Smocking > Design Cards > Amy Straight 16 Rows

• It is very important that you start in the same valley for each row.
• If necessary 'cheat' to correct at the beginning of the row.
• There is no need to center this design.
• This design uses two colour threads. White is the main or dominant colour and pink is the second / passive or lighter colour.
• You will get a totally different look if you swop the main and second colour.
  

1. You will sew the top part of the design first. Once this is completed you will mirror the entire top part of the design. The design mirrors around the halfway point between the two rows marked '1'.
2. Working between rows 1 and 2 in your second colour sew a row of 4-step trellis Begin with a down cable.
3. In the same colour mirror this row between rows 4 and 3. Start with an up cable.
4. In the same colour mirror the last row between rows 5 and 6 start with a down cable.
5. Change to your main colour and fill in the 4 step trellis rows at the half way mark as illustrated.
6. You should have completed 7 rows of 4 step trellis by now.
7. In you second colour, working between rows 8 and 7, start a needles breadth below row 8.
8. Sew a row of '3 cable, wave down to row 7, 3 cable, wave up to row 8'. Start with an up cable. (count: cable up, down, up - wave down, cable down, up, down, - wave up)
9. Change to main colour and mirror this row between rows 8 and 7. In other words you will cross over the existing row. Tip this row will fill in the gaps created by the previous row.
10. In your main colour sew one row of cable a needles breadth above row 8, start with a down cable.
11. You have now completed the top part of the design.
    Mirror this entire design below.
    

Check to see which valley you will use as your start valley. Make sure that the valley continues the full length of your gathering. If you have one or two extra pleats to the left of this valley you can 'cheat' by sewing them together with the first pleat. This is the easiest way of ensuring that your design will be correct.

This design looks very good using both contrasting colours as illustrated or by using two shades of the same colour. Try to have about two degrees difference between the shades.

This information was contributed by 2smock.com
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