Project 3 - A New Technique Tried

For my third project for my HOLY MOLY I HAVE TOO MANY CRAFT BOOKS challenge, I decided to venture into new territory...smocking.  

The project comes from this book, Smocking for Beginners. 

ISBN978-4-8347-2578-0
The book's title is very misleading...Beginners?!!??  With a crafter's eye glance through the book's content, I beg to differ.  Just look at these projects :



Pretty gnarly stuff.  So why did I buy this book?  It was this one pouch, with a polka dot smocking that called to me.


After practicing for a bit, I jumped into this project, enjoying every minute of handwork.  The smocking was easier than I anticipated but sewing the pouch was another story.  There was one thing about the smocking though, my eyes went wonka wonka with all those dots!
 
** TA DAH**



Here's a close up of the smocking


Itching to give polka dot smocking a try?  Here's a tut for you  ~ 

POLKA DOT SMOCKING TUTORIAL


Black Marks = Sewing Guides for this tutorial only
Red Floss = For this tutorial only
1. Thread your needle with a 6-strand embroidery floss; knot one end
2. Starting from the back of the fabric, poke the needle UP through one polka dot as shown in the pic

 3. Next, run your needle through the bottom of the second polka dot

4. Repeat step 3 for the third and fourth polka dots.  Then poke your needle through the bottom of the first polka dot as shown in the pic

5. Slowly pull the threads together

6. Knot the thread on the back side.  Cut thread.

7. Repeat steps for next cluster of 4 polka dots.

8. For this particular project, the polka dot clusters in the second row is in the between the clusters in the first row.  Repeat as many rows as your smocking heart desires.

3 books down - 47 more to go ;o)



happy day ^*^
kat
Posted by kat at 9:05 PM
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35 comments:

  1. That's an amazing effect, so pretty and I have some lovely polka dot fabric in my stash, thank you for sharing the tutorial : )
    emma x

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    1. Hi Emma ~ Seeing the dots come together to create the lovely design is the best part of this project..HAVE FUN ^*^

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  2. Wow do you really have 50 craft books? I wrote recently about how I loved the inspiration from craft books even if I didn't actually do many of the projects. But there does come a point when they need to be put into use!

    I love the smocking and your beautiful pouch. I must say the smocking process, although it looks do-able, looks like it would take me a loooooong time. I don't quite feel ready for it yet. Maybe one day!

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    1. Hi Suki...ahh, not 50 books..more like 100!! I didn't count all of them but just on one shelf there are about 50 books; and I have 2 shelves of Japanese craft books!! HELP!!

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  3. That's incredible, the smocking makes the polka dots look like little flowers/clovers. It makes a really cute pouch!

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    1. Hi Randi ~ I was amazed how the design came together...At the start, the smocking looked no way like the book but it came together as I did more and more of the smocking. SO Fun ~

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  4. To say that your pouch is AWESOME would be an understatement. I simply LOVE IT.

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  5. wow I love that smocking it's so clever. I love these posts

    Kate x

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  6. How adorable! I need to try this.... As to craft books... I also have so many. I think I need to do a similar challenge.

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  7. Hi Yadira :: thanks so much :: loving the pics of your many cats!!

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  8. Hi Kate:: thanks for visiting with me:: I was tickled when the design came together .. Tickled is how I feel whenever a project is as envisioned.. & that's a good thing

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  9. Hi Jean ! Welcome ! If you do a similar challenge, may I suggest starting with 5 books instead of 50 :0) I hope my sanity stays intact by the end of the year. Sigh.

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  11. Great tutorial! You've been featured on the Quality Sewing Tutorials blog.

    We hand select only the best free tutorials and patterns for the home sewist.

    Grab a brag button!

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  12. Hi Jennifer! what a thrill !! *** Thank you so much for the feature***

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  13. love the way the dots come together, and totally makes sense, they are after all already mapped out... I will have to now try smocking.

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    1. Hi Megan ... oh yes, the fun part of this project was the design unveiling itself as I sewed....grab your dotted fabric and give a go! (*^_^*)

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  14. hey, the effect is great. i think, i have to try this. thanks for your tutorial, it's great.

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    1. Hi (*^_^*)
      thank you for your comment .^*^. I do hope you give it a try ! The project seemed daunting at first but once I did a few of the dots it got easier. ***enjoy***

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  15. I love the look! I want to make this. I can't get enough of zippy pouch tutorials- I buy tons of zippers and hand the pouches out as gifts all the time, but really I keep most of them because I love them all! My zippy-pouch-making is like your craft-book-collecting. I have the dotted fabric, but can't seem to figure out how you picked the dots in the second row of smocking. Your picture with the pen marks shows the first row, but I see the second row is exactly centered diagonally from them. Did you pick the second row based on the original dot locations? or the completed 'clovers'? Are there a row of untouched dots between, or is it the very next row? Thank you so much for the inspiration!

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    1. Hi Jerri ~ oh oh..I suspect you have pouch-o-litis...heh. I sent you an email with the pattern from the book...I hope it helps... :)

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    2. I would love to see the rest of the pattern for this bag, too. Would you mind sending that my way? It is adorable!! Thanks!

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    3. Oooh! What a beautifull pouch... It's such a great idea of smocking the dots into clovers. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. I would love to make this pouch myself. Can I ask you for the patter, please?
      Greetings from Belgium!
      ilseh@hotmail.be

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  16. Cool stuff, thanks for the tutorial! :)

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    1. Hi Alessa..you are most welcome! Happy day

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  18. I just came across this tutorial today and think it's brilliant! I love how the smocking creates a clover effect when the polka dots come together. I'm itching to try it out!

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  19. Well done tutorial and cute project. Thanks.

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  20. very nice thank you so much
    http://sewingbreakdown.blogspot.com/

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  21. Hi Kat,
    I love your blog, I'm your new follower, I simply love Japan and japanese crafts with great details always beautiful!I love polka dots and this pouch is adorable,I'll try it.Thank you for sharing tutorial.
    Have a look at my blog and leave a comment I'll be glad :)!

    Hugs from Portugal
    Ana Love Craft

    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  23. Very nice and interesting! In what book did you find this smocking?

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    1. Hi Laurie
      The book is at the top of the post ... A copy of the book plus the ISBN number

      Enjoy

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  24. Hi
    Quelle superbe idée, merci pour ton tutoriel (thanks a lot) . J'adore l'effet de ta trousse (love your work). J'ai une petite question (question about the final project) sur la finition de ta trousse (how did you sew the material at the end ? I see the bottom is seamless , what was your sewing pattern? ° Absolutly sorry for my english... Thanks

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  25. Looks really pretty, and polka dots are always my favorite, too. Did you iron the smocking, or how did the folds in your final bag look so super neat?

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