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heirloom techniques: smocked dress round-up
Since Liesl recently returned from the SAGA convention and is absolutely thrilled about smocking, we thought it would be fun to showcase some examples of this technique applied to Oliver + S patterns. For those unfamiliar with smocking, it gathers fabric in a way that allows it to stretch. While it requires time and effort, the results can be stunning, as seen in these smocked dresses (and one blouse). We hope you enjoy these examples, and if you know of any other Oliver + S patterns that work well with smocking, please let us know in the comments!
First up, we have Ashley and Emily's light blue striped Garden Party Dress for spring. Instead of gathering the bodice panel, they chose to pleat and smock it. You can find more details about their modifications and close-up photos of the smocking on their blog.
Next, there’s another Garden Party Dress, this time in peach for Easter, crafted by Darcy. This dress has already been featured as part of our Friday series.
Moving on, Sharon created a pastel pink Fairy Tale Dress for Easter. Head over to her blog to read all about this beautiful piece.
Deb also embraced the Fairy Tale Dress, but she made a festive red, white, and green snowflake dress perfect for Christmas.
Catherine shared her lovely Birthday Party Dress, where you can get a closer look at the smocking details.
Tamara designed a unique denim School Photo Dress using Italian smocking techniques.
Aukje made a Popover Sundress in red gingham and even crafted a 2+2 Blouse with green polka dots.
Marlene also jumped on the Popover Sundress trend, using shot cotton and vintage Liberty lawn fabric, adding a hem facing to the right side of the fabric.
The Popover Sundress seems to be a favorite among smocking enthusiasts, and we have two more examples to share. Melissa began with a mock version using a vintage bedsheet, which turned out so well that she decided to create a green Christmas one as well.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
- Customizing with Oliver + S: Adding Honeycomb Smocking to the Ice Cream Blouse
- The New Smocking: An Obsession
- Smocked Badminton Dress in Sew Beautiful
- Speaking of Smocking: Lisette Continental Blouse
- Feature Friday: Independence Day
- Liesl’s Smocked Necklace workshop on Creativebug
If you’re inspired by these projects and want to try your hand at smocking, consider starting with simple patterns like the Garden Party Dress or the Popover Sundress. They offer a great canvas for experimenting with this timeless technique. Whether you're looking to add a touch of elegance or a playful twist, smocking can transform a basic garment into something truly special. Happy sewing!
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