Burda Style For people who sew

This technique scared me at first. It looked HARD! But once I concentrated and followed the steps 1 by 1, it was so easy! This piece will actually end up on a dress I will be making in the near future. I got this from http://www.savvyseams.com/techniques/canadian.php Happy smocking, I know I am! :D

Technique Materials

A silky type fabric, thread, chalk or marking pen. You can actually purchase a kit called Knot's Dots to mark the fabric. I done mine with a ruler and tailors chalk.

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14 Comments

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  Oct 27, 2009, 03.20 PMby hstorm799

  I just saw a cute top at Maxstudio.com, and it looks like Canadian Smocking all the way around the waistline, and it’s all in one piece. Like to figure out the measurements to do this. Anybody want to take a crack?: http://www.maxstudio.com/cgi-bin/dynamic/product.cgi?frame=main&style_number=8204U70&color=WHITE&AID=10447195&PID=2119485&SID=db4728ad69b289100a280353bcb3d4f8cf333389

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    Oct 28, 2009, 11.47 PMby Scheryka

    According to the website I got this from, I believe it is 3x the size you want it to be. Make sure you leave enough for your seam allowance.

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  Oct 18, 2009, 05.25 AMby Lucia221

  Take a look at Queen Elizabeth’s dress (sleeves) from Shakespeare in Love and some of the costumes in the more recent Star Wars movies. They use Canadian Smocking and it is absolutely beautiful. http://www.padawansguide.com/nightdress_makingof.shtml
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  Oct 9, 2009, 12.23 PMby Almatinka

  I absolutely love smocking and this one looks sooooo pretty. If it’s so easy to do as well, then this is going to be my preferred technique for smocking garments!!!
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  Sep 30, 2009, 04.26 AMby AlanaGrace

  I just read through it now. That seems incredibly SIMPLE for such a beautiful effect. Thankyou so much for sharing!

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    Sep 30, 2009, 08.48 PMby Scheryka

    You are so very welcome. I put the piece in the picture in a dress that I made. I haven’t posted yet because I keep forgetting to get batteries for my cam. It is a test piece from left over fab but it is something I will actually wear.

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  Sep 12, 2009, 12.39 AMby LottaTroublemaker

  BTW, I searched for “knot’s dots”, but didn’t get much hits. Then I found out that it is “Knott’s Dots” (obviously a lady who’s name is Knott who invented this aid in smocking. She also made lots of patterns, many for children’s clothing with smocking, some are listed on eBay). When I searched with the correct spelling, I got lots of hits, amongst others to online stores selling Knott’s Dots. Knott’s Dots comes in sheets with iron on dots, at least in two different versions (one compatible with the spacing on smocking machines, the other with “hand spacing”) and it also comes in two different colors, one for dark fabrics, the other for light colored fabrics.

  Just thought I should let you guys know… If planning on doing a lot of this, I’m sure that these are really helpful… Seems nice not having to draw all those dots… :)
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  Sep 11, 2009, 11.52 PMby LottaTroublemaker

  This really turned out great! I loved how another person on here had made a diamond shaped piece of Canadian smocking and sewed it onto the front of a dress, with the dress fabric gathered where it met this. In that case, I’d sure say that it was a case of “Less is More”, where that quite small piece really lifted the garment to new heights. This really is beautiful, but I think it easily could become too much too, in which it wouldn’t be as pretty anymore. Well, I realize that that also is a matter of taste, and there we’re all different – so I guess that that is just my view and taste when it comes to this. I think your piece is really beautifully done, have seen some online, and not all end out so beautiful and even all over. I think it really would be beautiful on a garment. I would have loved to see it on a fitted black solid color jacket, for instance one with puffy sleeves and princess seams with a different color piping (with a cord inside) in the seams and a metal zipper closure or those large (20 or even 30mm) metal sew on snaps that obviously are in right now (they really do look great on garments, neat little detail!). Then I would have loved to see this piece of smocking as a panel on the back, maybe framed by the same contrast piping. A jacket like that would be a neat, modern way of making a jacket with a little inspiration from old times… :) LOL, you sure gave me some inspiration by showing that piece! I think I will have to give it a go too soon! I would even love to see it on a sweatshirt hoodie or a polar fleece jacket… :)
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  Sep 11, 2009, 07.15 PMby Shaymaa Ali

  That’s amazing!!

  I also found how to do it in a very simple way on this link:
  http://patchworkunderground.com/blog/tag/canadian-smocking

  I hope you like it!

  1 Reply

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    Sep 11, 2009, 09.03 PMby Scheryka

    I wish I had this one! It would have made it easier on my eyes. Thanks!

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  Sep 4, 2009, 01.49 PMby AnaJan

  Here are few creations of our members, with Canadian smocking details:

  http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/peacock-blue-basket-dress
  http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/carat-by-carotte
  http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/retro-glam-tube-dress

  It really is a gorgeous trim on any type of garment.

  1 Reply

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    Sep 5, 2009, 03.47 PMby Scheryka

    Thank you Anajan. Didn’t know these were here. They are great creations.

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  Sep 2, 2009, 03.27 PMby Churpina

  OMG yours is awesome!! mine is evolving really wierd..totally not like yours hehe! ajjuto|!

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    Sep 2, 2009, 04.42 PMby Scheryka

    Keep working with it. When I first started mine looked kinda funky but it all came into play. :D

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  Sep 2, 2009, 01.24 PMby mickeygirl

  Where could it be used?

  So you would smock the fabric first and then cut out the center bodice piece or whatever after. Would you need to stabilize the back of the fabric first?

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    Sep 2, 2009, 04.40 PMby Scheryka

    That is the conclusion I came up with. I have not put it in a garment yet. I do know that the instructions on the site says do not iron unless you really want them flat. So You may have to stabilize by stitching around it or something. I plan on playing with it soon. Right now I’m putting together a leopard print and black 2 piece that Ill post when i am done.

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  Sep 2, 2009, 07.46 AMby 123amy

  I think squares of this sewn together would make a gorgeous (and time-consuming) bedspread or duvet cover!

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    Sep 2, 2009, 04.37 PMby Scheryka

    Yes it would. Not to mention you will need 3x in each direction of total amount of fabric you will need. :O

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  Sep 1, 2009, 05.01 PMby fashion0320

  I love that I think I would use it to make a really cute dress but I would’nt just put it in one area I would do the whole thing like that it would be different
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  Aug 31, 2009, 11.06 PMby nehmah

  What a handsome piece of needlecraft. I’d read the term “Canadian smocking” some years ago, but thought it was a brand name. Whatever it is, it is lovely.

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    Sep 1, 2009, 02.24 AMby Scheryka

    Yes. I plan to make a wedding dress that includes this work of art…One day.

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  Aug 31, 2009, 06.14 PMby DrakeAuge

  Wow… That’s quite amazing.

  1 Reply

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    Sep 1, 2009, 02.25 AMby Scheryka

    Yes it is. It is really easy. I am happy I ran into it. I think it’s my new favorite friend.