Shortcuts for Beginners There are a lot of tips out there on how to smock a dress the right way, and you'll eventually want to learn them. But if this is your first garment, the important thing is to just sit down and make it. Here are some shortcuts, bypassing the more difficult aspects of heirloom sewing, which will help you make your first garment one to be proud of, instead of frustrated with.
2
Pin-Tucks by Hand (Overhand Tucks) This is a beautiful heirloom technique that is very easy to do by hand. I'll never do pin-tucks by machine again!
3
Reference needlebook Dedicate one of your needlebooks as a reference. Label the pages with the type and size of the needles. Never remove these needles from the book - just use them as a size guide for other needles. You can do the same thing with machine needles.
