Here are pictures of my first smocked dresses. I made them about 6 or 7 years ago for my niece. My sister gave them back for Vickie to wear. The strawberry was the first thing I ever smocked, it was from a SB. I went to my local shop, bought an insert and the Ellen McCarn picture smocking book and taught myself. After I smocked the insert, someone gave me a pleater. So I taught myself how to pleat and made the second dress. This was after someone told me geometric smocking was easier than picture smocking and I should have learned that first. Oh well. I can’t wait for Vickie to grow into these.