I live in South Africa were smocked dresses are making a little comeback. Always a favourite hobby of mine. I have a Read pleater and two Sally Stanleys which someone gave me. I love your videos Sarah, you are an inspiration and so generous with your knowledge. I have an old Jamie pattern which did not included View F but I have just finished View A without the collar and with puffed sleeves. I cut the back bodices as you suggested, on the fold, which gave a lovely finish. I used some lovely soft pink cotton sent up from Cape Town by my daughter's mother-in-law, and I am thrilled with the result. Thank you and best wishes from South Africa.
Enjoying your videos SO MUCH!!! ...I discovered your site yesterday! (9-23-16). I bought a pleater years ago when my first daughter was a baby....I never had time to go to a class. That was before you tube was around! I made a lot of matching jumpers!!! I ended up with FOUR WONDERFUL GIRLS, and TWO FABULOUS BOYS!!! Someone in our church asked to borrow the pleater "years" ago. She wanted to make something for her grand daughter. I loaned it out. fast forward many years. She found my old/new unused pleater and mailed it back to me with a very sweet card! I got it back yesterday in the mail.....NOW there is "you tube" and YOU! YOU are a sweet heart!!! Guess what? Now I have a grand daughter :-) 18mo. Last night, I tried out the Pullen Pleater. It tore the fabric at the end and broke two needles. The fabric I used is a calico broadcloth. Do you ever need to oil the pleater? My first attempt at smocking looks terribly poor. Have you ever considered a weekend workshop? I am guessing you are really busy :-) I keep watching your videos and they are very helpful. Thank you so very much!!! BABY is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Enjoy every day it goes by quick!!!!
Hey there Brenda, thanks so much -- so glad the channel is helpful for you :-) You made my day! That's so crazy about your pleater -- guess you gotta get to work now ;-) Bummer about your needles though. Are they really old? They may just be brittle over time. Try running some wax paper through your pleater to coat your needles. I haven't heard of people oiling their pleater before... so I'm not sure on that one. I've gone to a couple of sewing classes. One was at Farmhouse Fabrics taught by Cindy Foose (LOVE her). And then I went to sewing at the beach last year. Actually, I think registration is open for that one right now. Farmhouse Fabrics has classes year round so it's best to check their website. And while I haven't taken a class from her yet, I've heard absolutely wonderful things about Gail Doane. I look forward to taking a class from her... sometime. hahaa. Thank you, thank you. Yupp, trying to soak it all in :-)
I was wondering if you would do a "tour of handwork" at some point and show us the inside of some of your finished garments. I do the french seams on these and on the baby gowns where the smocked panel is inset but they are so bulky and I feel like I never get the inside quite as lovely as I would like. I would be grateful to know what your finished ones look like.
I was disappointed that the Jamie bubble was not lined. Delighted that your video has lined the yoke. Did you place the "fold line for the lap" of the back yoke on the fold of the fabric? I am assuming you need to place it there rather than at the center back. Thanks.
Yeah, a lined bubble bottom isn't that big of a deal to me, but I do like a lined yoke. And I really like the method of sewing all the shoulder seams and folding back onto itself so there's no seam down the back area. Yes, I put the fabric at the fold line for the lap since they are going to overlap and close with buttons/snaps. Thanks Bonnie.
Thanks for such a quick reply! I smocked a lot of little bishops for my girls, and now my first grandchild is on the way - a little boy. I'm looking forward to smocking again, and trying the little boy bubble!
Tip: after you pleat, you might want to "comb" your pleats vertically with a wide tooth comb and spray starch your piece. Let dry then attach to your yoke. Your pleats are less likely to get squashed down. Also.... I have never seen a bias band attached how you do it on a bishop neck--attaching a doubled bias band then folding over. I learned by placing a single bias band on, folding over once, then folding over again and finally hand stitching it down. It always ended up with ripples. With your method, there are no ripples and my necklines have never looked neater! Can you do a video on your method?
