As I mentioned at the end of this video, I'm now offering 1-1 tutoring video call sessions, offering support for those just starting out with hand sewing, as well as consulting for those who would like to build their historybounding or historical fashion wardrobes. For every hour booked slot, I will be donating $3 to the charity _United Help Ukraine_ . If you're interested in learning more, you can read all about it and book here: www.vbirchwood.com/appointments I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and that honeycomb smocking doesn't feel intimidating anymore 😊
I don't even have a garment to use this on, but it looks so pretty I couldn't resist taking a look. It really is not as intimidating as it looked, I might try it in the near future ^^ Here is a comment to supoort the video :)
I remember making my daughter's clothes when she was little (40 yrs ago) and still cherish the photos of her in the smocked yoke dresses I sewed for her
Aww thank you so much! This is the exact type of comment I was hoping to see on here as one of the goals with my channel is to show how seemingly hard historical techniques can actually be quite easy and doable when approached in a specific manner! I’m a beginner myself still (started sewing less than 2 years ago) so I’m very much learning myself as I’m teaching.
Such a clear and helpful tutorial once again, V! Thanks for this, I will be experimenting with honeycombs later on for sure :) And congrats on the tutoring/consultation launch!
Thank you for this video. Ever since I discovered honeycomb smocking I've wanted to use it on basically everything but I've been terrified it would be too complicated. You've made it look so simple that I'm definitely going to try it on my next sewing project. 😊
I’m glad this tutorial has made it so much easier! And that’s exactly it, all the written descriptions and even then smocking marked gridded diagrams make it seem so incredibly challenging 😂
What a wonderful tutorial! I hope folks avail themselves of one on one tutorials. I think it's a lovely idea. Personal classes work so much better than group ones, I think
First, what a beautiful journey you’ve been into V! Your work is really amazing! I love this technique, it’s so cute and delicate! And thank you for explaining it! I remember when I was a little girl, my mom made me a dress and she made the honey comb on the upper part and it was beautiful! I felt like a princess! She also embroidered it with the help of my dad. Lol Amazing job, and how awesome that you are tutoring now! 😍👏🏼
I have a whole board on Pinterest dedicated to smocking and it recently squires a smocking pleater. Unfortunately I haven't gotten to try it out yet because I got sick. Really sick and couldn't hardly breath. So after a month of meds I am finally getting back on my feet and starting to do things again. I have a number of projects on my sewing table I need to get through and a pleater to try out. I have a number of pins saved that show how to smock tailored garments such a suits. I've been wanting to learn to smock for ever and just decided this was going to be the year I learn how. Couple things I hope to clear off my table this weekend and hopefully find a project to start smocking. I'm thinking a blouse or something similar. I need to revisit my board and see what I come up with 😉
I’m sorry you’ve been so ill DesertRose but I’m so glad you’re finally recovering! What a great goal to have for the year and I hope all of your smocking endeavours go well 😊
This is quite informative and the diagram juxtaposed with the technique in action clear up any confusion quite readily. While I enjoy watching the creation process of a specific garment, I think these technique instructional videos are quite useful and turn one's mind towards personal aspirations.
I really love smocking, having learned it in college, and really think it's worth it for collars, cuffs, and the backs of waistbands. This is honeycombing - the technique I learned was different - but I love the way this looks and will be using it also.
I don't know why I've avoided this for so long! And I've always wanted to try! Ooh! I bet blackwork would look nice like this! And such a good idea to start offering one-to-ones!
Thanks so much Sarah! Blackwork would be gorgeous using honeycomb smocking YES! I, too, avoided this technique for such a long while thinking it was scary but was pleasantly surprised.
Many years ago I sewed for a doll artist, and made a number of smocked dresses and rompers for her dolls. Quilting thread was lovely for pulling the gathers with, it is lightly stiffened, and pretty tough, but doesn't leave bee's wax behind.
AAhh!! This is so amazing!!! I wanna try it on everything!! Thank you so much! Looks like a great thing to add for a teensy bit of stretch! Can't wait to use this, thanks!
