it has been a couple of decades since I used to smock little girls dresses, but now I want to try a simple smocking (just large diamond shapes) at the top of plain white curtains I am making. . The curtain rod is about 95 inches wide and the two fabric panels are 110 inches wide each (before hems) so I have a lot of fabric to work with Still I want to be able to close these curtains so the finished width does matter. I am thinking I will have to just make a grid of dots (purplepen) and just pull the pleats as I go as I can't imagine any pleating machine being able to such large scale pleats. Has anyone tried this or have any suggestions? How can I control the finished width?
I am thinking I will need to smock the fabric then sew it to a band that is not smocked so that I have a sturdier top to open and close them with. Any suggestions would be appreciated!