Suddenly, I was six year old me clutching a blue corduroy doll dress and a needle threaded with sky blue cotton thread and sitting next to Mrs. Tucker as she showed me the ins and outs of smocking… I still have the doll’s dress tucked away with my original Barbie with case who wore the dress on our “matching days” — both of us wearing our blue on blue smocked dresses… it was the first time an adult shared needlework with me and I felt pretty self-important….and remarkably clever and creative….
When I was aa small girl, my Granny made me dresses with a smocked band across the front. She used cream Vyella with little red spots for winter, or for summer red gingham. Both with the obligatory puffed sleeves! I still have one of the white ones that my mother saved hanging on display in our spare room.
I am not a sewer, knitter, and rudimentary quilter/embroiderer at the very best, but I came across your newsletter from Persephone Press (which I adore) and I am so entranced at the beauty of the smocking work you've created. Just gorgeous, fascinating--the overlap with architecture, with utility vs. the beauty of the patterning, thread, fabric....I just love it and am delighted about all the connections it makes between history, the use of textiles, women, creativity, art. Grateful to have come across your work!
I was one of those blogspot readers. So happy to find you here.
I took two of Annie Cogan's smocking classes at Tatter Blue during the pandemic. Loved them I have a osnaberg cotton night gown I smocked but it lives in a dress form. The dress in the last picture is ethereal.
Back in the day when I first discovered blogs yours was a favourite - you, Ben Pentreath and Sasha the Liberty London girl - I still eagerly anticipate what all of you will be up to.
Loved this piece on smocking - my mum was a brilliant maker of girls dresses in the ‘English Smocking’ style on simple cotton broadcloth - bright threads for the designs - she did teach me and I managed one little dress.
Ooooh I do wish I had known about the smocking workshop. I think it would be lovely if any one of us that reads this would, in some way, be able to share details of things that they have found to attend like this. Due to work commitments I don’t have a lot of time to look for events but I would find the time to go to some. I am not sure how you would administer this but it would be a lovely thing to share. As a smocker of thirty years standing I am hoping to make a real smock and have recently purchased an original copy of Alice Armes book on them and it is a joy.
Suddenly, I was six year old me clutching a blue corduroy doll dress and a needle threaded with sky blue cotton thread and sitting next to Mrs. Tucker as she showed me the ins and outs of smocking… I still have the doll’s dress tucked away with my original Barbie with case who wore the dress on our “matching days” — both of us wearing our blue on blue smocked dresses… it was the first time an adult shared needlework with me and I felt pretty self-important….and remarkably clever and creative….
When I was aa small girl, my Granny made me dresses with a smocked band across the front. She used cream Vyella with little red spots for winter, or for summer red gingham. Both with the obligatory puffed sleeves! I still have one of the white ones that my mother saved hanging on display in our spare room.
Look, I know it's Wednesday and not long til Sunday but I'm not sure I can wait..
I just adore these posts (if that's the right term). I need more. Feed me.
Oh my goodness, now I need to add smocking to my list of things I want to do. Beautiful.
How gorgeous!
I bet it you could make a gorgeous lampshade... thin fabric would create insane shadows and light games...
Buona Domenica.
I am not a sewer, knitter, and rudimentary quilter/embroiderer at the very best, but I came across your newsletter from Persephone Press (which I adore) and I am so entranced at the beauty of the smocking work you've created. Just gorgeous, fascinating--the overlap with architecture, with utility vs. the beauty of the patterning, thread, fabric....I just love it and am delighted about all the connections it makes between history, the use of textiles, women, creativity, art. Grateful to have come across your work!
I was one of those blogspot readers. So happy to find you here.
I took two of Annie Cogan's smocking classes at Tatter Blue during the pandemic. Loved them I have a osnaberg cotton night gown I smocked but it lives in a dress form. The dress in the last picture is ethereal.
Back in the day when I first discovered blogs yours was a favourite - you, Ben Pentreath and Sasha the Liberty London girl - I still eagerly anticipate what all of you will be up to.
Loved this piece on smocking - my mum was a brilliant maker of girls dresses in the ‘English Smocking’ style on simple cotton broadcloth - bright threads for the designs - she did teach me and I managed one little dress.
Such fun to think about..l
Cheers
Deby (in Canada)
👋🏼👏🏼🥰
Also thank you for that exquisite Molly Godard picture. It made me gasp.
Bon dimanche et merci pour l'imagination des "smocks" nous avons gardé ce mot anglais en français. !!!! A great invention !!!
Beautiful post. Long time follower too. Waving from 🐨🇦🇺
Oh so beautiful!
Hello from Brooklyn, Jane! Long-time follower. :-) Love the different styles and that jumbo piece! Best--Jen
The start of a new book?! Thanks for coming back, I always enjoy your writing!
Ooooh I do wish I had known about the smocking workshop. I think it would be lovely if any one of us that reads this would, in some way, be able to share details of things that they have found to attend like this. Due to work commitments I don’t have a lot of time to look for events but I would find the time to go to some. I am not sure how you would administer this but it would be a lovely thing to share. As a smocker of thirty years standing I am hoping to make a real smock and have recently purchased an original copy of Alice Armes book on them and it is a joy.