hang on the wrong side of the fabric before the next stitch is to be worked. 1 Make a paper pattern for the smock design on dressmaker’s metric graph paper – it is ideal as the grid is worked in 1cm squares. 2 Start with the top row of the grid. Using the pencil work a series of dots 3cm apart across the graph paper. The dots of the second row are placed in the same position 3cm down from the first row. Continue plotting dots until all six rows have been drafted. This will be the template for your smocking. When stitched it will form a diamond pattern. 3 Lay the fabric on a flat surface. Place the paper template under the fabric approximately 25cm from the top edge and approximately 10cm from the right- hand selvage. Use the dressmaker’s graph paper to make sure the fabric and the grid align. With the adhesive tape secure the paper template and the fabric from slipping. 4 Starting at the right-hand edge, using the dressmaker’s pen or pencil, trace the dots directly onto the fabric, until all the dots are plotted. Move the paper template and continue plotting the next section of the grid. Continue in this way until you have completed the width of fabric. Stop the grid 10cm from the left- hand selvage. 5 Thread the embroidery needle with matching coloured sewing thread. Secure the thread at the back of the work at the first dot in the first row; make a small stitch and bring the needle out at the back of the work. Insert the needle into the second dot on the first row and pull needle and thread through. Gently pull the fabric from the needle to the first dot so it gathers the fabric and forms neat folds. Catch the folds of the fabric with two or three small straight stitches on top of the first stitch worked on the first dot. The first smocked stitch has just been made. 6 Now bring the needle through to the back of the fabric leaving a loose thread, bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the next dot in the row below, this will be the second dot in the second


row. Make a small stitch and bring the needle out at the back of work. Insert the needle into the next dot in the second row, this will be the third dot, and pull needle and thread through. Gently pull the fabric from the needle to the dot as before. Catch the folds of the fabric with two or three small straight stitches as before. The second smocked stitch has been made. 7 Now bring the needle through to the back of the fabric leaving a loose thread, bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the next dot in the row above, this will be the third dot on the first row. Make a small stitch; work the next stitch as given in step 5. The third stitch has been smocked. Now work in the dot below, this will be the fourth dot in second row, and make the fourth stitch as given in step 6. Repeat these two steps. Don’t pull the thread at the back of the work too tightly when bringing it to the next stitch to be worked. When you need new thread make sure the stitches are secure before you cut away the end of the thread. 8 When the first and second rows of dots are completed across the width of the fabric, start working the next two rows in the same way. A diamond pattern will start to form. Work the fifth and sixth rows in the same way. The smocking is now completed. Repeat these steps for the second drop.


To make the curtain 1 Overlock the raw edges of the curtain. Fold a 1cm double hem along the side edges, press and stitch in place. Fold a 5cm double hem along the lower edge and stitch in place. 2 Place the top of the curtain on a flat surface. There will be a lot of excess fabric above the smocking. Carefully work the fabric into loose folds with your hands, following the folds in the actual smocking. Pin and tack these rough pleats in place until the width of the curtain has been completed. Secure these pleats by working a row of machine stitching along the top edge. Remove the pins and tacking stitches.


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3 Fold a narrow hem along the top edge. Place the header tape about 2,5cm from the top edge. Sew the tape in position along both sides working the stitching close to the tape edge. Fold the fabric over to form a hem with the header tape sitting in the centre back width of hem. Machine stitch the hem in place. Repeat these steps for the second drop.


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