Easter Egg Picture
Easter Egg Picture is a intermediate smocking plate charted on 17 pleats and 11 worked rows. A small picture plate: an egg drawn with cable stitches between two sage border rows. It uses cable and picture rows, stitched in butter, lavender, sage. 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 | Intermediate |
| Pleats charted | 17 |
| Worked rows | 11 |
| Pleater setup | 13 pleater rows (11 worked plus one holding row above and below) |
| Pleated width | 4.25 in at 0.25 in per pleat |
| Raw fabric width at 3:1 | 12.75 in |
It is an intermediate plate: at least one row moves between pleater lines, so keep the needle level and count pleats as you go.
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.
- Row 1: Cable in Sage, pleats 1 to 17, 17 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 2: Picture row 1: Easter egg in Lavender, pleats 7 to 11, 5 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 3: Picture row 2: Easter egg in Lavender, pleats 6 to 12, 7 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 4: Picture row 3: Easter egg in Lavender, pleats 5 to 13, 9 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 5: Picture row 4: Easter egg in Butter, pleats 6 to 7, 2 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 5: Picture row 4: Easter egg in Butter, pleats 9 to 10, 2 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 5: Picture row 4: Easter egg in Butter, pleats 12 to 13, 2 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 6: Picture row 5: Easter egg in Lavender, pleats 5 to 13, 9 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 7: Picture row 6: Easter egg in Lavender, pleats 5 to 13, 9 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 8: Picture row 7: Easter egg in Butter, pleats 6 to 7, 2 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 8: Picture row 7: Easter egg in Butter, pleats 9 to 10, 2 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 8: Picture row 7: Easter egg in Butter, pleats 12 to 13, 2 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 9: Picture row 8: Easter egg in Lavender, pleats 6 to 12, 7 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 10: Picture row 9: Easter egg in Lavender, pleats 7 to 11, 5 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
- Row 11: Cable in Sage, pleats 1 to 17, 17 bites, 3 strands. Pick up each pleat on the row line and let the working thread fall alternately above and below the needle.
Floss for this plate
| Color | Thread (yd) | Skeins needed | Skeins to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1.46 | 0.1 | 1 |
| Lavender | 2.24 | 0.15 | 1 |
| Sage | 0.92 | 0.06 | 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 | 40 | 30.0 | 1 |
| 20 | 44 | 33.0 | 1 |
| 22 | 48 | 36.0 | 1 |
| 24 | 52 | 39.0 | 1 |
| 26 | 56 | 42.0 | 1 |
| 28 | 60 | 45.0 | 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
- Sundress and Top Yokes: Sundress and Top Yokes: eight printable smocking plates with sizing tables and floss estimates, $19 once, delivered as PDF and SVG.
- Smocking guides: Seven smocking guides: reading a plate, using a pleater, sizing by chest, floss amounts, backsmocking, blocking and a glossary of stitches.
- Backsmocking explained: Backsmocking explained: working a smocking row from the wrong side of the pleated fabric, when makers use it and how to keep pleats even.