How to Make a Faux Smocked Child's Dress
Smocking is stitching on tightly gathered fabric. It is usually done by hand by taking a very small bit of fabric and making stitches that sew down little pleats. This method can be time consuming and tedious. Some sewing machines are capable of gathering fabric and sewing down pleats, creating the appearance of hand smocking. Other materials, such as Texture Magic, shrink when ironed to create a type of faux smocking.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric (1-2 yards, depending on child's size)
- Fabric pen
- Scissors
- Sewing Machine
- Thread
- Texture Magic
- Iron
- Ironing board
Instructions
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1
Measure the bodice by wrapping the fabric, facing wrong-side-out, around the child and pinning in the back. Be sure to allow an extra 1/2 inch for the seam. Use a fabric pen to mark the location for shoulder straps and measure the child's shoulders to determine length of straps. Mark the section of the bodice that will be faux smocked.
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2
Pin a section of Texture Magic to the bodice where marked. Faux smocking works best with this kind of material because it shrinks 30 percent in every direction when steamed.
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3
If your machine has a smocking stitch, use it to sew horizontal rows on the right side of the bodice fabric, sewing through both the fabric and the Texture Magic underneath. Otherwise, use a long-stitch length, as tight stitches will keep the Texture Magic from shrinking uniformly. Keep rows close together, as wider rows will cause the bodice to become puffy. Cut the Texture Magic between each row of stitching. This way the rows will shrink horizontally, which creates the look of hand smocking.
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4
Steam the fabric thoroughly with the Texture Magic facing up. If steaming with an iron, do not touch the sole plate to the Texture Magic, as it will cause it to stiffen.
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After the fabric shrinks down, sew a fabric lining onto the Texture Magic to cover it and prevent itching.
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Cut fabric where pinned. Place right sides together and sew a seam 1/4 inch from the edge down the entire dress length.
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Turn the dress inside out, so that the right side of the fabric is facing out. Fold the top of the dress over 1/4 inch toward the inside and iron, then turn it another 1/4 inch and iron again. Sew down the seam and iron flat.
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8
Cut two 4-inch-wide pieces from the fabric for the straps. Fold the width of the strips in half and iron flat. Open them back up, fold the raw edges in toward the creased center, and iron each side flat. Fold the strips closed again, tucking in the cut edges. Sew down the edge of the strap. Turn both ends of each strap over 1/4 inch and iron, then another 1/4 inch, iron, and sew down. Finally, sew both straps onto the dress where marked, keeping the seam on one side.
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9
Fold up the bottom of the dress 1/2 inch and iron. Fold it up another 1/2 inch and iron again. Sew down the hem along the bottom edge.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
