Picture Smocking Tutorial-Part 2

Easter is around the corner and will be here before we know it!
Smocking is synonymous with Easter and bunnies....

Today's blog is a tutorial to help with the picture smocking that is so very popular.
Let me first say that you must know how to do a basic cable stitch before trying picture smocking.
If you aren't comfortable with this basic smocking stitch, I'd recommend practicing more geometric smocking before moving on.

If you have mastered the basic cable stitch come on along!

After you have blocked your piece (see tutorial here) smocking can begin!

I like to "backsmock" my piece first to keep my pleats nice and tight and evenly aligned.

This is simply cable stitches on each row in floss color that matches your fabric.  

You'll see knots showing.  Why? This is the back--I don't want any knots to go through to the front.

After all the "prep" work is done, the actual "coloring" with the thread can begin!

Some smockers wait and do this step last....this is just my personal preference.

(I think it also gets the plain stuff done first and I can enjoy the creative stitching and be ready to put it into an outfit!)

Pay special attention to the starting point of your particular "plate" or smocking pattern.  For illustration sake, I'm using the smocking plate "Baby Brown Owls" by Cross Eyed Cricket. 

You'll see I use a highlighter,  a magnetic cross stitch board and magnet strips covered in painter's tape with an arrow drawn with a sharpie.

Per the instructions, I smock the cable stitches on row 1, 2 and 7 1/2  in the colors on the instructions.

Next we follow the instructions for cable stitches that are "stacked" that form something like bricks in a wall to "color" our pictures.  It is very much a premeditated system; staying in rows, stacking our cables so they match in the overall scheme of things to create a picture...thus "picture smocking".

According to my smocking plate, my first cable stitch to touch is a "down" cable preceded by an "up" cable.  It comes in from the left edge 4 pleats.  I usually use the already stitched cables to find the correct spot.  (sometimes it is necessary to "fudge" if I have miscounted in previous stitches)  My first "up" cable will begin one pleat in front of the green "up" cable on row 2.

This picture shows the correct placement for my up cable stitch.

 The thread comes up in the valley, make an "up" cable.

 The tail is "down" so your next cable is a down cable.

Your down cable should touch or "kiss" (my saying in classes I teach) the previous up cable.  Think about kissing....your heads move - one goes one way, the other the other way.  In this case it is a down cable matching an up cable.   This is a good way to check for errors!  If the tail isn't ready to lay across the previous row's stitch, you've either miscounted and are stacking at the wrong point OR you are getting ready to do the wrong type of cable!!

Sorry for the blurry pic but you'll see the down cable nestles nicely on top of the previous row's up cable.  The tail is up high ready for and up cable.

So I completed the required number of cables in a row right on top of row 2.  See how the down cables touch the previous row's up cables forming a stack? The up cables form the base for another row of stitching.

I need to change colors to form the flower, so I push the needle down in the valley where the tail just came up.

Turn it over and tie off.  (Notice my "honking" knots!  they won't show and they make me feel secure!)  no pun intended....ha ha!

To begin the next color, I push the needle up in the same valley, close to the same spot I tied off in.

Can you figure out what stitch comes next based on the previous row?

An up cable!  Then the pink "kisses" the brown threads just as before!  So I finish with the flower cables.

Check the chart again and notice there is a white spot or a blank between the "pink" and beginning the rest of the green leaf on the other side.  See my needle pointing to the spot?? What should happen here?  Skip a row and begin a green "up" cable so that two up cables are sitting side by side.

Look closely and you can see the little piece of white below the pink stitch?  I'm coming in from the back into the valley next to the pink up cable to start a green up cable.

Finish the cable stitches as directed in instructions.  See the space of white?

Now use your highlighter on a copied smocking plate.  (Never mark on your originals!)

Turn your magnetic board up side down and turn the arrow so that it is pointing up AND turn your smocking up side down to match! We are ready to do our second row of picture smocking!  

Starting again at the left in the correct spot per your smocking plate and begin again.  A closer view of my plate indicates a down cable hanging out by itself.

The next cable up cable "kisses" the row above.  I'm right on track!

Continue with your stitches, then mark them off and flip the magnetic board back right side up as well as the arrow magnet and your insert.

Moving right along to finish the other picture smocking leaves and flowers.  See how nicely the others look?  Remember to flip the board and insert for each row.  This is really handy if you need to get up for any reason and need to find your place again.  (potty breaks can be gruesome if you lose your spot....what about another cup of coffee?)

Some plates come with a diagram showing how many cables are done per row.  This comes in handy. I have even used colored pencils to color in my color choices to speed up my stitching or if I've changed the color palette to match my fabric.

TIPS:

• Notice my finger placement.  Only concentrate on the area within your fingers.  I usually roll the left side up and let the right side dangle.  As I move along I continue to roll the left edge up to make it easier to handle.
• My stitches aren't loose but aren't tight either.  Think relaxed sewing.  You want them full enough to cover the space but not loose.  If they are too tight, white (or your background color) will show  between your stitches.  Don't worry if they aren't perfect to begin with.  My first piece shows background in between but I did it, my daughter wore it and it is hanging in my closet waiting for grands!  Practice makes perfect!
• Use 4 strands of floss that have been separated and put back together.
• For your first attempt at picture smocking, try something with few color changes and/or something that is small like pictured.  Perhaps a border with picture smocked flowers or other items that will be simple to learn.

Try not to catch the gathering threads in your stitches.  Makes for quite tedious work to pull them out at the time to construct.

 A closeup of correct picture smocking.

All done!

How did you do?

What did you select to smock as your first project?

UPDATE:  ATTRIBUTION FOR THE SMOCKING PLATE:  http://www.crosseyedcricketsmocking.com/owls.htm

Always in Stitches!

Renee

P.S.All tutorials, information and images are the property of Renee Galloway at Ney Ney's Nest and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin, share with attribution to Ney Ney's Nest.  For all other purposes, please contact me at reneegalloway@me.com.  Thanks!