Achieve cottage-core meets ladies-who-lunch elegance in this sleeveless floral smocked midi dress. This dreamy pick pairs with heels for a garden party or sneakers for strolling the farmer’s market. Lightweight fabrics like tencel work well for smocked dresses. Avoid ironing the fabric after smocking to avoid shrinkage.
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Cotton
The fabric of choice for smocked sundresses is cotton. It’s soft, breathable, and easy to work with. It also comes in a variety of colors and patterns. This is one of the reasons why you’ve seen so much Janie and Jack around lately. Choose lightweight cotton for smocking. It’s soft and gathered beautifully with the elastic thread, plus it doesn’t shrink as much as other cotton chambrays in the wash. To determine how wide a piece of cotton you need for your smocked sundress, make a smocking sample on a 6-inch square of fabric. Then, divide the model measurement by six smocking lines and add 1 inch for seam allowance to get your desired fabric width.
Linen
A linen-smocked dress will keep you cool during warm weather and transition seamlessly into fall. Try a floral print like this cotton linen blend midi dress with a scrunched criss-cross elastic strap and a gathered bodice that moves into a flowing skirt. It pairs nicely with sandals or sneakers for summer and can be topped off with a denim jacket and boots when it gets cooler. Linen is lightweight and breathable, so that you can wear it all year round. Just hand wash your smocked dresses to avoid getting the fabric too wet and stretched out of shape.
Silk
A silky fabric like this one is perfect for a dressier look. It will stay pressed well and won’t lose shape as quickly as cotton or linen. Opt for this floral print-smocked midi for a cottage-core that meets the ladies-who-lunch aesthetic. The puffed sleeves and gathered bodice create a flirty yet modest silhouette. Wear this bright red smocked dress for a garden party, bridal shower, or outdoor brunch. The bold hue pairs perfectly with silver accessories for a dressier look, or you can quickly tone it down for a casual day at the farmers market. It’s also available in plus sizes so that everyone can feel confident in this standout style.
Tencel
Printed smocked dresses can be an attractive choice for spring and summer. Try this floral smocked mini with a tiered hem and puffed sleeves, or this sweet pink smocked midi with a flattering square neckline and whimsical babydoll styling. When temperatures drop, dress up this feminine puff-sleeve smocked frock with a denim jacket and loafers. If you’re comfortable showing more skin, try a fully smocked bodycon dress that hugs your curves. Choosing a soft and lightweight fabric is the trick to sewing a bodycon dress without losing shape.
Rayon
The most common fabric used for smocking, cotton is easy to sew and offers many color and print options. A cotton-smocked dress can be worn year-round, and pairing it with an outerwear option like a denim jacket or leather vest will make it perfect for cooler weather. If you’re into florals, an embroidered cotton-linen blend midi is a darling option. It’s smocked at the waist for a flattering cinch and has short, puffed, oh-so-feminine sleeves.
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