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Monday, February 22, 2010

For those of you who are new to this type of sewing, this is called English Smocking. It is embroidery worked onto tiny pleats. Hence, the use of the aforementioned pleater.
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This is a fancy band (lace to lace to lace to ribbon to lace) on Lauren's christening gown.
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This was Lauren's first Easter dress. The tatting is from her GrandMary, the tiny baby pearl buttons were from my grandmother's sewing basket and on the back, she had a closure using a pearl button from her mother's wedding gown. We covered a lot of ladies in that little dress!

Let's start at the beginning...

a very good place to start, if I remember correctly. I've been sewing since I was a young teenager. From time to time, I had the use of a borrowed sewing machine from my mother, grandmother or mother-in-law. Eventually I bought my own and put it to very good use. My aunt called me one day and asked if I wanted a smocking pleater and quickly announced that she already bought me one. I had no idea what to do with it at the time.
In 1985, that little pleater introduced me to the world of smocking, heirloom sewing, Martha Pullen, The Children's Corner patterns, french and Swiss lace, french seams, pearl buttons and the list goes on and on. I still use it today. Little did she know how long that piece of equipment would last! Several years and many pleats later, it has served me quite well and I treasure that little machine! Thanks Mim!