Smock-frock

A smock-frock or smock is an outer garment worn by rural workers in England and Wales from at least the early eighteenth century.

Related Topics:
Garment - England - Wales - Eighteenth century

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The traditional smock-frock is made of heavy linen or wool and varies from thigh-length to mid-calf length. Characteristic features of the smock-frock are fullness across the back, breast, and sleeves folded into "tubes" (narrow unpressed pleats) held in place and decorated by smocking, a type of surface embroidery in a honeycomb pattern across the pleats that controls the fullness while allowing a degree of stretch.

Related Topics:
Linen - Wool - Sleeve - Pleat - Smocking - Embroidery

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