I just got done learning this awesome technique (you can see my results here). I used the tutorial at Savvy Seams (which was awesome) but I wanted to share a more visually-oriented tutorial with ya’ll. I know canadian smocking looks crazy hard but it’s actually super simple (and fast!) once you get the pattern down. Seriously!

<3 erin

p.s. I had lots of fun messing with photoshop to makes this tutorial extra cute. Love that star stamp!

ok, Here goes…

~*The Tutorial*~

Before I give you the step-by-step lemmie give you The Grand Scheme of Things. Basically, you’re gonna be working in a row, starting towards the top of your grid and moving downwards. You are always working on the backside of the fabric. When you get to the bottom of a row, you tie off your thread and start a new row.

Here’s the nitty-gritty:

Step 1. Figure out how big your want your finished smocked block. Multiply the length and width by 3. Make a grid of dots on your fabric square with a fabric marker/sharpie/chalk. Leave at least a 2.5″ seam allowance around all edges. Make the dots about 1″ apart.

Step 2. Knot your thread and make a tiny stitch (pick up a few fibers) under this dot:

step 2

Step 3. Make a tiny stitch under the top left dot, bring this dot and your starting dot together (forming a pleat). Make a knot over both dots to secure the pleat:

step 3

Step 4. Make a stitch underneath the next dot down. DO NOT MAKE A PLEAT. Leave the fabric flat. You’ll have some slack on the thread. This is good. Make a knot over this new dot:

step 4

Step 5: Bring these two points together. Knot:

step 5

Step 6. Just like step 4:

step 6

Step 7. Just like step 3:

step 7

Step 8: Continue working down the row until you get to the end. Once you’re done, tie off and start a new row with a new length of thread. Repeat the sequence starting with step 1 but use this dot as your starting point instead:

step 8

Once you’re done, it’s apparently common to steam the whole thing from the top without applying any pressure (like…hover over the top with your iron’s steam blaring) but renegade seamstress that I am, I skipped this step. It still looks good but I might try steaming it next time to see what the effect is like.

The end!

I hope this was helpful, folks. I’m still a novice so let me know if this tut was clear enough. If you end up trying this out, definitely send me a pic of your creation or link to one in your comment. I wanna see!

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