Activity

Join designer and architect Annie Coggan for a festive exploration of Modernist Smocking—a centuries-old fabric manipulation technique reimagined for contemporary textile practice.

In this two-session virtual workshop, students will create a holiday stocking that celebrates both tradition and innovation. Using smocking, a method of gathering and stitching fabric into sculptural, elastic forms, participants will learn to transform flat cloth into a richly textured surface that folds, stretches, and catches the eye in unexpected ways.

Drawing on over a decade of her own experimental and architectural research, Coggan will guide students through the process of creating the object with hands-on instruction, she will share insights into the cultural and architectural logic of smocking—its patterns, geometries, and the way it builds structure through softness.

By the end of the class, students will have completed a one-of-a-kind holiday stocking, while gaining a deeper understanding of smocking’s historical roots and its potential as a tool for modern textile design.

Dates

Fridays, December 5th & December 12th, 2025

Time
12 pm – 2:30 pm ET

Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants 
the day before class.

Class Materials 

• Embroidery needle
• Scissors
• Embroidery thread – preferably DMC Cotton Perle, size 8
• Regular sewing thread – matching the color of the stocking liner fabric
• Hand gridded textile – 1 piece, approximately 30” x 39”. Annie uses canvas. Once smocked, this piece will measure to approximately 11” x 17” inches.
• Backing fabric – 1 piece, 11” x 17”, same type of textile as the gridded fabric above
• Lining fabric – 2 pieces, 11” x 17” each, made of felt or wool
• Pencil or fabric pen (if you prefer your grid to be erasable by heat or water)
• Please note: The grid size for the front facing fabric should be 1½” x 1½”, as the stitch pattern fits nicely on this grid. Instructions on how to grid your fabric will be sent out prior to class.