Substitutes for Pearl Cotton Smocking

Smocking helps to control loose fabric through a series of embroidered stitches.

Smocking is a form of embroidery most often associated with girls' dresses. Traditionally, smocking was used to take in excess fabric in chemises, shirts, blouses and shifts. It was an alternative to buttons. Combining the creation of minute pleats through a series of hand embroidered stitches, smocking was incorporated into cuffs, sleeves, garment upper backs and yokes. While some sewing machines have smocking attachments, smocking is still most often done by hand with embroidery thread. Pearl cotton embroidery thread is but one option of many for creating smocked stitches on garments.

Rayon Embroidery Floss for Smocking

Traditionally, embroidery floss was made from cotton. Now companies offer a wide range of floss materials and colors. Rayon embroidery floss is highly lustrous, providing even more shimmer than pearl cotton to smocking stitches. It is available in 100 colors in 8.7 yard skeins. However, should the end goal be an Old-World look to the smocked garment, linen embroidery floss is also available in two dozen colors.

Color Variations Embroidery Floss for Smocking

Much like variegated yarn, embroidery floss can be purchased in 8.7 yard skeins sporting multiple tones along the length of the skein. This variation in color is reminiscent of hand-died embroidery floss. Within a few smocked stitches, the threads will show subtle color changes that add depth to the design.

Metallic Embroidery Floss for Smocking

Metallic embroidery floss can be substituted for pearl cotton when smocking. It has a metallic, sparkling quality that reflects light and adds highlights to any smocked design. However, metallic embroidery floss can easily knot; it is best reserved for single highlighted stitches within a smocked design, such as asterisk flower stitch centers, or French knots.

Satin Embroidery Floss for Smocking

Satin embroidery floss sports the sheen and softness of satin fabric. It easily glides through fabric, making even the most intricate smocking stitch easy to sew. Satin embroidery floss comes in 8.7 yard skeins with six divisible strands, and 36 colors.

References

• "Treasury of Smocking Designs"; Allyne S. Holland; 1986
• "Complete Book of Smocking"; Dianne Durand; 1982