Sunday, December 5, 2010

Method of calculating material need for Canadian smocking -"Arrow head design"

Material need for Canadian smocking depends upon the flowing things

1. Size of the finished material we need.
2. Design we select.
3. Size of the square in the graph we use for smocking.

For each design I have arrived at a general formula using mathematics .By just substituting the numbers in the formula we can find out  the width of the material by calculating how many squares we need in a row. We can calculate the length of the material needed by calculating how many squares we need in a column.
Diagonal of the square plays a great role in this. I will give you approximate values diagonals of the squares we normally use.
Diagonal of a square of 2 cm =2 .8 cm
Diagonal will be for square of 2 .5 cm = 3.5 cm
Diagonal will be for square of 3 cm = 4.2 cm
Diagonal will be for square of 4 cm= 5.7 cm

Method of calculating material need for a cushion of "Arrow head design"

Cushion size 40 cm X 40 cm

Arrow head design



Size of the square used in the graph= 3 cm

General formula to calculate width of the material

No of squares needed in row = (width of the finished smocked material needed x 4) ÷ diagonal of the square
General formula to calculate length of the material

No of squares in a column = (length of the finished smocked material needed X 2) ÷ Diagonal of the square

Method of calculating the width of the material

No of squares needed in a row = (40 cm X 4) ÷ 4.2 = 38 squares
Material needed for 38 squares =38 X 3 cm = 114 cm
Width of the material needed =114 cm + 2 cm  for seams =116 cm

Method of calculating the length of the material

No of squares in a column = (length of the finished smocked material needed X 2) ÷ Diagonal of the square
No of squares in a column = (40 cm X 2) ÷ 4.2 = 19 squares
Material needed for 19 squares =19 X 3 cm =57 cm + 2 cm for seams =59 cms.

Please note that the number of squares in a row should be of even number.
First row and last row are smocked by joining 2 points

The remaining rows are smocked in pairs by the method of joining 3 points.
In the same manner we can calculate the material needed  for different sizes of  cushions done with different sizes of squares.

6 comments:

  1. This is truly awesome.But I think U should make it more easy to understand .I love this method but am unable to make this.

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  2. I remember commenting here earlier,so forgive me for repeating.You have done a marvellous work ,not only the craft itself but also that of documenting your work & unselfishly teaching/sharing with others.I think you have reorganised your pages since i last came here.You have put the Calculations & graph of the each design, together,which is very helpful.Another thing that you have helped with is putting the art & science/Math of the craft to gether,which is very rare.In all,I find in you a kindred spirit & am grateful that I was able to find you.In fact my search for the Arrow-Head smoking pattern which I was trying to learn helped me find you.Thank-you for sharing ,onceagain.

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  3. I have pinned this to my Pinterest collection of Sewing Tutorials . Thanks so much for the video too - "flower design in Canadian Smocking"

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  4. Hai mam,
    I loved your blog sooo much.And i learn a lot from you and your site..Am very happy to find your blog here.And your are my guru for making cushions :)).And i need your blessings also mam..Around the people site your blog is really unique and real learning.. thank you so much mam..if you wished me..

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  5. Glad to know that you liked my blog.Thanks for the appreciation.May God bless you!

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  6. Plz tell me measurements for aerrowhead designe for rectangular pillow

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