> On Nov 16, 2014, at 3:29 PM, Gwendolyn <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Smocking is stitching, done in a pattern, across the tops of tiny, regular pleats.

Okay, not quite what I was thinking it was. 

> Pleating the fabric is the first step.  
> I do quite a bit of hand sewing, and we spend a fair amount of time at various pubs. I usually have a project with me to work on.

Yes, common among many SCA folks. A bit easier than doing chain mail there. Last time I did that was while waiting for jury duty. The bailiff was not amused and told me I couldn’t do it in the courtroom.
> I know a number of people who have stupid peer tricks. I'm not a peer, but I am a Lily.

Ah, okay. I thought this might have to do with the lilies war. Are the award and the war connected?

Stefan
>  
> Gwendolyn
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Nov 16, 2014, at 12:47 AM, Stefan li Rous <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> Then, I’m going to ask another newbie/non-sewer question.
>> 
>> What is the difference between pleating/gathering and smocking?
>> 
>> I *thought* I knew what the first was, but now i’m not so sure. And what is “smocking” and how does it vary from gathering? I thought pleating used sharp folds as opposed to just loosely gathering cloth together. Is that right?
>> 
>> “stupid Lilly” trick? Is that like a stupid squire trick?
>> 
>> Admittedly, it seems rather stupid to criticize or make fun of someone in a dark tavern wielding a sewing needle. Unless you do it as you are leaving the tavern.
>> 
>> “Oops, my lord. I seem to have just sewed your ear to this cushion. I guess you are right, it is a bit dark in here."
>> 
>> Stefan
>> 
>>> On Nov 14, 2014, at 7:35 AM, Gwendolyn <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I've never used one, myself. It just does the pleating/gathering for you. All the smocking is still done by hand. 
>>> From what I understand, it's very easy to break the needles, so frequent threading will be likely. Fortunately, I'm good at threading needles. I joke that my stupid Lilly trick is that I can thread a needle in a dimly lit pub. (And I do it fairly frequently.)
>>> I sew a lot, both by machine and hand. I don't smock much. It's generally later period than I usually do, but I enjoy doing it. I don't want to spend a small fortune on a machine that won't get a huge amount of use. 
>>> 
>>> Gwendolyn
> 

--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
   Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          [log in to unmask]
http://www.linkedin.com/in/marksharris
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****

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