I'm so happy I found you, I will be investing in a new pleater soon, and I would like to know where you buy your fabric supplies, as batiste is SOOO expensive and so is all the heirloom entredeux, laces etc. Do you have a supply house you could recommend that is good quality but affordable prices?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE farmhouse fabrics. Their prices are very competitive... although the fancy lace is always going to be expensive. I am going to do some videos showing how you can make your own entredeux (hopefully soon). Their imperial batiste is a wonderful quality and is 60" wide and sells for $6 or so per yard. www.sarahclassicsewing.com/supplies-i-like-to-keep-on-hand.html Also, their customer service is wonderful. I've been ordering from them since I was a junior in college... so 8 years or so. You can call them up and they are more than happy to have a conversation helping you with your order and such. I can't recommend them enough.
thank you so much. I don't have grandchildren to sew for (yet), and I have been interested in heirloom sewing since the 80's when my children were small, but I never had the money, or time to buy into it, I did get the large heirloom book of martha pullens and a few of her dvd's, but I couldn't afford it. I have started a collection of children's vintage and antique baby dresses that I hang on my walls in different rooms, and now that I have the time and money I really would like to get into it. I do make dolls, so I will be dressing them also, displaying dolls and my walls with these clothes. I'm an addict for the styles.
thank you sarah this helps alot i am a visual learner i wish i did this placket method rather than the one the pattern calls for it looks more tidy also do you make your piping
Thanks, glad it helped. Yeah... plackets can be tricky. I actually have a third method coming out... sometime. Anywho, yes I do make some piping, but more often, I just buy it. Farmhouse Fabric sells it for $1-3/yard depending on the fabric, so you can't beat that. Link to the piping that I used for this garment is in the description box.
Good Day, I purchased this pattern and chose the Bishop view D. It is impossible for me to put this on a dowel and get it through the pleater. Do you have any suggestions?
+Tina Short ha yes I couldn't figure how to get it on a dowel either. I have a video on view e... But I'm on my cell phone and dont know how to link it. Just search through my videos, I made it out of pink fabric. And I have time stamps in the description box for all my tutorials, so that'll tell you where to fast forward to for the pleating part.
This is view F? Did you have to widen the bubble front before cutting out to have enough fabric for smocking? It looks like the front for views A and C are much wider than F.
It's view A, but my pattern uses the same bubble bottom front and bubble bottom back pattern pieces for all those views. I have the original CC Jamie, so I can't speak for the revised, but I'm guessing they kept it the same, too. I didn't add any fabric to the width - there's enough to pleat.
Sarah... I had to search. I just finished a dress that the instructions said to put the band on the sleeve AFTER attaching the sleeve to the dress.... AS YOU WOULD SAY!!! HOT MESS!!! IT WAS A PAIN!!! I knew I have watched all your videos and you do that before even placing the sleeve on the dress.... OH SEW MUCH EASIER! (Pardon the pun)
Thank you for the video and breakdown parts. Since I am relative new to this, it is hard to follow you because you talk so fast. Just a suggestion to please slow down. The baby is adorable.
Thank you, and the video can be slowed down by clicking on the gear icon at the lower right of the video and changing the speed from normal to .5 or .25. Hope that helps. I'll try to slow down in future videos.
I live in South Africa were smocked dresses are making a little comeback. Always a favourite hobby of mine. I have a Read pleater and two Sally Stanleys which someone gave me. I love your videos Sarah, you are an inspiration and so generous with your knowledge. I have an old Jamie pattern which did not included View F but I have just finished View A without the collar and with puffed sleeves. I cut the back bodices as you suggested, on the fold, which gave a lovely finish. I used some lovely soft pink cotton sent up from Cape Town by my daughter's mother-in-law, and I am thrilled with the result. Thank you and best wishes from South Africa.
aww wonderful! so happy to hear that, thanks for sharing
Enjoying your videos SO MUCH!!! ...I discovered your site yesterday! (9-23-16). I bought a pleater years ago when my first daughter was a baby....I never had time to go to a class. That was before you tube was around! I made a lot of matching jumpers!!! I ended up with FOUR WONDERFUL GIRLS, and TWO FABULOUS BOYS!!!
