5 Reasons Why Smocked Clothing is Great for Growing Kids

It may surprise some people, but quality smocked clothing can be economical.  When you buy clothing for special occasions, you generally expect to pay more.  So if you compare smocked clothing and non-smocked clothing, you will find that the smocked clothes will fit a child much longer and then can be passed down to other children rendering the dollars spent to yield more benefits.

Smocked Clothes Give and Stretch

1.  The smocked portions of the garment "give"  and stretch with movement allowing the child to play freely and comfortably.  Smocked garments fit children in a soft, non-binding way.

2.  Since the smocking stretches, the garment may fit a child through the body for several years of growth. Mothers and grandmothers who smock and sew their children's clothing, have learned to make dresses with deep hems allowing them to be "let out" each year as the child grows taller.

3.  If hems are let out to enable a garment to be worn more than one season, then the smocked garment can actually become an economical choice for dressing up.

4.  Since smocking never goes out of style the smocked clothing can be passed down to your other children or given to cousins or friends.  The classic look of smocking is always special.

5.  The natural fabrics that are generally used in smocked children's clothing are cool and comfortable. Cotton or cotton/polyester are the popular choices.  (Kid's have no patience with uncomfortable clothing.)

Anavini Smocked Clothing

Silly Goose Smocked Clothing

Castles and Crowns Smocked Clothing

Smocked Clothing that Flatters Your Child

It is important to choose a garment style that is appropriate to the age or body style of the child. Dresses that have a waistline are not flattering to a baby or a toddler. Bishop dresses are a great standby for both infants and toddlers. Waistline styles do not flatter heavy children. A bishop style or a high yoke is much more attractive. Conversely, if a child is thin, be careful not to make her dresses too long so that they accent her thinness. An older child of nine or ten usually looks better in a more tailored dress style than a bishop type dress. Fortunately, pleats with smocking are flattering to everyone.

Keep color families simple by choosing one predominant color with no more than two secondary colors. The shades in a garment should match in brightness. If the dress is basically pastel, all of the colors should be pastels. Read the rest of this entry »