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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am trying to make a set of smocked dresses for my 3 great-granddaughters, I have the Bishop Dress pieces all cut out from the old McCall's pattern I used for my daughter in 1977! After I cut out the fabric I realized that the iron-on transfer for the smocking dots was missing. This pattern is unlike all the others I have found in that the pieces are cut to form a circle and the dots were on a round grid. not straight lines. I have searched the internet for a circular dot transfer but can't find one. I even bought a very expensive smocking magazine ($14.99) that looked like it had the right transfer, it did not. If anyone has this, I could probably duplicate it myself with the measurements for correct spacing.
Does anyone have this? Thank you in advance.
 
I wish you luck on your search. Back in the 70's and 80's I did quite a bit of hand smocking for a local shop. I used a pleating machine to pleat the fabric prior to smocking. Maybe there is a smocking guild in your area that could be of help. The patterns I used were designed to be used for prepleated fabric with printed smocking patterns.
 
Did you contact McCalls? They are very helpful.

Do you have the pattern number? Search eBay for the pattern. You can always ask the seller to make sure the part you need is with the pattern.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
HMQ said:
Is this what you are looking for?

https://www.smockingbooks.com/bookstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=424
I have that, thanks. The transfer is actually specific to the pattern, 3573, but I figured that I could adapt any one that was rounded. I sent an email to McCall's, hopefully they can help. I found the pattern on ebay, I hate to throw even more money in the garbage after spending a small fortune on that useless magazine. These dresses are going to wind up costing me over $80. a lot more than I can afford.
 
Does the guide sheet give you any clues? I have Simplicity 6298 which has round smocking just below the yoke. The transfer sheet is missing from mine too, but the guide sheet gives some clues, that the dots splay out a little to allow for the circle:
 

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You might try contacting a shop that sells smocking patterns even if they are for smocking machines. Someone at the shop might be willing to assist you. Sorry I haven't smocked in over 30 years and I only did smocking by using a pleating machine so I cannot help you. I think the idea of a smocking guild or a needle arts guild is a great idea. You might be surprised if you just ask, there are many people with hidden talents and hidden patterns in the attic. If I had someone to do the lifting, I think my daughter's old dress patterns (non-smocking) are in the attic in the back somewhere. She's now 38. They may be in tatters. When I was in graduate school about 10 years ago, I did drag out her Cabbage Patch dolls for a presentation. I used a different one to represent a different type of student. The dolls were quite a hit and added interest. My professor asked me where I found the dolls and then answered her own question. I wish I could help you. I don't know where you live. If need be, you might find a guild online and then contact the guild via email and get help that way. I don't know your timeframe. Good luck!
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Hilary4 said:
Does the guide sheet give you any clues? I have Simplicity 6298 which has round smocking just below the yoke. The transfer sheet is missing from mine too, but the guide sheet gives some clues, that the dots splay out a little to allow for the circle:
It looks like that page in the book just might do the trick. I'll have to check the library, they probably have it. Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
marysudie said:
You might try contacting a shop that sells smocking patterns even if they are for smocking machines. Someone at the shop might be willing to assist you. Sorry I haven't smocked in over 30 years and I only did smocking by using a pleating machine so I cannot help you. I think the idea of a smocking guild or a needle arts guild is a great idea. You might be surprised if you just ask, there are many people with hidden talents and hidden patterns in the attic. If I had someone to do the lifting, I think my daughter's old dress patterns (non-smocking) are in the attic in the back somewhere. She's now 38. They may be in tatters. When I was in graduate school about 10 years ago, I did drag out her Cabbage Patch dolls for a presentation. I used a different one to represent a different type of student. The dolls were quite a hit and added interest. My professor asked me where I found the dolls and then answered her own question. I wish I could help you. I don't know where you live. If need be, you might find a guild online and then contact the guild via email and get help that way. I don't know your timeframe. Good luck!
I wish there was something like that here, unfortunately there isn't. The girls haven't grown into the dresses yet so I'm not pressed for time. The last one I made didn't take very long.
 
ggmomliz said:
It looks like that page in the book just might do the trick. I'll have to check the library, they probably have it. Thanks.
There is a paragraph on that page that might be more useful. It reads:

Shaping Yoke or Collar. Sometimes you may wish to use your transfer pattern around a neck, to make a shaped yoke, or to form a curved collar line. To do this, carefully slash the transfer edges at even intervals and pin it together to form the desired shape. Then pin or baste to the material and press as for a straight transfer. Figure 9.

Figure 9 shows in the picture I posted from the book - this looks like your best bet if you have an ordinary dots transfer.
 
I so wished you lived close by as I have many smocking things to get rid of.
There should be a meeting place every 100 km so we can all meet up and share our craft with the others.
Enjoy your smocking
 
Take a shirt cardboard and poke holes into it for the grid - to make your own dots on the fabric with WASHABLE marker. The iron on dots will NOT wash out and will set even worse if they are left in the sun. You can adjust the dot placement as the splay continues down the yoke. Because all the extra fabric is carried on the inside (wrong side) of the design, you can ease the simple design onto the yoke and splay as needed by taking an extra, simple trellis stitch up and down to create the waves towards the bottom of the design. This should not be too difficult once you have the template. Dots (if you can find those to iron on) come in various widths according to the weight of the fabric and the materials used for the dress. I would however, choose a plate that is not too deep and of course one that is designed for a bishop and not an insert as you do create movement within the plate design on any bishop. Hope this helps. I have been smocking for one 40 years and teaching for almost as long.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Thank you all for your advice and ideas. I was able to download some circular grid graph paper, called Polar graph, who knew, that should help me keep the shape. When it comes to transferring the dots I will use the method I used when I taught fabric painting, charcoal pencil on tracing paper, rubbed onto the fabric. It will take more work than if I had the original but I can do it next month most likely.
 
I did a smocked dress for my great granddaughter 7 years ago from a Vogue pattern. I believe this pattern is still available so perhaps if you purchase that pattern you can use the transfer pattern from it.
 
Isn't the KP Family just the best ! ! ! Sounds like there are lots of suggestions. Please take a picture of the dress and post so we can see what you have accomplished. Wish there was a little girl in my life in which I could learn to do this and maker her a dress.
 
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