Where would you see an ornamental pattern known as 'smocking'?

Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch. Before elastic, smocking was commonly used in cuffs, bodices, and necklines in garments where buttons were undesirable. Smocking developed in England and has been practised since the Middle Ages and is unusual among embroidery methods in that it was often worn by laborers. Other major embroidery styles are purely decorative and represented status symbols. Smocking was practical for garments to be both form fitting and flexible, hence its name derives from smock — a farmer's work shirt.

Smocking was used most extensively in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Smocking requires lightweight fabric with a stable weave that gathers well. Cotton and silk are typical fiber choices, often in lawn or voile. Smocking is worked on a crewel embroidery needle in cotton or silk thread and normally requires three times the width of initial material as the finished item will have.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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59 Comments

Stevie G

Sandra K. Beeman, The spelling of jewellry is correct it is British English. Jewelry is also correct as it is American English.

Stevie G

I am shocked at all the muppets that are only concerned about the so called wrong spelling of the word jewellery. You are showing a lack of intelligence by complaining about a correct spelling of the word instead of concentrating on the question and answer.

Peggy March

Smocked garments were very popular when I was a child. I love it.

Micheline Ratcliffe

Sandra K Beeman: the spelling of some "English" words varies depending on the source language. English English, Australian English and American English can vary both in spelling and meaning depending on who is using it. Please do not assume that only the American way is automatically the correct way... like the word "spelled" for example ... here in Australia it is more commonly written as "spelt", but neither way is actually incorrect.

Stevie G

Daniel Halley, She is not correct as there are two ways of spelling the word. I never complain about the American English ways of spelling so why should Americans complain of the British English which has been around a lot longer than the American English .....

William Laughlin

Steve Grant, The standardization of spelling on both sides of the Atlantic occurred simultaneously. Standard British forms did not exist long before the American forms. One can generally recognize where another is from based on language usage and spelling. Please excuse those who lack the sophistication to recognize and accept the differences as correct. It's a lack of experience and education. Not all Americans are ignorant of the fact that we are two nations separated by a common language.

Claudia Heilke

Daniel Halley, "most people here"?!?! The US is not the center of the universe. Many, many players are from other countries. Feel free to use US spelling in any questions you submit and accord the same right to the other English-speaking players from other countries.

Kate Foley

Daniel Halley, Sandra K. Beeman, Jewelry is American spelling ..... Jewellery is correct in UK....but I don't think the spelling jewellry exists anywhere Steve Grant....I think there are plenty of British people who play along, Daniel Halley.

Val Wilkinson

DannyBoy, many if not most of the Commonwealth countries use British spelling. That's a far bigger population than the US! Crawl back down your drain, and leave Steve alone. He did not bring up the (incorrect) accusation of mis-spelling

Player

I made myself a smocked dress when I was 14.

Cujo

The other kids smocked me when I wore anything that goofy.

Iancompat

Who, in God's name is complaining about the spelling of "jewellery"? It is spelt correctly. (As is Spelt!) Must be Yanks moaning, and we all know they can't spell anyway!

Jenny Herringer

Stevie G, THE correct spelling not A correct spelling. Intelligence - spelling is very important if you are intelligent and not a shallow thinker who can't get the spelling right and doesn't think it is important.

Nadine Baldock

My mother made all my dresses and always smocked them.. they were so pretty and I always felt good in my dresses..,

littledick

Micheline Ratcliffe, Have seen "spelt". Perhaps a different spelling to differentiate it from a type of wheat grain. At any rate, many of the American spellings are due to Noah Webster and his early dictionary. Perhaps he made the changes in a "revolutionary" spirit. One of the most blatant one is the British "gaol". I opt for the American spelling, "jail", which I "feel" makes more sense since there aren't that many words with a soft "g". At any rate, to each his own. I don't carp about dialectical differences in speech or the written word. "