Ah, smocking. I'm addicted to smocking. I find that the smocking itself is not a problem, but the pleating is. Taking time with the pleating is most of the battle. But doing small smocking like your sleeve is a joy. I'm doing large smocking like shirring where the fabric is 60 inches across and the pleats are 1cm. The pleats tend to get twisted in the soft linen. Most people try to do very hard pleats in something stiffer for all those little girl's dresses. But smocking is really, really satisfying and a great way to "elasticize" something without elastic. It's a way to add ease across the back or front and to embellish in a very fun way. But pick a fabric you love to handle! If you love the fabric, you will have more fun. I do not recommend silk because if you have to rip it out, you're left with holes. Pick a forgiving fabric. Even heavy wool can be smocked. Do deeper pleats at first, they are much, much easier to control. Smocking is subtle but can be very prominent like all those medieval shirts in red or black work. Thank you again for such a lovely video. Love, love, love!!!
I'm so late here but it's good to see you posting another video! Honeycomb smocking never scared me personally but you explained it very well and it was really nice just to hear your passion for historical costume in your voice!
You rock!!!! I just finished my first every petticoat and it turned out perfect and I love it and thank you for the easy to follow tutorials and now one one tutorials that is the best
@@VBirchwood Most welcome Ms. Birchwood...and heartily deserved you are! I would note, with your skill sets (presuming my ignorance that you have not already?) should next ply your hand at some of the other traditional skill sets of the time period you so love (i.e tatting, embroidery, stand, and bobbin braiding, Kumihimo (組み紐)...etc.) The clear and evident skillsets, you show, your smocking as an example, would be greatly enhanced if the exposed stitches were decorative as well as functional... Looking forward greatly to your next creation...
Thanks for the suggestion! I do other crafts as well like pottery and I’m getting into historical shoemaking too, so I’m sure that will unlock other practices also ☺️
Thank you for such a clear, informative video! Smocking is something I've wanted to try for a while and you've made me much more confident to try it. My only question is, how do you work out how much fabric you need for a given area of smocking on a garment?
Thanks Bess! I'm glad it made it feel simpler. Generally, smocking reduces the fabric amount by about 1/3rd the original. So 3 inches would become 1 inch once smocked. This is a general rule of thumb so it's best to experiment on a little piece and take before/after measurements to see how the gauge is for your own technique 😊
I got into smocking this winter & it got fun & crazy & time consuming real fast. But to be honest making the markings became way more time consuming since for some dyslexia adjacent reason I have a hard time with dots & straight lines.
My mum made me an easy smocked dress when I was a toddler, by using gingham fabric (so the squares were all nicely marked already) - & using elastic thread for the gathering & leaving it gathered with the elastic thread instead of stitching the gathers into place! She did have to redo the elastic by the time my little sister wore the dress as the elastic perished over the 11 years between my sister & me 😁. That's how they did it in the 1970s 😄
@@molnotmole3428 I think we did! My dress went through at least 4 of us - my 3 sisters and then our cousin. Usually I got the hand-me-downs from my aunts and my older cousin, so new dresses were very exciting!
I’m sorry that it became so challenging due to the dots and lines! I really love the gingham idea that was suggested here. That would perhaps make it so much easier?
Yay that's amazing, you've got this! I thought this was a beautiful unattainable technique myself for the longest time and so I avoided it, but as the title says, surprise! it's actually easy 😂
Must be on the same wavelength! 😂 it’s a wonderful way to do pleats honestly. Adds a little something extra. And can replace elastic! She’s doing really well, thanks! Starting to finally settle in. How’s Thena?
