Burda Style For people who sew

I learned this through many japanese smocking books. It is quite easy and fast to do and gives a cute effect. For full instruction, see "Liaspace":http://www.liaspace.com/2009/12/diamond-smock-tutorial.html

Technique Materials

any medium sized-large sized polka dot materials

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18 Comments Sign in to add a post

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  Mar 24, 2012, 11.05 AMby petraimad

  It’s very beautiful
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  Mar 12, 2011, 05.46 AMby Crystal Fashionsbycj Jordan

  THIS IS GREAT LOVE IT ONE OF MY FAVS NOW
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  Feb 26, 2011, 03.39 AMby Dupioni

  Amazing! It’s very beautiful.
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  Jan 5, 2011, 05.09 AMby rebeccapeebles

  How much does the fabric “shrink” when using diamond smocking? I’d like to include the technique in a bodice/top, but not sure how much fabric to start with compared to unsmocked fabric…. I should add that I love this kind of tutorial! It’s amazing how many awesome hand sewing techniques go un-sung!

  1 Reply

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    Jan 5, 2011, 08.26 AMby liaspace

    Hi Rebecca, I’m not sure about the shrinkage, you probably need about 1.5 of your actual size. It depends on the dots…how far apart each dots are and how big your dots are. I think you can try two diamonds and see the shrinkage. My dots were rather big hence the shrinkage was big too :). I’ve never tried making a dress out of this, only bags. Sorry I can’t be much of a help

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  Jan 5, 2011, 04.40 AMby liz1611

  love this! i’m going to make this technique into a baby’s dress.

  1 Reply

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    Jan 5, 2011, 08.27 AMby liaspace

    would love to see the finished result :)

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  Jan 4, 2011, 07.43 PMby subtle-t

  Wow, i love the technique of using polka dots to emphasize the process!!!!
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  Jan 4, 2011, 07.31 AMby anafelix

  Thanks so much for posting how to do this! I’ve been looking for how to do this after seeing a Vogue clutch. Now I don’t have to pay 17 dollars for a pattern I didn’t really want!
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  Jan 3, 2011, 10.44 AMby loyl8

  oohhh i forgot to add this to my 2011 to learn list
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  Jan 2, 2011, 02.42 AMby Diah Lestari

  Nice. Need to practice it. ;)
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  Dec 31, 2010, 06.33 PMby Testosterone

  Most impressive!
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  Apr 18, 2010, 05.20 PMby liaspace

  yes it kinda does, depending on how far apart your dots form one another :)
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  Apr 13, 2010, 02.13 PMby davee09

  really??? ive seen it in a lot of japanese clothing like lolita dresses etc. wow looks deceptively hard then!!!!!! lolz
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  Mar 31, 2010, 05.08 PMby andrine94

  Does the fabric shrink alot when you do use the techniqe? Great instructions! :D
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  Jan 7, 2010, 11.41 PMby gidgetlover

  This is awesome.. I think i’ll try it on a dress as the waste.. :)
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  Dec 26, 2009, 08.41 PMby asherdasher

  This is really cute! Thanks for the great instructions. It looks so intricate and yet you make it easy with your tutorial.
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  Dec 20, 2009, 11.45 AMby kdrodgers

  Could I use any fabric, or does it look better with polka dots?

  1 Reply

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    Dec 20, 2009, 04.35 PMby liaspace

    Yes, go ahead and try it with checks or any other motifs you want :) would be interesting to see the effect of combining them :)

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  Dec 15, 2009, 08.59 PMby watatoe

  This also looks awesome when done on fabric with teeny little dots when making doll clothes! Great instructions and pics!
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  Dec 11, 2009, 02.35 PMby sewneenee

  Thanks for the tutorial, I will give this one a try, it’s so cute and your right it does look easy!

  1 Reply

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    Dec 11, 2009, 03.37 PMby liaspace

    it really is :) and quite fast once you’ve got the hang of it :D