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smockshop
smock pattern
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The smockshop was founded in 2006 as a way to generate income for artists whose
work is either non-commercial, or not yet self-sustaining. Andrea Zittel created the
original smock pattern, which has since been reproduced by a group of smockers who
reinterpret her design based on their own individual skill sets, tastes and interests.
As an active testament to Zittel’s principle that "rules make us more creative" each of the
over 300 resulting smocks are completely unique. In celebration of the conclusion of
our project Michelle has turned her own pattern into a PDF so that the project can
continue to grow through more organic and independent means.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Print pattern brochure, cut out pieces and tape together following the grid. When
cutting out the pattern, leave a little blank paper where the pieces line up, to make it
easier to tape together. Trace pattern onto craft or other suitable pattern-making
paper. Cut out pattern.
2. Start with 2.5 yards of fabric. If called for, don’t forget to pre-wash before measuring!
2. Fold your fabric in half so that the two cut edges meet at the end and
the selvages are on the sides.
3. Lay pattern on fabric so that the tops of the shoulder straps touch the top fold.
Pin in place or outline with chalk.
4. Cut out carefully.
FOR A LINED SMOCK:
Cut pattern in outer and lining fabric. Align pieces right side to right side and pin carefully to make sure that everything
meets up.
Sew pieces together along sides, armholes and bottom edge (bottom edge can also be finished by hand when right-side
out). Trim corners and make slight slits along curves.
Turn right side out through un-sewn neck hole and use a pin to pull corners out so that they make crisp angles.
Finish neck by hand.
FOR A SINGLE-LAYER SMOCK:
Evenly fold the raw edges over 3/8” and iron, then fold another 3/8” and iron again.
Pin so that they stay folded while you sew hem.
Sew so that stitching follows rolled hem perfectly.
TIPS:
1. If you are a beginning sewer making a single-layer smock, you may want to hand stitch the hems since it takes a lot of
time and practice to make clean machine stitched hems. We think that slightly “unprofessional” hand sewing usually looks
better then sloppy machine sewing. Use several strands of embroidery floss in either matching or contrasting color to
make an evenly spaced running stitch.
2. The smocks can be fastened many ways. We recommend adjustable straps or ties if you want them to be multi-sized.
Tiprin puts grommets in the corner of her smocks and ties them with a ribbon. Andrea likes hooks and "d" rings.
3. Hemming the neck is a controversial subject at the smockshop! You can either leave the neck raw, or figure out your
own creative way of negotiating it.
4. Each smocker tends to sew to fit their size - don’t be afraid to adjust the proportions of the pattern to suit your needs.
On the pdf of Michelle’s smock you can see fold lines she used to alter the smock – this way the smock pattern can be
made longer, shorter, wider, more narrow and so on.
5. Customize! This is the best part of sewing your smock - figuring out how to make it yours. Pockets, embroidery,
patches, silkscreen, airbrush, appliqué, pins, dyes, paints, ribbons…. or other kinds of secret engineering.
brochure
Michelle Brunnick, 2009
chosé general