@V. Birchwood - Historical Fashion house training is getting better, but today she peed in the house 2x with out any signs she had to pee but before today it was going good. She is learning no, and drop it, sit and stay. We are working on trying to calm down her playing style with is very rough
This sounds all too familiar! Lol. At what point can you socialise her with other puppies? I’ve found Rúna has learnt how to be gentler whilst playing by playing with other dogs, so that might perhaps be a great way too 😊
@V. Birchwood - Historical Fashion i dont know but my husband does want her to be around any other dogs until all her vaccinations are done. But with our other dog and cat she goes straight for the throat, manly hood, or any thing she can reach. Her brother was mean, you could tell he was the boss of the pack, and I think Thena was 2nd or trying to hold her own.
@@VBirchwood I am trying to recreate from my grandmothers photo of her wearing 1905 Australian Edwardian dress and I haven’t hand sewed so much before.
First 20 secons of this video explain why you uploaded a video saying you'll never make a corset. Girl only learned to sew like last year and is up here trying to educate us. Lol
It’s been 3 years now 🥰 my channel is all about showing that sewing can be learned at any stage in life and with any experience level, it’s all just about putting in the hours and practice. I’ve been frequently told by many that I made starting sewing less intimidating for them, and that’s my goal. I very clearly, transparently, and constantly state that I am not an expert nor professional, so each person can decide if my content is helpful or resonant for them. Have a beautiful day!
![Medieval Smocked Apron (and a Giveaway!) [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cprg9L-Qa7A/mqdefault.jpg)
![Medieval Smocked Apron (and a Giveaway!) [CC]](/img/tr.png)
As I mentioned at the end of this video, I'm now offering 1-1 tutoring video call sessions, offering support for those just starting out with hand sewing, as well as consulting for those who would like to build their historybounding or historical fashion wardrobes. For every hour booked slot, I will be donating $3 to the charity _United Help Ukraine_ .
If you're interested in learning more, you can read all about it and book here: www.vbirchwood.com/appointments
I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and that honeycomb smocking doesn't feel intimidating anymore 😊
I don't even have a garment to use this on, but it looks so pretty I couldn't resist taking a look. It really is not as intimidating as it looked, I might try it in the near future ^^
Here is a comment to supoort the video :)
I remember making my daughter's clothes when she was little (40 yrs ago) and still cherish the photos of her in the smocked yoke dresses I sewed for her
Thank you for unlocking the honeycomb mystery. I love the way this smocking looks & now I will try it!
You’re so welcome! Happy sewing and I hope that this technique proves useful in the future 😄
I always thought this technique was so complicated and difficult. You made it so easy to understand. Thank you! I just love the way it looks.
Aww thank you so much! This is the exact type of comment I was hoping to see on here as one of the goals with my channel is to show how seemingly hard historical techniques can actually be quite easy and doable when approached in a specific manner! I’m a beginner myself still (started sewing less than 2 years ago) so I’m very much learning myself as I’m teaching.
So excited about tutoring!! I need help with my 1883 project!! Booking soon and can’t wait !!
Awww that’s very sweet, thank you!!
I’m am so proud of your journey!! And as a child and grandchild of educators, exceedingly proud of the videos you’re making!! Well done!!
Thanks so much Kat! 💕 how lovely it is that you're the child and grandchild of educators 😊
Such a clear and helpful tutorial once again, V! Thanks for this, I will be experimenting with honeycombs later on for sure :) And congrats on the tutoring/consultation launch!
Thanks so much Gitta! Glad the tutorial is so easy to follow 😊
Thank you for this video. Ever since I discovered honeycomb smocking I've wanted to use it on basically everything but I've been terrified it would be too complicated. You've made it look so simple that I'm definitely going to try it on my next sewing project. 😊
You are so welcome! This was _exactly_ my goal with this video, so I'm happy to hear that the explanation also comes across simple!
So elegant, yet achievable! I can see some pretty little pearls or something added in the honeycomb crevices. 😍
The end result is so very beautiful, I can't wait to try this at some point!
Thank you Watson Melon! 😊 It looks so lovely on so many different garments.
This is so much simpler than I was expecting! I'm so glad to have a visual. It's simple, but difficult to visualize just reading about it.
