White cushions with Canadian smocking reverse of 'Bee cottage design"

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These cushions are done by  the method " Joining 4 points .  " It is the reverse of " Bee cottage " design.Smocking is done on graph of 3cm squares.Border of 7.5cm is marked  all around.Finished smocked piece will beof size( 7.5cm +3cm+9cm+3cm+9cm+3cm+7.5cm) =42cm x 42cm. Size of finished cushion will be 40cm x 40cm

The method of making round cushion with Canadian smocking part 1

Materials needed

Satin cloth 70 cm x 176 cm2 big cloth covered buttons

I could not get buttons of the size I wanted. I got plastic disks having 5 cm diameter cut from school badge maker, made two holes using hot nails, passed a thick thread through the holes and tied a knot. I then covered them with sponge sheet and fabric.

Design used -- leaf designSize of the square used --3cm x 3cm

Mark the graph as shown in the figure leaving 1 cm all around for seams. Squares should come in the center

and the parallel lines on the sides. You can do the smocking by just drawing the squares in the middle.I prefer to draw lines at the sides also. We can use these lines as guide lines while pleating. Finish the edges by Zigzag stitches. This stops the edges from fraying and hindering our work while smocking. The squares that are marked along the length (176 cm) should always be of an even number. This decides the circumference of the cushion. The squares marked along the width depend upon the design and thickness of the cushion we want. The length of the parallel line decides the diameter of the cushion.

Join the shorter edges together matching the graph as shown in the figure to form a tube. Do the smocking by joining two points together. This forms a cover for a round cushion

Measure the circumference and width of the smocked tube. Stitch inner cushion of the same size of the smocked piece as illustrated in the figures.Cover the inner cushion with smocked cover as shown in the figures.

I have used the smocked piece to make a cushion cover and not to make a cushion. By doing so we can smock as many covers as we want and can store them in a small place.We can change them whenever

we want by untying the knot that holds the the pleats on one side. Long thread can be used while stitching the pleats and then the extra thread remains after tying cab be pushed in side the opening.By doing so we need not stitch the pleats again. Washing covers is easier than washing cushions.There is another method in which poly fill is directly filled in the smocked cover and openings are covered with cloth covered buttons.

Canadian smocked cushion By the method of joining 4 points

Draw graph on the reverse of the fabric .Smocking is done byjoining 4 points

Cushion with "Flowers and buds" design

Material needed .

In this design to calculate the width of the material that remains after smocking we have to just subtract

the width of the squares marked “X”. I have drawn the design with squares whose sides are 3x3 .The length and width of portion A will be 7 x 3 =21 cm to find out the width of material that remains after smocking subtract the width of the square ,which is marked ‘X’. That is 3 x 4=12 cm. The width of the material after smocking is 21-12=9cm.The same calculation holds good for length also. You can arrange the blocks according to the measurements of your cushion. In this design width will be 10+9+8+9+10=46 cm. Length is the same.Seam allowance is included in this.

Tips Secure the material well on to the working table with 3M tape and then draw the graph. Neatness depends upon the graph we draw. Always use matching thread for smocking. I use 3 strands of Anchor thread. Stitches taken should be uniform. After drawing the graph “Zig- Zag” the sides. I prefer to give lining to the smocked fabric and then stitch the cushion. This type of smocking is not elastic as English smocking. So it is better to stitch loosely fitted cushion covers.

How to Make Smocked PillowsBy Jennifer Terry, eHow Contributor

 

 

 

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Smocking pillows will give a plain piece of fabric some dimension and can be used in the bedroom or living room. Smocked pillows look good displayed alone, in a group of other smocked pillows or among a group of contrasting pillows. Smocking a pillow is an easy project to undertake when first learning the art. The project can usually be completed within one afternoon.

Difficulty:

 

Moderate

InstructionsThings You'll Need

Measuring tape Pillow insert Fabric Scissors Fabric pencil Hand needle Thread Sewing machine

1. Prepare the Pillow Fabric

o 1Measure the length and width of your pillow insert. Cut a square of fabric that is 1 inch wider and 1 inch longer than the size of your pillow insert. Cut another piece of fabric that is the same length as the first fabric square, but three times wider. This will be your smocking panel.

o 2Draw rows and columns of dots that follow a grid pattern on the smocking panel. The dots will be evenly spaced at intervals chosen by you. A small pillow will look nice with a 1/4-inch grid; a larger pillow may need a 1/2-inch grid. This is a personal preference. Draw the dots on the right side of the smocking panel with the fabric pencil. The dots will cover the face of the smocking panel.

o 3Thread your hand needle with a piece of thread that matches the color of your smocking panel.

o 4Insert the hand needle in the first dot from the underside of the fabric and pull the thread straight up through to the top side of the fabric. Make a small stitch under the second dot. Pull the fabric together.

o 5Place the thread below the needle and make a small stitch under the third dot. Pull the fabric together. Place the thread above the needle and make a small stitch under the fourth dot. Continue until you reach the end of the row. Lock the thread by backstitching at

the beginning and end of the rows. Keep the folds even. Continue this pattern until all rows are smocked.

2. Assemble

o 1Pin the smocked panel to the first fabric square place so the right sides are touching. Sew along 3 sides of the pillow. Backstitch at the end of each line to lock the thread in place.

o 2Trim the seams and clip corners to decrease the fabric bulk. Turn the pillow right side out.

o 3Place the pillow insert inside the cover. Turn the raw edges of the open seam under about 1/2 inch. Sew the opening closed by hand with a whip stitch or small running stitch.

Read more: How to Make Smocked Pillows |

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