Graph and Instructions for Canadian smocking using design " Bones"

Here is the graph for making cushions with design “Bones”. This design also consists of columns marked with diagonals separated by gaps. While drawing graph we have to keep in mind the last column should not be a gap.

Method of calculating material needed

If you see the reverse of the"'Bones " design we find formation of equilateral  triangles.
Let us consider that we smock 2 rows of squares having 2 squares in each row.We get an equilateral triangle ABC (See figure 2) whose sides are equal to the diagonal of the square which is used for smocking. Using this we can calculate the material needed for smocking for the required size of cushion.

Let us calculate the material needed for a cushion of size of the cushion 40 cm x 40 cm and size of the square of the graph used =2 cm Χ 2 cm
  (please refer the chart)
Base =Diagonal of the square of square of side 2 cm= 2.8 cm
Height will be 2.4 cm.   
Let us calculate the length
Every 2 rows we smock the length will become 2.8 cm
Or in other words, to get 2.8 cm of smocked we need 2 squares or 4 cm material.
To get 40 cm of the smocked material we need 40 Χ 2÷2.8 = 28.5 squares or 28 full squares.
Material needed for 28 squares is 28 Χ 2 cm=56 cm
Add 2 cm for the seams on both sides
Length of material needed = 56 cm+ 4 cm =60 cm
Let us check .If we smock 28 squares we get 14 Χ 2.8 cm = 39.2 cm
There is a deficit of 0. 8 cm .This can be made up by adding 1 cm more for the seams that is ½ cm extra on each side.
Length of the material will be 61 cm.
Let us calculate the width of the material needed.
Width of the smocked material is the height of the equilateral triangle.
In this case it will be 2.4 cm.
Every 2 squares or 4 cm we smock it will become 2.4 cm in width.
Or in other words to get 2.4 cm of the smocked material we need 2 squares or 4 cm of material.
To get 40 cm of smocked material we need (40 Χ 2) ÷ 2.4 = 33 squares.
Material needed for 33 squares =33 Χ 2 = 66 cm.
By adding 2 cm on each side it will become 66+ 4 = 70 cm.
If we smock 32 squares we will get 16 Χ 2.4 = 38.4 cm.
We get little more for the last line.
Material needed of width 70 cm.
So the material needed for making a cushion of size 40 cm Χ 40 cm in the design “Bones “ using a graph of 2 cm square = 70 cm X 61 cm
In this manner we can calculate the material needed for any size of cushion done using any size of squares.

Squares and their diagonals.

While calculating the material needed for Canadian smocking we need the measurement of the side of the square and also the measurement of diagonal.Here I have given a table from which you can use the values and do the calculation.

Method of calculating material need for Canadian smocking for "Matrix design"

 This design contains repetition of 2 columns of squares marked with diagonals (shown in pink colour) and one column which is left blank (Shown in green colour). Finally ends with 2 columns of squares marked with diagonals.Tthat means there should be odd numbers of columns marked with diagonals  separated by Gaps. In other words first and last columns should be columns marked with diagonals. Numbers of repetitions of these three columns depend upon the size of the cushion and the size of the square of the graph used.
Smocking is done on pairs of columns marked with diagonals together. After completing one pair of column we have to move on to the next pair.


Width of the material after smocking



After smocking the width of one pair of column of squares become equal to ½ if the diagonal of the square used.he gap takes the shape of an equilateral triangle (See the diagram 1) whose side is equal to the diagonal of the square. Width of the gap will be equal to the height of the triangle thus formed.
Height of the triangle can be calculated by using the diagonal of the square used
Height of the triangle =√ (diagonal²–½diagonal²) .No need to worry about the formula. I have given the table which gives the diagonal and height of the triangle formed when smocking is done on different sizes of squares.


Length

After smocking the height of two rows will be equal to the diagonal of the square
With the help of these calculations we can find out the number of squares we need in each row and in each column. And then the material needed..Figures3,4and 5 explain the changes that take place after smocking for different sizes of squares


 





I will give one example
How to calculate material needed for a cushion of size 40cm x40cm smocking done on graph with squares 3cm x 3cm
Width
After smocking width first column becomes half of the diagonal =2.1cm
Width of next gap will be equal to height of the triangle formed = 3.6cm
Total of these three squares will be 5.7cm
These three squares are repeated
Last column is column of squares with diagonals (marked pink) its width is 2.1cm
Subtract 2.1 cm from 40 cm =37.9 cm
Now we have to find out how many times the fist 3 squares whose width will be 5.7 can be repeated to get to get 37.9cm
37.9cm÷ 5.7= 6.6
We can repeat 6 times without fraction that means we have to repeat 3 squares 6 times
3x6= 18 squares + last column 2 squares. = 20 squares
If you smock on 20 squares resulting material will be (8x 5.7) + 2.1= 34.2 cm + 2.1cm= 36.3 cm
It is 37  cm approximately  or 4cm less than 40 cm this can be made up by adding 2 cm on either side as border to this add 1cm on either side for seams
Length

We get 4, 2 cm when we smock 2 rows
These two rows should be repeated 40 ÷ 4.2= 9.5 times or 9 times without taking decimal
2 rows X 9 = 18 rows. When we smock these 18 rows the length we get = 4.2 x 9= 37.8 cm
It is 2.2 cm less than 40 cm. it can be made up by adding 1 .1 cm on either side. To this add 1 cm on either side as border.
So the graph will have 18 rows each row having 20 squares
Width of the material=20 squares x 3cm=60cm + 6cm=66cm
Length of the material = 18 X 3 cm =54 cm + 4.2 cm=56.2 cm
Material needed =66 cm Χ 56.2 cm

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.

"Flower basket" in dimensional embroidery

In this design I have used stitches which are used in Brazilian embroidery. I have used double cast on stitch for small pink flowers which are wrapped by daisy stitch.It has got an embossed effect.For big flowers I have used pistil stitches of different lengths.Flower centers are done with French knots.I did applique work for basket ,once again I have used double cast on stitch for the bars.

Dimensional embroidery with bullion stitches

Dimensional embroidery using Anchor pearl cotton threads - closeup view

Here are the closeup views of the design.