Smocking Class, August 29th, 2:30-4:30pm

Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, August 19, 2009:

Beth Cross, a member of the Red Bud Chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild of America, will teach Smocking on Saturday, August 29th from 2:30 to 4:30 in the latest class in the Giles County Historical Society’s and the Giles Arts Council’s Needle Arts Class series. Smocking is a form of utilitarian and decorative stitching that has been in use since the 13th century. Smocks were loose fitting blouses of linen worn by farm workers and other laborers. The loose fit provided protection and warmth, as well as freedom of movement. The linen was gathered into pleats at the yoke and sleeves. Smocking stitches secured the pleats creating stretch in the garment while also providing decoration and identification.

During the period of industrialization, smocks became dangerous for workers to wear because they were loose fitting and could get caught in machinery. Though smocking was no longer a necessity on work clothes, the embroidery stitches used became popular on women’s and children’s clothing as decoration.

What used to be a rather laborious process of creating the pleats, has become easier with the use of a pleater which gathers the fabric. The focus of smocking today is on the embroidery stitching rather than the gathering of the fabric. Pleating creates a canvas on which to work with the pleats creating vertical lines and the threads holding the pleats in place creating horizontal lines. Simple outline, cable, trellis, and wave stitches can then be used to create intricate and beautiful patterns on the pleated cloth.

Join us on August 29th to learn smocking stitches that can embellish clothing or Christmas ornaments. Please contact the Historical Society to register for the class.