Stitch 2 Stitch

Ever since I finished those 2 smocked dresses, I must say that I have been inspired to smock more but I won’t be doing one any time soon. I’ve actually beeb browsing online for some pattern books as well as some books for beginners. I’ve got 2 of them in mind particularly A-Z of Smocking and A- Z of Sewing for Smocker. They are both currently on sale but I dont know which on to pick!!! Would anyone be interested to get me one for my birthday?

Anyway, while taking a break from smocking, I’ve been busy clearing out our cupboards and picking out old blouses and tshirt that I can reconstruct into something else for the kids while I’m here. We’ve got tonnes of jeans that are too small for meand I know I will NEVER EVER fit into them again so I’ve got plans to chop off the legs and make 3/4 pants for the girls. The last time I tried to do that they turned out so cute, I can’t wait to make more! I’m also thinking of making a few for a friend’s daughter just to cheer her up a little as her poor dad is battling asbestos mesothelioma. I know it’s not a big deal but what I do hope is that it will cheer her up a wee bit… you know?

I’ve currently done a couple of singlets for the girls coz it’s hot here to be wearing tshirts during the day so singlets have been their daywear while we’re in Malaysia. Thanks to Aunty Beth who’s let me use her sewing machine while I’m here coz Mum’s Usha sewing machine can’t really sew knit fabric well. Shamefully though, I’ve succumbed to getting a few RTW (ready to wear) tops for the girls coz I haven’t been able to churn out any nice tops on my own without any patterns here. Yes, I’m not very creative on my own. *shame shame*

Anyhoo, at least the pile stacked up in the cupboard is slowly diminishing…. Tis all good!

I have been busy digging up old pictures and scanning them to upload on FB and it was really fun walking down memory lane. I guess I’m going to take this opportunity to show my Mummy’s talent off by just sharing a few of the many things that she handmade for us (sis & I) over the years. Our family grew up on handmade garments and I’m darn proud of it!! Thank you, Mummy…you’re the best!

My 1st birthday…that’s Mummy beside me and I reckon she sewed that dress herself too!

Sis in the same dress…

Here, Mummy sewed the same smocked dress for Arianna’s 1st birthday too.

I was meant to dress KR up in the same dress for her birthday but I forgot and also, it was a rather hot day that day, hence she wore something else. But this is KR in the same dress as Arianna. Talk about keeping true to traditional eh?

My 3rd birthday…

Sis keeping the traditional going and wore the same on her 3rd birthday.

In my sailor’s dress

Then we grew up……

One of the many skirts Mummy sewed for me

Sis and I in our sarees….Mum didnt sew the sarees but she did sew the blouse for us.

I wore a crocheted blouse Mummy did for me for my engagement. She took awhile to complete and I absolutely love it!

And this is the 3 of us wearing matching blouses that Mummy sewed…. I’ve always loved to wear matching clothes with the family because to me it symbolizes a link, a connection. I fail to understand how some people are totally against the idea. O well, to each their own I suppose but me, I’m already sewing matching garments for the girls.

With a little man on the way, it’s going to be a tad challenging but also the best time to test myself and my creativity. And yes, if didn’t already know….we’re expecting bub #3, our little man!

Ps. I’m merely half way through my albums so expect to see more handmade stuff by Mummy coming this way soon!! I love showing my Mummy’s labour of love off.

Aahhh…the victory of conquering such a feat (to me) is such a sweet, sweet victory. (Pulls a ‘Rocky’ pose at the top of a bunch of steps) Yes, finally…it is DONE. Finito. The end. Amen.

I can’t believe how long it took me from start to finish. What started out as this smocking pattern, turned into something I made up along the way. LOL No thanks to not really knowing how to estimate the number of pleats and how to actually figure out the the diagram. Anyhoo, I’m glad I survived it. Mum said that I really took it to the extreme because it’s really a simple dress to sew. And I actually have to admit that it was easy, not taking into account the number of times I had to unpick those darn stitches! But smocking aside, tis was mostly my fault that the dress took so long to come together.

Let’s just say that my mind does not work as well as my mum’s. lol She’s brilliant, while me….let’s just leave it as it is. Anyway, enuf’ said…here are the pix :

My first smocked dress….literally all my blood, sweat n tears!! This dress is for Arianna.

Second attempt, for KR….both turned out SUPER big so they can REALLY use it for a long time n for now, it can be used as a smock (literally) since it’s winter back home. Pls ignore the fact it’s not ironed OR washed!

(Thank you Mummy for teaching me this and pulling me out of the mud when I got stuck – so many times that I’ve lost count! xoxoxo)

Next time I try to smock, I’ll try and just make a small bodice and attach it to a skirt instead of a full dress – this is going to be a really puffy dress. But I’m taking a break for now….isn’t it a fantastic way of relaxing….helping Ted with his homework on industrial products? Oy…the things I do for that man……

I can’t believe its taking me THIS long to sew up 2 simple smocked dresses! >.< What started out as a rather exciting journey has now turned into such a drag….now, all I want is for it to end.

