Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 3, 1993 TAG: 9303030074
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT RIVENBARK SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKBURG LENGTH: Medium
SMOCKING FOCUS OF FASHION-SHOW BENEFIT
A fashion show of children's garments intended to foster the craft of smocking and to benefit the New River Valley Free Clinic will be held Saturday along with a luncheon at Virginia Tech's Donaldson Brown Center.The Red Bud Chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild of America and Toad'ly Kids of Roanoke and Blacksburg are sponsoring the event, from noon to 2 p.m.
Smocking is a decorative stitching used in gathering cloth, to make it hang in even folds. Among the locally produced garments at the show will be some Smocking was brought to the United States from England in the 18th century, and in recent years was adapted for infants' and children's garments. with picture smocking, which uses colored threads to create a picture on the garment. Teddy bears, skunks, and school buses and a schoolhouse are among the scenes, said Charlotte McKee, a guild officer.
Most of the garments will feature geometric smocking, which is the more traditional pattern.
The event will raise money for the Free Clinic of the New River Valley Inc. in Christiansburg.
Two years ago, a smocked baby blanket was raffled by the guild, and the proceeds yielded a $500 donation to Habitat for Humanity.
This year's show will feature 75 smocked garments in infant to adult sizes, including ready-made garments from Toad'ly Kids and hand-stitched garments from Red Bud Chapter members.
A raffle also will be held, with door prizes donated by The Jewel Box in Pulaski and Capone Jewelers in Blacksburg. Prizes will include a dressed heirloom doll, a pair of Gingher seamstress scissors and a duplicate-stitched sweater.
The luncheon will begin at noon and the fashion show at 12:30. Pianist Anna Mitchell will provide music. Tickets are $15 and must be reserved in advance. Call 951-2820 or 552-8486 in Blacksburg for information.
Lillie McAnge, president of the Red Bud Chapter, said $7 from each ticket sold will go to support the Free Clinic, which provides free medical services to economically disadvantaged citizens in New River Valley.
McAnge said the guild is devoted to preserving pleated needlework and sewing arts in the smocked tradition. Smocking was brought to the United States from England in the 18th century, and in recent years was adapted for infants' and children's garments.
"Our national organization encouraged local chapters to take on a community project each year, to show their arts and raise money for the community," McAnge said. "Proceeds from the fashion show will benefit us locally."