Someone in our church asked to borrow the pleater "years" ago. She wanted to make something for her grand daughter. I loaned it out. fast forward many years. She found my old/new unused pleater and mailed it back to me with a very sweet card! I got it back yesterday in the mail.....NOW there is "you tube" and YOU!
YOU are a sweet heart!!!
Guess what? Now I have a grand daughter :-) 18mo.
Last night, I tried out the Pullen Pleater. It tore the fabric at the end and broke two needles. The fabric I used is a calico broadcloth. Do you ever need to oil the pleater? My first attempt at smocking looks terribly poor. Have you ever considered a weekend workshop? I am guessing you are really busy :-) I keep watching your videos and they are very helpful.
Thank you so very much!!! BABY is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Enjoy every day it goes by quick!!!!
Hey there Brenda, thanks so much -- so glad the channel is helpful for you :-) You made my day! That's so crazy about your pleater -- guess you gotta get to work now ;-) Bummer about your needles though. Are they really old? They may just be brittle over time. Try running some wax paper through your pleater to coat your needles. I haven't heard of people oiling their pleater before... so I'm not sure on that one.
I've gone to a couple of sewing classes. One was at Farmhouse Fabrics taught by Cindy Foose (LOVE her). And then I went to sewing at the beach last year. Actually, I think registration is open for that one right now. Farmhouse Fabrics has classes year round so it's best to check their website. And while I haven't taken a class from her yet, I've heard absolutely wonderful things about Gail Doane. I look forward to taking a class from her... sometime. hahaa.
Thank you, thank you. Yupp, trying to soak it all in :-)
I was wondering if you would do a "tour of handwork" at some point and show us the inside of some of your finished garments. I do the french seams on these and on the baby gowns where the smocked panel is inset but they are so bulky and I feel like I never get the inside quite as lovely as I would like. I would be grateful to know what your finished ones look like.
That's a great idea. Yes, will add to the list :-) Thanks.
yea!!! thank you, looking forward to it!
I was disappointed that the Jamie bubble was not lined. Delighted that your video has lined the yoke. Did you place the "fold line for the lap" of the back yoke on the fold of the fabric? I am assuming you need to place it there rather than at the center back. Thanks.
Yeah, a lined bubble bottom isn't that big of a deal to me, but I do like a lined yoke. And I really like the method of sewing all the shoulder seams and folding back onto itself so there's no seam down the back area. Yes, I put the fabric at the fold line for the lap since they are going to overlap and close with buttons/snaps. Thanks Bonnie.
Thanks for such a quick reply! I smocked a lot of little bishops for my girls, and now my first grandchild is on the way - a little boy. I'm looking forward to smocking again, and trying the little boy bubble!
Aww congratulations! That's so exciting.
Really well done video.
Tip: after you pleat, you might want to "comb" your pleats vertically with a wide tooth comb and spray starch your piece. Let dry then attach to your yoke. Your pleats are less likely to get squashed down.
Also.... I have never seen a bias band attached how you do it on a bishop neck--attaching a doubled bias band then folding over. I learned by placing a single bias band on, folding over once, then folding over again and finally hand stitching it down. It always ended up with ripples.
With your method, there are no ripples and my necklines have never looked neater!
Can you do a video on your method?
Thanks, I'll try that. Hadn't heard of that trick.
Sorry, only saw the first part of your comment before. Thank you, yes I can do a video. The double folded bias is sooo much easier.
Hi! I am new to smocking. I am happy I have found your page. Could you share the pattern you used for the smocking in this bubble?
