Bash, Pleat, Singe and Smock

Bashing

Pleating and burning

Loose stitching and smocking

An experiment

Smocking

According to the latest edition of Selvedge, smocks used to be the most practical garments for farm workers to wear, being strong and protective. With the advent of mechanisation they became too dangerous as they would be impossible to get out of machinery before human limbs followed! I like the textures that smocking achieves - the ripples, shadows and stretchiness. I've practised with only two of the traditional stitches here but there may be scope for using other stitches to create a symbolic element. I used calico dyed with juniper berries.