|
Q&A
By Gena Bloemendaal
Can you give me the name and instructions for a technique where fabric is marked and tacked from the wrong side to create a trellis look on the right side?
Mildred C.,
e-mail
The technique you describe is referred to as lattice, Canadian or North American smocking.
To create lattice smocking, first determine the project's finished size. Multiply the width and length by three. Since the smocking creates gathers at the fabric outside edges, add an additional 1 1/2" to 2 in each direction for the seam allowances. Cut the fabric to those dimensions. The pleats are set by steam, so don't use fabric that reacts adversely to steam. Heavy fabric, such as velvet, can be used without setting the pleats.
Fuse gridded interfacing to the fabric wrong side. Fusible-grid interfacing with squares ranging from 1" to 2 1/2" is available at your local quilting or fabric retailer, or at online stores. Each intersection constitutes a dot. Mark the dots for greater visibility, starting 2"" from each edge to account for the seam allowances.
Thread a needle with an 18" length of coordinating button or quilting thread and knot one end.
Make a tiny stitch at the dot one to the right and one down from the uppermost left dot. Then take a tiny stitch at the uppermost left dot (1). Pull the thread and push the fabric together until the dots meet, creating the first pleat. Make a backstitch at the joined dots to secure the pleat (2).
Take a tiny stitch at the dot directly below the first one you stitched. Do not pull taut. Take a backstitch in the same location, and then take a stitch at the dot one to the right and one up. Draw these two dots together; backstitch.
Repeat this process until you reach the grid lower edge. Tie a knot close to the fabric and clip the thread. When the thread runs out, tie a knot and begin again by taking a stitch where the previous thread left off.
Begin the second row by taking a stitch at the dot four to the right and one down from the top left corner. Take a stitch at the dot and then diagonally up to the left as when starting the first row. Draw the stitches together. Continue by following the instructions above and referencing the chart (3).
Once a few rows are stitched, the lattice will form on the fabric right side, and the lax threads on the wrong side will form a zigzag pattern (4). (Every other dot along the outside rows won't be stitched.)
After the grid is smocked, even out the pleats on the right side. Set the pleats by holding a steam iron directly above the fabric and steaming for several seconds. Don't put the iron directly on the fabric unless you want to flatten the pleats.
|