I’m glad this tutorial has made it so much easier! And that’s exactly it, all the written descriptions and even then smocking marked gridded diagrams make it seem so incredibly challenging 😂
What a wonderful tutorial!
I hope folks avail themselves of one on one tutorials. I think it's a lovely idea. Personal classes work so much better than group ones, I think
Thanks so much Catherine! I really appreciate it 😊
@@VBirchwood you are welcome
First, what a beautiful journey you’ve been into V! Your work is really amazing! I love this technique, it’s so cute and delicate! And thank you for explaining it! I remember when I was a little girl, my mom made me a dress and she made the honey comb on the upper part and it was beautiful! I felt like a princess! She also embroidered it with the help of my dad. Lol
Amazing job, and how awesome that you are tutoring now! 😍👏🏼
Thank you so much Caroline! How special that you have that memory about smocking 😊 I can see why this technique would make you feel like a Princess!
This is such a good tutorial! I’ll have to send you my smocking boards sometimes can’t wait to see what you come out with next 😃
Thanks so much! Would love to see the boards 💕
so exited about this! such a clear and concise tutorial and i wanna smock everything i own now💀 great job as always!🙌🏻
Thanks so much Jae! Smock it up!!
I have a whole board on Pinterest dedicated to smocking and it recently squires a smocking pleater. Unfortunately I haven't gotten to try it out yet because I got sick. Really sick and couldn't hardly breath. So after a month of meds I am finally getting back on my feet and starting to do things again. I have a number of projects on my sewing table I need to get through and a pleater to try out. I have a number of pins saved that show how to smock tailored garments such a suits. I've been wanting to learn to smock for ever and just decided this was going to be the year I learn how. Couple things I hope to clear off my table this weekend and hopefully find a project to start smocking. I'm thinking a blouse or something similar. I need to revisit my board and see what I come up with 😉
I’m sorry you’ve been so ill DesertRose but I’m so glad you’re finally recovering! What a great goal to have for the year and I hope all of your smocking endeavours go well 😊
Thank You for the honeycomb smocking it turned out flawless in a espresso chocolate
This is so delightful! I must add this detail to my next creation
That’s so lovely to hear, I’m so glad! It adds such a nice small touch to a garment 😊
Thank you for this simple and easy to follow tutorial! I'm so interested to try this now. 😍
My pleasure! You totally should! 😄
This is quite informative and the diagram juxtaposed with the technique in action clear up any confusion quite readily. While I enjoy watching the creation process of a specific garment, I think these technique instructional videos are quite useful and turn one's mind towards personal aspirations.
Thanks so much Erica! 😊
Oooohhhh this is a beautiful technique! You, as always explain in a way that I think even I can do it!!
Thank you so much Drew!! 😊 you can totally do it!
Those sleeves are gorgeous! You’ve convinced me to add this technique to small sections of my clothing.
Thank you!! You totally should, it’s a sweet extra detail 😊
I really love smocking, having learned it in college, and really think it's worth it for collars, cuffs, and the backs of waistbands. This is honeycombing - the technique I learned was different - but I love the way this looks and will be using it also.
I don't know why I've avoided this for so long! And I've always wanted to try! Ooh! I bet blackwork would look nice like this! And such a good idea to start offering one-to-ones!
Thanks so much Sarah! Blackwork would be gorgeous using honeycomb smocking YES! I, too, avoided this technique for such a long while thinking it was scary but was pleasantly surprised.
Many years ago I sewed for a doll artist, and made a number of smocked dresses and rompers for her dolls. Quilting thread was lovely for pulling the gathers with, it is lightly stiffened, and pretty tough, but doesn't leave bee's wax behind.
So glad to see you expanding! Well done! 🙏🏻 for you, family and friends to stay well!
Thank you so much! I hope you and your loved ones are all well too 🥰
Fantastic, it does look much easier than I thought it would be. Your example was very well done, thank you!
