Braided Smocking

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Welcome to my second smocking tutorial! If you have tried arrow smocking, this is very similar. If not, you can totally do this. Smocking is not difficult, but it is time consuming. The good news is that hand stitching is portable and it is something you can do on the train, waiting for a doctor's appointment, while watching tv, or even while supervising kids at the playground. 

Find My Smocked Patterns 

I used braided smocking in the tutorial for the Friend Owl pattern. To get this pattern check out the Fostering Sewing Etsy shop here: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/FosteringSewing

Want to try out my other smocked patterns? The Grinning Gator and Plucky Penguin can be found on Etsy and the full tutorial for arrow smocking can be found here: 

 https://fosteringsewing.blogspot.com/2021/08/arrow-smocking-tutorial.html 

Let's Get Started! 

Materials Needed for This Tutorial: 

  • At least 12" x 12" scrap of midweight woven fabric (quilting cotton). 
  • Marking tool
    • white gel pen or metallic sharpie for dark fabrics, marker that disappears with water, crayola washable marker, etc. Note that marks may show on the front of the fabric so test any fabric you want to use for an actual project. 
  • NEW: Optional projector smocking file for the 17x 14" owl tummy. Get the file here https://drive.google.com/file/d/14wub23GRFQ7gYehbqwsgEKzX8WDrIKSr/view?usp=sharing 
  • OR manually mark the grid with a pegboard (my favorite), quilting ruler, or DIY template with holes in a grid 1". At least 10" x 10" needed  
  • Hand sewing needle and thread
  • Thimble (highly recommended)

1-Marking the Fabric Grid

I recommend marking at least 10" x 10" to get started. This will give you an idea of how the smocking all fits together. If you are making the owl stomach, you will need a grid that is 17" wide x 14" tall. 

 

2- Marking the Arrows

3- Let's Get Sewing 


See the Finished Front and Back of Braided Smocking 


If you would like to smock something other than the owl pattern, measure the tallest and widest points of the pattern piece. Then double the measurements and mark the grid for the doubled height and width. This should give you some wiggle room in your final product but not leave you with too much leftover smocking. 

You Can Do It! 

I can't wait to see what you do with smocking! It is such a fun technique and makes such cool effects for final projects. 

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