Take Flight Art Smock
Hi, there! Lisa Calle of {Vintage Modern Quilts} here with a simple art smock for preschoolers. I recently helped my parents clean out their attic and came across some of my old things, including the cute little smock I wore as a Daisy Girl Scout. I’ve used it as my pattern template for this project.
1 charm pack* {Elementary by Sweetwater}
¼ yard background fabric OR (60) 2¾” squares from various coordinating solids
½ yard lining fabric
4 yards of ½” single fold bias tape**
Coordinating thread
Corner rounder
Neck hole template (6″ diameter circle)
Marking pen or pencil
*SUBSTITUTION: I used layer cake squares instead of charm squares so I could make two smocks and vary the placement of background and print fabrics. My version uses (9) 5″ print squares, (6) 5″ solid squares, (24) 2¾” print squares, and (36) 2¾” solid squares.
**NOTE: I used store-bought ½” single fold bias tape. It is very narrow and can be a challenge to work with. Use a wider bias tape if you prefer.
CUTTING
Cut background fabric into (4) 2¾” x WOF strips. Subcut each strip into (15) 2¾” squares for a TOTAL of (60) 2¾” squares.
Cut lining fabric into:
- (1) 38″ x 11¾″ rectangle (smock lining panel)
- (2) 11¾″ x 6⅛” rectangles (pocket lining smock FRONT panel)
PATCHWORK
Choose 15 prints from the charm pack. This project uses the 4-from-one method*** to make flying geese units. Each flying geese block finishes at 3¾″ x 1⅞″. You need a TOTAL of 60 flying geese blocks.
***NOTE: If you use directional prints with this method, they will end up sideways and upside-down. If that bothers you, avoid the directional prints in your charm pack.
Draw a diagonal line across the wrong side of each background square.
Place 2 background squares in the opposite diagonal corners of the charm square, lining up the pencil line on each square.
Press and trim flying geese block to 4¼” x 2⅜” (finished size of each flying geese is 3¾″ x 1⅞″). Repeat to make a TOTAL of 60 flying geese blocks.
SMOCK ASSEMBLY
Layout the front and back panels as desired. Each panel should be 3 geese wide x 10 geese tall for a total of 30 flying geese blocks per side. Sew all of the geese for the BACK panel together and press. Set BACK panel aside.
Sew the bottom 9 flying geese of the FRONT panel together and press. This 9 block unit is the front of the pocket. Set it right side up on one of the 11¾″ x 6⅛” lining rectangles. Baste together. Add bias tape to the top edge of the pocket panel. Set aside.
Sew the remaining FRONT panel flying geese together and press. Attach the remaining 11¾″ x 6⅛” lining rectangle to the bottom of the FRONT panel and press. Baste the pocket panel on top of the FRONT panel so that it covers the rectangle of lining fabric. Add vertical stitching to create divided sections in the pocket. I sewed mine in the ditch of the flying geese blocks.
Join the FRONT and BACK panels at the shoulder seam and press. You have now created the smock outer panel.
Use a round template and a rotary cutter to round all four corners of the 38″ x 11¾″ lining rectangle and the smock outer panel. Place the lining and the smock outer right sides together and pin to secure. Stitch around all the edges using a ½” seam. Fold the smock in half lengthwise at the shoulder seam. Create a 6″ diameter circle template to mark and cut the neck hole.
NOTE: It is a good idea to check the fit of the neck hole at this point. Make sure it slips easily over your child’s head.
Use the neck hole opening to turn the smock right-side out. Press the edges and baste the neck hole closed.
Create waist ties by cutting (4) 12″ lengths of bias tape. Fold one end of the tape in ⅛” and then fold the tape in half to enclose the raw edges. Stitch along the length of the bias tape, back-stitching at both ends. Repeat to make 4 waist ties.
Measure 10″ from the bottom of each corner of the smock and make a small pencil mark. Pin a waist tie at each mark and secure in place.
One creative smock! The finished product measures approximately 11″ x 20″ when folded. It’s designed to fit preschoolers but can easily be made larger just by adding more blocks to increase the width and/or length.
Lisa Calle
{www.vintagemodernquilts.com}
