Finished Class Projects, Ribbon Pinwheel Jacket

In the fall, our program was Sew Beautiful's Ribbon Pinwheel Jacket.  One of our members made the jacket as we watched and learned from her experience.  It was fun and we have had two jackets completed in our group.  The original pattern is from Sew Beautiful, Issue No. 128.

The above jacket was from brown and hot pink corduroy.  The ribbon detail was in hot pink which matched the ruffle fabric skirt.  I think our member's granddaughter was happy with the results.

The other project was made from blue corduroy and orange and cream ribbon.  The skirt is Oliver+S 2+2 skirt.  This little girl is happy with her skirt and jacket.

Has anyone else made this jacket?

Easter Dresses

Thoughts of Easter dresses fill any smocker mind with a happy smile and wishes to make many more.  This is an example of one member's Easter dress design.

The dress pattern is Carol from Children's Corner.  It is a classic dress and great for adding a touch of smocking at the center neckline.  

The print is a blue and green plaid that is also timeless.  

Enjoy your Easter and share your beautiful Easter dresses with us!

March Monday Night Meeting

A charter member holding a photo of her next project. We love seeing you at the meetings, you are an inspiration to all!

A member donating completed Wee Care gowns to our wonderful Chairperson.

Motivated by Feburary's program one member shares a beautiful "Bargello Smocking" dress.

SAGA Doll Raffle Winner

Barbara Watson of Covington, Georgia was the winner of the SAGA Doll Raffle. She was presented the doll by Leslie Langford, President of the Atlanta Smocking Chapter. Several members of the Midnight Oil Smockers donated dresses for this sewing expo event. The doll that Barbara is holding is wearing a dress created by Roberta Beaver and the darling pink dress on the right was made by Cathy Tiemann. Great job ladies! Thank you for your wonderful support.

Pattern Review for Old Fashioned Baby-Baby Rose Raglan Dress

One of our members finished these dresses and added a few details for sharing.

I used The Old Fashioned Baby --- Baby Rose Raglan Dresses, view 1.
The dresses were size infant and my girls are 12-13 # and they fit perfectly.
I followed Jeannie's directions, making adjustments to the stitch length and width for the laces I used and for my machine.  I did a sample of the lace zig-zag and then the pinstitch before actually working on the dresses.  Also, when joining the laces for the hem, I used super solvy and then used fabri-solvy for doing the pinstitch.  This was a tip from my friend Jane Briscoe. 

There is an excellent article in Sew Beautiful, #81, p 50 that explains Jeannie's Old-Fashioned Entredeaux.  This is an option in the pattern, but the article does a better job of explaining the technique.

It was time intensive, (maybe because I was making two!!) but fairly easy to put together, if you are familiar with heirloom sewing techniques.

I must admit my granddaughters looked so sweet in their 3 month portrait dresses.   Now on to planning their 6 month dresses!!!

February Show and Share

I caught a few pictures this month of our member's sewing projects.  Let me share them with you:

This is a Valentine set with the hearts embroidered on the t-shirt.

The Bodice Dress from Collars Etc. made from Moda London Lawn.

Made for the SAGA 18" doll raffle is a smocked dress from the book Dolly 's Wardrobe by Children's Corner.

Another cute dress for the SAGA doll raffle made with an originally drafted pattern.

Twins wearing grandma's creations from the Rose pattern by Old Fashioned Baby in Swiss Batiste.

Hope you enjoyed seeing a few creations from our membership!

How many ways can you smock?

We had a busy meeting in February.  February is National Smocking Month, so we found out how many ways there are to smock.  I was stunned to know that there are 19 named ways to smock!

We made samples of many new techniques and enjoyed pictures of all the techniques.

Here is the smocking list one of our members put together for us:

1.  Backsmocking or Reverse Smocking

2.  Background Smocking

3.  Bargello Smocking (top left photo above)

4.  Bulgarian Smocking (sample below)

 

5.  Canadian Smocking

6.  Continental Smocking

7.  Counterchange Smocking (sample below)

8.  Crossover Smocking or Layered Smocking

9.  Diagonal Smocking

10.  Direct or French Smocking

11.  English Smocking

12.  Freeform/Random/Contemporary Smocking

13.  Italian Smocking (Sample below)

14.  Jigsaw Smocking

15.  North American Smocking

16.  Picture Smocking 

17.  Plaid or Tartan Smocking

18.  Template Smocking

19.  Vertical Smocking

How many smocking techniques do you know?  Come join us and learn some fun things.  

March is the time we work on Wee Care Gowns for local hospitals.  Hope to see you there!