Is there anyone out there that likes to smock?  I think it is beautiful and now that I have a granddaughter I would like to make somethng for her.  I don't know where to get the supplies here in Minnesota and it is even hard to find books on it at our library.  Seems like it is more popular in the South.

Go to a fabric store.  The pattern comes in the dress pattern.  It was an iron on pattern I used when I made dresses for my girls.  You use embroidery thread for the smocking.  All that work & I can't remember what I did with the dresses.

Try Sew Beautiful magazine. WWW.marthapullen.com  is the website you can order it from. Hand smocking is the best. As the previous post said, you can get the pattern inside your dress pattern. I smock using a pleater. You can pleat the fabric and sew with an embroidery machine. Check out this website for directions and the designs. www.elizabethsembroideries.com. She is very helpful. Her designs have been featured in sew beautiful. I use her designs a lot. I hope I have been able to help. Smocking is fun and rewarding.

 I really like Designer Smocking for tot's and teens.   and Sew Cute Couture by Gail Doane.  They have all the information for making several clothing items along with the instructions for making the smocking parts.

Thanks for the suggestions.  I have seen the Sewbeautiful Magazines.  They are nice, I have several old copies that I found at a yard sale.  We used to have a store in our area that sold pleaters and patterns etc., but they closed.  Its hard to find patterns in the regular books for smocking right now.  We only have the Joann Fabrics and Hancocks around here plus a Mill End.  No place with specialty stuff.

Teresa, there's a book you should get your hands on called The Art Of Manipulating Fabric. I can't imagine it would be out of print, but also, your library should be able to get a copy for you. The whole book is crammed with methods of texturing fabrics, with extensive photos and directions. (Smocking is included of course.) I think the book will really inspire you.

Thanks, I'll look for that book through my library!