Choosing the fabric is rather quick compared to anchoring it place.
After the fabric is run through pleating machine, one edge is given a narrow hem. That's the first stage of anchoring the smocking threads. Next a bead of fabric glue is applied to the whole hem to lock the thread. It doesn't always work so I have be on the watch for that when it come time to gather the material. A second line of glue is used when the hem is placed in position on the background. The back edge is positioned next. That determines the width of the visible tree trunk.
I started out using glue but switched to a light fusible web to hold the gathered piece in position. It's applied at this point, just matching the width of the trunk.
Pins are placed at each pleating thread to hold everything in position as the threads are drawn up and anchored.
Last, a hot iron fixes the trunk and it's folds in place.
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