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Reversible smock believed to have come from Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Made of white linen, stitched with white thread.
This reversible smock was believed by the donor to have come from Welwyn, Hertfordshire, where it may have been used. It is made of white linen and stitched with white thread. It has a round frock neck, side slits and pockets. It is embroidered with featherstitch in designs of hearts, ovals, scrolls, diamonds and zigzag lines.

1 smock: white linen; good condition

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – ‘The donor of this linen smock lived in Frensham, Surrey but considered that the garment may have originated from Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Nothing further is known. // The reversible smock is of good quality and originally well made with elaborate embroidery on the body, collar and yoke sections to accompany the smocking. The design, stitched with featherstitch, includes hearts, pointed oval, scroll and diamond shapes, accompanied by straight and zigzag lines. Cuffs and pocket flaps are decorated with featherstitch rows. The sleeves have long openings fastening with two four-hole metal buttons, the cuffs with one button.’ p.16, MERL ‘Temporary Catalogue’ form – ‘Sheet 1 of 3 // material: white linen, white thread, meetal buttons // Condition: good - few slight rust marks // total length; 117cm // collar depth; 13cm // cuffs, depth; 4cm // Description: handsewn; style: round frock, side slits at hem edge, square strengthening patches on wrong side; collar: two straight pieces; cuffs: straight bands, one metal button on each cuff, two on each sleeve above cuff; pockets: set in across side seams, top bands buttoned; [page beak] tubing: outline cables and points, back and front – 52 rows, sleeves, top – 7 rows and above cuffs – 16 rows; embroidery: feather stitch, boxes – vertical lines, hearts and ovals filled in with short lines; collar – lines and diamonds; cuffs – straight and curved lines; pocket tops – 2 straight horizontal and 3 zigzag lines; shoulders – lines and circles; edges of tubing – lines. // sheet 2 of 3 // pocket tops, ht x w; 5 x 20cm // tubing, back and front, ht x w; 28 x 17cm // tubing, sleeves, top, ht x w; 7 x 2.5cm // Sheet 3 of 3 // tubing, sleeves, above cuff, ht x w; 11.5 x 9cm // hem circumference; 178cm // side slits length; 12cm’, MERL miscellaneous note – 'The smock came from near Welwyn, Herts, where it may have been used // [ink sketch]'

Welwyn

Fibre, flax, Fibre, Metal

Stitched, Smocked, Embroidered