Honestly, if I ever complete these 2 dresses, it would literally be with all my blood, sweat and tears. Doesn’t really help that I ca only sew at night when the kids are in bed either. *sigh* I’m really quite sick of it….I’m very close to chucking it out the window but because I had put in so much effort in the smocking, I dont really have the heart to give up.

So please…..just let it end soon!!! *prays for more sanity and perseverance*

Wooohoooo!!!! The hard part is done. Yup, I’ve finished the smocking for both dresses for the girls. I’m so happy I survived it. Honestly, the only reason I persevered was because I was determined to learn how to smock. I personally think it’s a lesson which will come in handy and is never a loss to learn such a method of sewing. Plus, how often do you get free 1 to 1 lessons eh?

So I am proud to say that I am deflowered smocker! *lol* With the smocking out of the way, I can start the sewing – the easy bit now. Lessons learned :

1. Smocking needs patience, sanity and perseverance if you’re a slow learner like me!

2. Straight pleats are important. Straight stitches are important too.

3. Be observant and always count your stitches especially if your pleats are tight. I had to unpick dress #2 many times because I sewed over an extra pleat! Unpicking is a pain in the a$$.

Although I did swear that I would never smock again after I’m done with KR’s dress….I think I’ll take it back. After all, when you learn something, you can’t unlearn it. And with smocking, since I got the hang of the basic, I reckon chances of me smocking more in the future is good!

Thank Mummy, for sticking by me and enduring all the whinging and swearing. Love ya!

I think I’ve lost it! *lol* This morning Mum brought back a piece of fabric she bought from the market (why can’t the markets in Sydney stock fabric too??) and it was such a cute piece too! It’s a light shade of red with dark red and white flowers….very cute to make frocks and summer dresses that when I first saw it, I saw KR wearing a smocked dress!

Yes, I’ve suddenly gone into smocking overdrive since my last success with Arianna’s dress although it’s not 100% complete. And since I am still in the mood to do smocking I thought I should make full use of this moment and continue. Hence, I cut up the fabric this arvo and just moments ago, I’ve finished the pleats (this is where one would so love to own a pleater!) and started a bit of smocking.

There’s no way I can do much now…it’s already 1.30am and I’m still awake blogging!! Off to bed now coz it’s an early start tomorrow. And hopefully if all is well, might go fabric hunting again with mum and the girls!!

I’m so glad to share this love around…..my fav forum cum fabric shop online is having a Farb-ulous fabric giveaway!! SO why not make your way down there and join in?

I already have and keeping my fingers and toes and eyes crossed for that cute fabric!

Ps. The giveaway end at midnight on 12 June 2010 – so hurry up!!

In my previous post, I was whinging about not getting my stitches right. It’s true that I unpicked those darn things at least 4 times before I finally gave up and was about to totally give up on smocking but Mum came to the rescue and did the first row for me just to boost my confidence and encourage me to carry, which is the only reason why I persevered.

And I am glad that I did!! I’ve actually finished smocking Arianna’s dress (I only smocked the front bodice) but haven’t sewn up the dress yet. So technically I survived smocking! I’m no longer a smocking virgin…..heh.

Although the design has totally steered away from the pattern that I had initially picked, and not as nice….Mum says that for my first attempt, it’s acceptable. I’m quite happy with that. Now I just need to get a move on sewing the dress up.

As it turns out, I’ve still not yet started on my smocking! >.< Even thought I was suppose to start it yesterday, it just didn't happen. I was really tired after our day out (will blog about that soon - I promise!) that I was just about ready to crash after the kids went to bed.

Anyway, today...I couldn't find the bag of thread that Mum had given me a few days ago. I had put it in the bag I came to Malaysia with but sis took it with her back to JB. So I assumed that she didn't realise that it was in there. But it turns out that the bag was here all along - YAY!!! And then when I finally decided on the color of the thread that I'd be using for the smocking, Mum didn't have a needle with an eye big enough to thread 2 plys of DMC!!!! >.< I reckon she unknowingly bought a pack of embroidery needles instead of your normal ones and now, she and I are both stuck with superbly fine needles which prick twice as easy! :/

I reckon tis just not meant to be. But I am not giving up just yet. I am off to the shops tomorrow to get some proper needles, check out how much pinking shears here cost *wonders if I really need one*, and get more tailors chalk that can actually work! It’s really pissing me off that I can’t get to the smocking coz I’m dying to learn about it but at the same time, I still find it so intimidating! *lol*

I think I finally got my sewjo back! Been talking to Mum about what I should try my hand at and I’ve decided that I should try making my first ever smock.

The mere thought of it intimidates me but I figured that I have to start somewhere and what better time and place to do so than now since I’ve got Mum right here to help me out if I ever get stuck!

At the moment, I’ve just picked the fabric and I’ve done some running stitches to create the folds before I start on my ‘official’ smocking journey. While it took me just about 1/2 to complete the 4 lines of running stitch, Mum claims that it takes her days. The only difference is that she uses plain fabric while I sort of cheated and have opted for a fabric with patterns and lines to help me as a guide. Heh. Cheeky eh?

Anyway off to bed now, tomorrow….we begin the journey. Wish me luck!

Ps. It is difficult to come across free smocking patterns online but Janet Gilbert has been kind enough to share some of hers. I’ve picked the first one. God help me!