I'm so happy I found you, I will be investing in a new pleater soon, and I would like to know where you buy your fabric supplies, as batiste is SOOO expensive and so is all the heirloom entredeux, laces etc. Do you have a supply house you could recommend that is good quality but affordable prices?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE farmhouse fabrics. Their prices are very competitive... although the fancy lace is always going to be expensive. I am going to do some videos showing how you can make your own entredeux (hopefully soon). Their imperial batiste is a wonderful quality and is 60" wide and sells for $6 or so per yard. www.sarahclassicsewing.com/supplies-i-like-to-keep-on-hand.html
Also, their customer service is wonderful. I've been ordering from them since I was a junior in college... so 8 years or so. You can call them up and they are more than happy to have a conversation helping you with your order and such. I can't recommend them enough.
thank you so much. I don't have grandchildren to sew for (yet), and I have been interested in heirloom sewing since the 80's when my children were small, but I never had the money, or time to buy into it, I did get the large heirloom book of martha pullens and a few of her dvd's, but I couldn't afford it. I have started a collection of children's vintage and antique baby dresses that I hang on my walls in different rooms, and now that I have the time and money I really would like to get into it. I do make dolls, so I will be dressing them also, displaying dolls and my walls with these clothes. I'm an addict for the styles.
Are bubbles and rompers the same thing?
I think technically bubbles end just below the diaper and rompers are at least thigh length (sometimes knee or ankle)
thank you sarah this helps alot i am a visual learner i wish i did this placket method rather than the one the pattern calls for it looks more tidy also do you make your piping
Thanks, glad it helped. Yeah... plackets can be tricky. I actually have a third method coming out... sometime. Anywho, yes I do make some piping, but more often, I just buy it. Farmhouse Fabric sells it for $1-3/yard depending on the fabric, so you can't beat that. Link to the piping that I used for this garment is in the description box.
Good Day, I purchased this pattern and chose the Bishop view D. It is impossible for me to put this on a dowel and get it through the pleater. Do you have any suggestions?
+Tina Short ha yes I couldn't figure how to get it on a dowel either. I have a video on view e... But I'm on my cell phone and dont know how to link it. Just search through my videos, I made it out of pink fabric. And I have time stamps in the description box for all my tutorials, so that'll tell you where to fast forward to for the pleating part.
This is view F? Did you have to widen the bubble front before cutting out to have enough fabric for smocking? It looks like the front for views A and C are much wider than F.
It's view A, but my pattern uses the same bubble bottom front and bubble bottom back pattern pieces for all those views. I have the original CC Jamie, so I can't speak for the revised, but I'm guessing they kept it the same, too. I didn't add any fabric to the width - there's enough to pleat.
Thanks. This helps soooo much
can't wait to make this. thank you for posting this! one comment please go slower!
Hey there, thanks. I do slower videos on my patreon page, or you could use the gear icon and slow the video down on youtube.
Sarah... I had to search. I just finished a dress that the instructions said to put the band on the sleeve AFTER attaching the sleeve to the dress.... AS YOU WOULD SAY!!! HOT MESS!!! IT WAS A PAIN!!! I knew I have watched all your videos and you do that before even placing the sleeve on the dress.... OH SEW MUCH EASIER! (Pardon the pun)
oh my... why would anyone want to do that to themselves?? yes, hot mess for sure.
Thank you for the video and breakdown parts. Since I am relative new to this, it is hard to follow you because you talk so fast. Just a suggestion to please slow down. The baby is adorable.
Thank you, and the video can be slowed down by clicking on the gear icon at the lower right of the video and changing the speed from normal to .5 or .25. Hope that helps. I'll try to slow down in future videos.
its very good pleas loding video
It is very good video and very sweet baby
👍😍
🤗❤🙏
Don't mind me. Just wanted to see that cute girl. Dang she might be crawling in a week.
Hey there Ted :-) Getting so big, almost has the head thing down.
cute baby!
Thank you :-)