The smocking phase is finally done and I’m delighted at how quickly the parts are coming together …


I’ve been using Londonderry 80/3 linen thread to backstitch the seams at about 10 stitches per inch …


I confess to being concerned about how the bulky edge of the smocking would work into the seams, but so far so good …


Which reminds me, these are my new favorite marking pens, which erase with an iron or even a blast with the hair dryer. They make a finer line and glide on more smoothly than the felt-tipped pens I’ve used in the past. And at $17 for a set of 8, they’re reasonably priced …

Of course, in looking them up online, I’m now seeing a lot of lower priced alternatives … please comment below if you’ve had experience with any other brands!
And my post wouldn’t be complete without some grandkid pix …
























