Embroidery Smocking Pleater

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Using a Pleater for Embroidery Smocking

It is very important to block your piece before smocking it so that it will match what you are attaching it to. Pleat your fabric, then tie off the threads on one side in pairs. Then before tying off the other side of the pleated piece, line up both the pleated piece and the yoke on the ironing board and pin both pieces to the board while matching the seam edges; then you may tie off the other side of the pleated piece. Make sure that the pleats are straight and even all the way across. Steam it for two minutes and allow it to dry because this will make sure that the pleats are even throughout the smocking process. When you are done smocking, you will also need to block the piece again so that the seam edges of the yoke (or smocked piece) and the piece you are smocking it to will match.

To create the pleats using a pleater machine, the ratio is normally 3:1 per inch or 3" of material equals 1" of pleated material. The ratio will change depending upon the type of fabric that is used; thinner fabric will provide more pleats to the inch and thicker fabrics less pleats per inch. You should always try a sample gauge piece if you are creating a pattern on your own or altering a pattern for smocking.

Pleating the fabric before smocking has actually created a more sophisticated form of smocking. This has been evidenced by the use of patterns and smocking plates to create elaborate and innovative designs on children's apparel.

A fairly recent smocking trend for pleated fabrics has been to mix silk ribbon embroidery with the smocking for a beautiful and elaborate look.


 

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