This is the first part of two posts explaining some of the background on how I started making dresses for little girls.

I began making smocked dresses thirty years ago when my daughter was born, teaching myself from a pattern that had six rows of simple smocking. When she could no longer wear the dresses I had smocked, I was sad to think that I would have to stop making them. Then a friend suggested I make them to sell. That way I could continue doing what I loved, while giving other children the opportunity to wear them. Twenty-five years later, I’m still smocking and eager more than ever to try the new ideas that continually present themselves.

My first dresses were experiments with different smocking designs, but after a while I got bored simply stitching designs. Gradually little flowers began to sprout amongst the rows of smocking. I enjoyed making flowers and found them to be a pretty addition to the ever-increasing rows of smocking, so they became a staple in the design. A short time later, the flowers were joined by a little bunny, and I liked it even better. I liked the way the addition of embroidery added a third dimension to the dress, making the scene come alive. It made me realize how many other things were just waiting to take their place in the spotlight of a child’s dress. These dresses were different from other smocked dresses. In addition to the beautiful intricate designs that distinguish smocking from anything else, they had life; they had personality!

Over the years they continue to grow; more and more animals, children, flowers- entire scenes framed by as many as twenty-five rows of smocking make their way onto dress fronts. I realized then that the dress backs were in need of embellishment, so hand-stitched trim and an embroidered flower or two were added to the button placket of each dress. The sleeve ruffles as well, are edged with hand stitching or lace, with the exception of a few dresses, where to do so would detract from the dress design. Often, on a whimsy, a flower may pop-up on a sleeve, collar, or near the hem of the dress as a little surprise.