155 Smocking Designs

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Pattern/Plate resource
Review: I really enjoy this book. The plates are clear and easy to read. The breadth of pictures in the picture smocking areas is incredible. I do wish it had more geometric patterns, though. This book has been a great resource for choosing elements to combine into my own designs.

One warning -- I do NOT like the color choices made for the photographs at all. However, I've never yet used the colors specified in a smocking pattern or plate.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Pattern/Plate resource
Review: I really enjoy this book. The plates are clear and easy to read. The breadth of pictures in the picture smocking areas is incredible. I do wish it had more geometric patterns, though. This book has been a great resource for choosing elements to combine into my own designs.

One warning -- I do NOT like the color choices made for the photographs at all. However, I've never yet used the colors specified in a smocking pattern or plate.

Rating:
Summary: Nice reference book
Review: This book is a nice library of basic patterns. It's nice to have on hand if you need to put a garment together for a holiday and you don't have a particular plate in mind. It is also a nice starting point for designing your own, more complex designs. Most of the books I've found on smocking have weird, abstract designs or the fashions in them are hopelessly out-of-date. This is a refreshing change.