Rocking Smocking is a contemporary guide to using joyful colour and bold graphic pattern to create smocking that adds a beautiful decorative touch to handmade garments.

This image-led, modern guide is suited to both smocking learners and experts as well as lovers of colours and patterns. Offering both instruction and inspiration this fashion-forward guide walks you through the basics of English smocking and offers a kaleidoscope of ideas for how to bring these hand stitches to life by combining thread colours, stitch motifs, and dramatic smocking placement to fabulous effect.

It starts by setting out the basics of smocking—what you will need, how to choose and prepare fabric, and basic stitches. The second section lays out different strategies for choosing thread colours, while the third section goes through the design process: using 10 smocking panels to replicate at home, it shows readers how to rock their smocks by blending fabrics, smocking patterns, and colours to sensational graphic effect. The final section looks at how and where to place smocked panels on your garments, adding volume to dramatic effect with 6 smaller on-trend fashion projects.

Equally appealing on the coffee table or in the studio, Rocking Smocking is a visually beautiful guide celebrating modern applications of this ancient craft.

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Rocking Smocking shows how to use vibrant colours and graphic patterns to create stunning garments. Suitable for beginners and experts alike, there are instructions and inspiration for English smocking basics, thread colour selection and design processes. Learn how to experiment with blending fabrics, stitch motifs and colours to achieve spectacular graphic effects. 

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A modern and visually appealing guide that offers both instruction and inspiration for those interested in English smocking. The book covers the basics of smocking, fabric preparation and basic stitches. It also provides different strategies for choosing thread colours and explains the design process. The book includes 10 smocking panels that readers can replicate at home to achieve sensational effects. It includes six smaller on-trend fashion projects that demonstrate how and where to place smocked panels on garments to add volume and drama. Whatever your project aspirations, Rocking Smocking is a visually beautiful guide celebrating modern applications of this traditional craft.