Double Trellis Border
Double Trellis Border is a advanced smocking plate charted on 37 pleats and 6 worked rows. Two trellis bands stacked to build a taller lattice for a wide yoke. It uses trellis, stitched in blush, powder blue. Everything below comes from the same engine as the Plate Designer, so you can change the colors, stitches or chest size there and get a new chart.
The plate at a glance
| Level | Advanced |
| Pleats charted | 37 |
| Worked rows | 6 |
| Pleater setup | 8 pleater rows (6 worked plus one holding row above and below) |
| Pleated width | 9.25 in at 0.25 in per pleat |
| Raw fabric width at 3:1 | 27.75 in |
It is an advanced plate: rows share pleater lines or cross each other, so work slowly and check the graph after every pass.
Stitch by stitch
Work the rows from the top of the plate down. Each line gives the row number, the color, the pleats covered and the movement to use.
- Rows 1 to 3: Trellis in Powder blue, pleats 1 to 37, 74 bites, 3 strands. Two crossing passes: the first climbs and falls one full row per pleat, the second runs in opposite phase to close the diamonds.
- Rows 4 to 6: Trellis in Blush, pleats 1 to 37, 74 bites, 3 strands. Two crossing passes: the first climbs and falls one full row per pleat, the second runs in opposite phase to close the diamonds.
Floss for this plate
| Color | Thread (yd) | Skeins needed | Skeins to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blush | 1.67 | 0.11 | 1 |
| Powder blue | 1.67 | 0.11 | 1 |
The estimate assumes 3 strands, a quarter inch of thread per bite, four inches of tail at each end and 15 percent waste. The floss guide explains each number and how to scale it for 2, 4 or 6 strands.
Pleats by chest size
The chart above is one width. To smock the same plate on a garment, use the pleat count for the chest size in the table (front panel, 2 in of ease, 3:1 fabric ratio, 45 in fabric).
| Chest (in) | Pleats | Raw fabric width (in) | Widths of 45 in fabric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 41 | 30.75 | 1 |
| 20 | 45 | 33.75 | 1 |
| 22 | 49 | 36.75 | 1 |
| 24 | 53 | 39.75 | 1 |
| 26 | 57 | 42.75 | 1 |
| 28 | 61 | 45.75 | 2 |
Mirrored plates use an odd pleat count so a single pleat sits on the center line. Plates with honeycomb use an even count because honeycomb works pleats in pairs. Sizing by chest shows the full calculation.
Before you start
- Print the plate at 100 percent and check the one inch square on the printed PDF from any collection.
- Pleat a test strip first and stitch two rows to check your tension.
- Read how to read a plate if the graph notation is new to you.
Read next
- Wave and Trellis Sampler: Wave and Trellis Sampler: eight printable smocking plates with sizing tables and floss estimates, $19 once, delivered as PDF and SVG.
- Diamond Trellis: Diamond Trellis, a free intermediate smocking plate: 33 pleats, 5 rows, floss estimate and row by row instructions.
- Nightgown and Blouse Plates: Nightgown and Blouse Plates: eight printable smocking plates with sizing tables and floss estimates, $19 once, delivered as PDF and SVG.