Making Smocking Modern: How to Create Smocked Garments Today’s Moms Will Love

In this post I am discussing the main reason I started Pink Holly Bush Designs and my own pattern line. My goal was to make smocking modern—to help it appeal to today's mom and make it appropriate for today's lifestyle. So below, I'm going to be sharing a little bit of my background, but also give you some general tips on how to make sure the garments that you're making are going to be something that today's moms absolutely love. As always, you can listen or just read!

The Origins of Pink Holly Bush Patterns

Ten years ago, I was the national president of the Smocking Arts Guild of America. I had the privilege of traveling across the country, meeting so many people who were smocking. One thing I kept hearing was, "I have grandchildren, but my daughter or daughter-in-law won't put them in the smocked garments."

I was so disturbed by this. These women had smocked for their own children, but now they weren't smocking for their grandchildren. I started asking women in their 20s and early 30s: "Why are you not putting the kids in the garments? What do you not like about them?" What I found is it wasn't the smocking; they loved the smocking and the beautiful handwork. But they told me:

• The garments were too fussy, too formal, and too fancy.

• The fabrics required too much ironing.

• The colors looked old-fashioned.

  
  

Tips for Modern Smocking:

1. Pick Patterns with Simple Style Lines

If you go in a ready-to-wear children's store—even Target—you will notice that children's garments right now are pretty simple. There are not a lot of bows and whistles. Often there’s no collar, just a simple round or square neckline. Even if there is a ruffle, it’s just a little simple one around the bottom, not oversized, not overdone. Think simple.

2. Choose Modern Colors

Take a look at the colors of children's clothes right now. You will notice they're fairly dark and fairly muted. You’ll see a lot of denim, browns, burgundies, and olive green—not pastel pink, blue, or yellow. These garments can handle the dirt that kids dish out. Moms and dads don't want to have to fuss with the laundry or try to get stains out of a white background. Picking a print with a darker background or using colors like burgundy or olive green makes it fit today's lifestyle.

3. When Smocking, use Matching Inserts

If you're going to use an insert for a picture or geometric smocked design, pick an insert that matches the background color of the base fabric. Avoid the bright white insert. By matching the background fabric, you avoid the white that can get dirty and you make it look a little bit more modern.

4. Choose Family-Friendly, Wash & Wear Fabrics

• Cotton knits: Cotton Jersey or Cotton Interlock with a GSM of 175-220.

• Flannel: It’s soft, cozy, and looks great right out of the dryer.

• Quality Poly-Cotton Broadcloth: Brands like Spechler-Vogel or Fabric Finders help with wrinkling so you can just hang it up and go.

• Cotton Gauze: Perfect for summer because it has a natural texture. You just pull it out, hang it, and you're good to go.

  
  

If you do these four things—pick a mom-friendly fabric, pick a pattern with simple design lines, and use modern colors, both for the base fabric and the insert—I guarantee that mom and child will love your smocked garment

For more help in making your smocking modern, grab my 5 Tips to Sew Clothes Moms & Children Adore!