It was made in South Africa I was living in USA at the time and goods from South Africa couldn’t be imported. Lucky for me. I could get one in Canada as they were a member of a commonwealth country..sounds long and complicated….it SAVES hours. I am using smocking again on the top of a raglan sleeve I plan to smock the fabric across the shoulder and then let it be the part of a full sleeve. Wish me luck as what is in my head doesn’t always work in practice. Joh

[@RoseryApparel]

Oh sounds so stunning! I love a sleeve with smocking 😍 good luck!!

[@tedkelly81]

Ahhhh!! The smocking and the dress turned out so beautifully!!! I think it was definitely the right descision to include some colour in the smocking stitches 😁 love it!

[@alexandrawellington8028]

Brilliant work!!!!!!! 🤩

[@kylebrittellie]

Janelle--- It's amazing!

[@dhines3804]

Always wondered how this was done! It’s beautiful! Can’t wait to see what else you smock! You have more patience that I as I may have given up and taken a hiatus on the project after noticing the error in the beginning.

[@sharonbrinders1224]

Wow how beautiful, love the neck design and colours, it makes you look like a princess in it. Well done and thank you for sharing..

[@kennysumi5906]

Omg !I love it.Thank you❤

[@jenniferwinters8108]

Ugh! We’ve all been there with our projects but you persevered and it turned out beautiful! You make me want to try smocking!

[@marathorne6821]

It's amazing! You have the patience of a saint 😇 I'd have given up at the needle threading stage... But it was totally worth it, and using the colours was a great call 😊

[@bajaboolie]

Wow, this dress is stunning, and you look great in it!!

[@RoseryApparel]

Thank you! It’s a different style for me, but I like it 😊

[@lyndapeterson9948]

That is by far my most favourite dress you have made. It is beyond fabulous.

[@RoseryApparel]

Aw thanks Lynda! That means a lot x

[@threadwinners]

So talented

[@moyralouise7123]

Beautiful

[@beverlyosborn5240]

New to your Chanel. Happy to have found it ❤

[@m.georgieva6239]

Amazing ❤ Thank you.

[@trinesandns4947]

Very impressive!😍👏👏👏

[@johannesingleton1788]

Never mind me. I had Very now seen the vligtothe end It looks great. Joh

[@Lazydaisy646]

Just stunning..

[@johannesingleton1788]

Yes I would do it in one colour but if you want some colour add shadow stitches in side the larger boxes or finish off with some hearts which allows the smocking pleats to do their work. Joh

[@AmateurHour321]

Gorgeous! Gives me Molly Goddard vibes.❤

[@janyreboux8701]

Very Nice job❤❤❤❤❤

[@Jmlugo]

Sooo maybe plant some embroidered flowers along the back neck to hide the stitching? Maybe? It looks really pretty

[@angelaarena5208]

You should be very proud of yourself that dress turned out amazing well done 👏👏👏🥰🇦🇺

[@RoseryApparel]

Aw thank you! I’m so happy with it 😄

[@desireedeboer9811]

Hi, Janelle, what a lot of work have you done, it's beautyfull. I love it. ❤ Greeting from Desiree 🇳🇱

[@gisellejones1139]

Very nice❤

[@SherBear88]

OK, so question what’s the difference between smocking and shearing because couldn’t you just shear the fabric and the detail? I LOVE this!! The first piece you did that didn’t come out right actually didn’t bother me because I liked how it was uneven. I would just use that for the back so you don’t see it but I’m sure by the time you post this your dress is already made.😄 Thanks for another great video! I can’t wait until I can make my own clothes as good as yours.

[@GenericSock]

Basically, shirring = lots of mini crunches and smocking = fewer deeper crunches. The difference with hand stitching over shirring is that you don't get the depth that you do with smocking. It's basically the same physical process, but you'd need a sewing machine with a 10mm stitch length to get the same depth as traditional shirring. Plus it would be very difficult to get the peaks and valleys to all exactly line up. That said, my sewing machine instruction booklet has a page on 'imitation smocking' with shirring elastic, so it's a real technique. It's just an aesthetic choice. Hope that helps!

[@kennysumi5906]

Can u please share if u took 3*times of your actual bust,sleeves and back?

[@patbuegeler7770]

❤❤

[@jimhooper4252]

It looks soooooo good ……I’m a beginner and a bloke ….can you get the same effect with just using shearing elastic ??

[@GenericSock]

Almost, the pleats just won't be as deep. To get the deep smocking ruffles that look like an Elizabethan collar turned sideways, it's much easier to use smocking. But if you just want hand stitching over some crumples, then shirring is way faster. It depends on the look you're going for.

[@MsSavvy9]

Has anyone tried the square space trial? I thought it was confusing and it didn't go through many steps. Maybe I did it wrong but I wasn't totally ready to launch my site so I didn't look into it further.

[@denisetanner9110]

It's a beautiful dress that was made with so much effort and talent. I do wish you had left the length on.... sorry, but it is beautiful ❤

[@RoseryApparel]

I tried it on with the longer length and it was not nice on me at all! Much better shorter imo 😍