Smocks are hardwearing ‘overalls’ that became common on English farms during the 18th and 19th centuries. As revealed by those that survive in museums of costume and rural life, these extraordinary garments combined linen, simple design, and intricate stitching.
Cut from rectangular sections of cloth, they were hemmed and stitched by hand into one of three styles. Reversible smocks were identical front and back, often with one or two buttons at the neck. Shirt smocks featured longer openings, just at the front, and usually several buttons.
These basic styles were then embellished, often lavishly so, with complex smocking designs comprising gathered folds, stitched to provide increased density in areas of most wear between shape and pattern. At once both rough and richly decorative, these contradictory artefacts still inspire to this day.
Join Selvedge and Ruth Singer for a one day workshop where you'll learn the basics of traditional hand smocking. Creating numerous samples, Ruth will teach you traditional stitches including cable stitch, stem stitch, honeycomb stitch, wave stitch, trellis stitch and the classic smocker's knot. Book your place, £120,Traditional Smocking, 24 June, 11-5pm
