Martha`s Smocking-In-The-Hoop CD Information

Martha's Smocking-In-The-Hoop CD
Information & Guidelines:
About These Designs:
This package contains machine-embroidered smocking designs with a variety of patterns that can be used
as individual or combination designs on pleated fabric and ready-to-smock garments. We hope you will
be excited about the versatility they offer as you create unique finished garments or home deco projects.
In our Stitch Order section, we have specified the number of rows each design uses and the minimum
number of pleating rows required to machine smock the design. The top and bottom rows of a pleated
piece of fabric are reserved for seam allowance construction and should not be used for any design
stitches. The actual number of gathering threads that a design will cover, excluding the basting/placement
tack-down stitches, determines a design's row count. For the Insert design motifs, we have only specified
the number of rows the design uses.
Design numbers mp2201, mp2202, mp2211, and mp2212 are background border designs, in 7" and 9"
lengths, with colorful edge patterns and plain chevron centers. Use these alone or as a background to one
of our cute Insert motifs (mp2223 through mp2232); or, add your favorite monogram to the center of the
design. Likewise, use designs mp2219 through mp2222 and mp2233 through mp2242 to make plain
chevron backgrounds, available in graduated width sizes, in both 7" and 9" lengths. Again, these would
look great alone or with added motifs in the center.
Design numbers mp2203 through mp2210 and mp2213 through mp2218 are beautiful floral designs in 7"
and 9" lengths.
Recommendations:
1. Select the appropriate fabric and compatible needles to do machine smocking. For our pre-pleated
fabric sample pieces, we chose to use either a regular #80- or #90-embroidery needle with our Sulky 40wt. thread.
2. If available, reduce the sewing machine's pressure on the pressure foot, since the pleated fabric will be
thicker than the single layers used in regular machine embroidery. This will allow the embroidery foot to
move over the raised pleats without dragging. In addition, some machines may require that the top
tension be tightened just slightly to get a good balance between the top and bottom stitches and to prevent
loose threads from occurring during embroidery. Use a test sample and only make small adjustments
until you are happy with the settings. As a final machine adjustment, reduce the speed of the machine
when embroidering.
3. We highly recommend using Floriani's Wet N Gone Tacky stabilizer (available from Martha Pullen's
Catalog). We use a "sandwich" method to hold the pleated fabric in place. The tacky stabilizer will be
used on top of the pleated fabric and on the bottom when hooped. The tacky surface will hold the pleats
well; will allow repositioning when aligning the fabric in the hoop without losing its tackiness; and, it
rinses out completely without effort when finished.
The brief instructions below are just one way of doing machine smocking in the hoop and represent the
way our sample designs were completed. Alignment and placement of the design on pleated fabric or a
ready-to-smock garment is critical, so take extra time in the aligning process to assure a beautiful,
finished project.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Smocking-in-the-hoop
1. Hoop sticky water-soluble stabilizer in a 5”x7” hoop according to manufacturer’s instructions. Score
the release paper and remove it from the stabilizer. Mark the vertical and horizontal centers of the
hoop onto the stabilizer. Fig.1
Fig.1
2. Combine designs #mp2201 and #mp2232. Using embroidery software or your sewing machine,
combine and center design #mp2232 on top of design #mp2201. Fig.2 Print a design template
with the horizontal and vertical center marked. Send the combined design to you embroidery
machine.
Fig.2
3. Prepare the pleated fabric according to good smocking techniques. Distribute the pleats evenly for
the length needed. Some people use a fine-tooth comb or hair pick to get them even. Flatten
about 5/8" at both ends of the pleated fabric where the gathering threads are for seam allowance
purposes later. Fig.3
Fig.3
4. Prepare the pleated Swiss embroidery strip. With the pleated Swiss embroidery fabric strip face up,
place a piece of sticky water-soluble stabilizer on top of it. Align the stabilizer with the top and
bottom rows of the fabric. The stabilizer will hold the pleats in place and upright during the
embroidery steps. Fig.4
Fig.4
5. Place the hoop on the machine. Select the combined embroidery design.
6. Stitch the first color onto the stabilizer only, for placement of the fabric. Remove the hoop from the
machine. Fig.5
Fig.5
7. Place the prepared pleated fabric with stabilizer on top, right side up and centered onto the hooped
stabilizer, aligning the center marks and basting line. Check that the pleated rows are parallel within
the hoop. Fig.6
Fig.6
8. Press the fabric to the stabilizer and remove the pleating threads, except for the top and bottom
rows. Fig.7
Fig.7
9. Re-select the first color again and stitch the first color basting stitch onto the pleated fabric.
10. Continue with the remaining design stitches until the design is completed.Fig.8
Fig.8
11. Remove the design from the hoop and cut away excess pieces of the stabilizer from around the
embroidery. Rinse and soak the remaining WSS away. Let dry. Place embroidery face down on a
folded towel and press lightly.Fig.9
Fig.9