Smocking Progress

Just a quick blog update.  Between working on our house for possible listing on market, I'm doing some smocking on my heirloom project.  I love smocking!

I have five rows completed so far.  The picture is the right side of smocking.  The green with a five step trellis stitch is on either side of the middle.  There will be some bullion roses eventually.  The middle section will actually be cut away.  Then I also I am again posting a photo of the project I hope to complete someday!

My Smocking

Summer Garden Heirloom Dress

Have a blessed Easter!

Marla

Pleating Done on Summer Garden Heirloom Dress

In my last post I mentioned that I was going to start an heirloom dress similar to one featured in Gail Doane's book, Sew Cute Couture, called Summer Garden.  I posted a picture of the dress featured in the book and also a picture of the fabric I selected.

I just finished pleating the skirt fabric with my Amanda Jane Pleater.  I have 18 rows of pleats.  The top and bottom rows are holding rows.  My next step will be to block the pleats to the specified size.

Below are a lot of pictures showing the process of pleating the fabric. I interfaced the area to be pleated as suggested in Gail's book.  It helped tremendously.  I marked a line 3/8" from the edge of the fabric and lined that up against the first groove of the pleater.  I have the fabric rolled on a dowel rod and inserted into back of pleater.  The rest of the explanation will be under the pictures.

Thanks for reading,

Marla

Beginning to pleat fabric.

Fabric is pleating nicely!

Just another picture as pleating continues.

Every so often the pleats have to be manually pulled off pleater needles.

Getting close to end.

The end is in sight!

Very close to being done!

Beginning to pull fabric from pleater needles.

Beginning to pull threads out of pleater needles.

Front side of fabric after pleated.

Threads on one end are tied together.

Next Heirloom Project

I have made a decision on what to make next!  I'm going with a sweet little dress called Summer Garden.  The dress is from a book I have called Sew Cute Couture by Gail Doane.  I happen to have some floral print cotton fabric that I plan to use.  I will need to get fabric for the collar, gingham fabric for the trims, buttons and embroidery supplies.  But I think this will be such a cute project to learn more about heirloom sewing.

I have a feeling this will be a challenge and who knows how long this project will take since we may put our house on the market in the near future!  Thankfully, I can take a lot of the work with me as there is plenty of smocking and hand embroidery to be done.

Summer Garden Dress

:  

Floral Cotton Print

Thanks for reading,

Marla

Completed Jacket

I finished my jacket almost two weeks ago, so thought I had better post pictures.  I may possibly enter my jacket in our county's fair this summer.

It's not looking very positive to get much sewing done anytime soon because we are seriously considering putting our house on the market again.  We tried selling nearly three years ago, but the housing market was horrible.  Realtors say things are improving, so we may try again! So instead of sewing, I'm packing up things to make our house look like we don't live here!  Right.

I'm even cleaning and organizing my sewing room which needed done anyway!  I hope if we list our house, we find one right away, get moved and settled so I can get back to sewing!

Anyway, readers, not looking like I'll be posting much for awhile unless I can sew between showings should we list our house!

Here's my jacket below.  It's hanging on a hanger, but fits nicely.  There are a few modifications I would make if I make this jacket again.  I would take out some ease in the sleeve cap and lengthen the sleeve as it's three quarter length.  I would modify the lining a little too if I lined the next jacket.  But overall I'm satisfied.

Jacket Front

Jacket Back

Thanks for reading!

Marla