Thank you Jeanie! I'm glad it comes across so straightforward 😊
AAhh!! This is so amazing!!! I wanna try it on everything!! Thank you so much! Looks like a great thing to add for a teensy bit of stretch! Can't wait to use this, thanks!
So glad it’s helpful!! It’s definitely great for mimicking elastic! And at a time before elastic was invented which is amazing 😊
Ah, smocking. I'm addicted to smocking. I find that the smocking itself is not a problem, but the pleating is. Taking time with the pleating is most of the battle. But doing small smocking like your sleeve is a joy. I'm doing large smocking like shirring where the fabric is 60 inches across and the pleats are 1cm. The pleats tend to get twisted in the soft linen. Most people try to do very hard pleats in something stiffer for all those little girl's dresses. But smocking is really, really satisfying and a great way to "elasticize" something without elastic. It's a way to add ease across the back or front and to embellish in a very fun way. But pick a fabric you love to handle! If you love the fabric, you will have more fun. I do not recommend silk because if you have to rip it out, you're left with holes. Pick a forgiving fabric. Even heavy wool can be smocked. Do deeper pleats at first, they are much, much easier to control. Smocking is subtle but can be very prominent like all those medieval shirts in red or black work. Thank you again for such a lovely video. Love, love, love!!!
Thanks so much for watching and for your lovely comment! 😊
You are Brilliant! Thank you!
I've long wanted to try smocking. This is just the push I need; thankyou!
That’s awesome Fi! Glad it could be the push 😊
I love thos types of smocking ! 🥰🥰
Thanks so much for this idea and tutorial! I really want to use it on my modern silk velvet dress sleeves that I'm planning to make.
I think that’s a wonderful idea!
I'm so late here but it's good to see you posting another video! Honeycomb smocking never scared me personally but you explained it very well and it was really nice just to hear your passion for historical costume in your voice!
Thank you so much Luna! I hope you’re well 🥰
You rock!!!! I just finished my first every petticoat and it turned out perfect and I love it and thank you for the easy to follow tutorials and now one one tutorials that is the best
Thanks amazing! Congrats on your first petticoat 😊
Iam so proud of myself,,thank you for the help
@@VBirchwood Iam so happy to have found you,thank you
Very helpful tutorial and the outcome is very pretty.
Thank you so much! 😄
I love this so much! Thank you!!
Glad you like the tutorial! 😊
Great tutorial! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful ☺️
Thank you for this tutorial!
I really need to use this technique for something now, it's always seemed daunting to try but you're right, it's not that scary now!
Thanks Lilja! You could use it on a future gown perhaps? 🥰
@@VBirchwood i deffo will! Mayhaps on a blouse too 👀
Ooooo yes please! Mayhaps is a great word btw.
@@VBirchwood hehe it is! I like Perchance too !
Another excellent video...!!!...Great Job!
Thank you Jay!
@@VBirchwood Most welcome Ms. Birchwood...and heartily deserved you are! I would note, with your skill sets (presuming my ignorance that you have not already?) should next ply your hand at some of the other traditional skill sets of the time period you so love (i.e tatting, embroidery, stand, and bobbin braiding, Kumihimo (組み紐)...etc.)
The clear and evident skillsets, you show, your smocking as an example, would be greatly enhanced if the exposed stitches were decorative as well as functional...
Looking forward greatly to your next creation...
Thanks for the suggestion! I do other crafts as well like pottery and I’m getting into historical shoemaking too, so I’m sure that will unlock other practices also ☺️
Thank you for such a clear, informative video! Smocking is something I've wanted to try for a while and you've made me much more confident to try it.
My only question is, how do you work out how much fabric you need for a given area of smocking on a garment?
Thanks Bess! I'm glad it made it feel simpler. Generally, smocking reduces the fabric amount by about 1/3rd the original. So 3 inches would become 1 inch once smocked. This is a general rule of thumb so it's best to experiment on a little piece and take before/after measurements to see how the gauge is for your own technique 😊
Omg I just started my first project doing this!!!
That’s amazing! Happy smocking 😄
How does it come out after washing?
It looks exactly the same, as long as you pre-wash any fabric you’re going to use, and also use a strong thread 😊
I got into smocking this winter & it got fun & crazy & time consuming real fast. But to be honest making the markings became way more time consuming since for some dyslexia adjacent reason I have a hard time with dots & straight lines.
My mum made me an easy smocked dress when I was a toddler, by using gingham fabric (so the squares were all nicely marked already) - & using elastic thread for the gathering & leaving it gathered with the elastic thread instead of stitching the gathers into place! She did have to redo the elastic by the time my little sister wore the dress as the elastic perished over the 11 years between my sister & me 😁. That's how they did it in the 1970s 😄
@@lyannecb8499 I’m pretty sure we all had some form of smocked dress someone in the family passed down or made lol
@@molnotmole3428 I think we did! My dress went through at least 4 of us - my 3 sisters and then our cousin. Usually I got the hand-me-downs from my aunts and my older cousin, so new dresses were very exciting!
I’m sorry that it became so challenging due to the dots and lines! I really love the gingham idea that was suggested here. That would perhaps make it so much easier?
So cool that you all had smocked dresses made by someone too! How nostalgic haha.
I love this technique! What period(s) would this be used for?
It’s beautiful right?! It was really common in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it’s been around since the Middle Ages!
Im finally gonna do honeycomb smocking on the front of my 1840s dress! I was always so scared of it and thought it was beautifully unattainable.
Yay that's amazing, you've got this! I thought this was a beautiful unattainable technique myself for the longest time and so I avoided it, but as the title says, surprise! it's actually easy 😂
Machine and my own design of embroidery, hard at first. Nothing makes me quake with stark fear like smocking
This is interesting also,
That is so weird, I have been looking at smocking but to nervous to start it! I looks like a good way to do pleats too
How is Rúna doing!?
Must be on the same wavelength! 😂 it’s a wonderful way to do pleats honestly. Adds a little something extra. And can replace elastic!
She’s doing really well, thanks! Starting to finally settle in. How’s Thena?
@V. Birchwood - Historical Fashion house training is getting better, but today she peed in the house 2x with out any signs she had to pee but before today it was going good. She is learning no, and drop it, sit and stay. We are working on trying to calm down her playing style with is very rough
This sounds all too familiar! Lol. At what point can you socialise her with other puppies? I’ve found Rúna has learnt how to be gentler whilst playing by playing with other dogs, so that might perhaps be a great way too 😊
@V. Birchwood - Historical Fashion i dont know but my husband does want her to be around any other dogs until all her vaccinations are done. But with our other dog and cat she goes straight for the throat, manly hood, or any thing she can reach.
Her brother was mean, you could tell he was the boss of the pack, and I think Thena was 2nd or trying to hold her own.
❤❤❤
You are right “get lost in the process “
otherwise where is the enjoyment of sewing
It’s true! Though final results can be enjoyable, the process is what keeps you coming back to sewing I think
@@VBirchwood
I am trying to recreate from my grandmothers photo of her wearing 1905 Australian Edwardian dress and I haven’t hand sewed so much before.
What a cool project! I have an older videos demonstrating the most common hand stitches (one of my earliest videos on my channel)
the pick up dots method works much easier and gets the same result.
Thanks! I haven’t heard of this method so I’ll have to check it out 🥰
@@VBirchwood ua-cam.com/video/av_jsJeLwFw/v-deo.html
First 20 secons of this video explain why you uploaded a video saying you'll never make a corset. Girl only learned to sew like last year and is up here trying to educate us. Lol
It’s been 3 years now 🥰 my channel is all about showing that sewing can be learned at any stage in life and with any experience level, it’s all just about putting in the hours and practice. I’ve been frequently told by many that I made starting sewing less intimidating for them, and that’s my goal. I very clearly, transparently, and constantly state that I am not an expert nor professional, so each person can decide if my content is helpful or resonant for them. Have a beautiful day!