Smocked doll dress pattern by Grace Knott.

The Classic Yoke Dress by Grace Knott is a smocked doll dress pattern with several options. The dress can be smocked in the front and back with a high yoke to the waist or in the front only with a big bow tie in the back. It has two options for the collar - scalloped and rounded - and can be made with long or short sleeves which are edged in lace. The slip and smocking design are included in the pattern.

The smocked doll dress pattern is sized to fit the popular 18" - 19 1/2" vinyl dolls.

Drawing of doll dress

Matching Girls Dress: Classic Yoke Dress for Girls

Information on Grace Knott

Grace Knott in about 1935

Grace Knott was a real person. Born Grace Lillian Clark in 1889 in Northamptonshire, England, Grace learned to smock as a child in school. She married her childhood sweetheart, George Webb, in 1911 only to be widowed in 1914, 15 months after their son was born. Through volunteer work during the First World War, Grace met a dashing young Canadian Army Officer. They were wed in 1919 and the family crossed the ocean to settle in Toronto, Ontario. There her needlework skills led to the opening of her School of Smocking, which was later recognized by the Royal School of Needlework, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in England. Over time she published her designs, patterns and a book, and even appeared on television. Grace died in 1976.

Grace's daughter-in-law, Doris, joined the company right from school and learned to manage the workroom and custom order business so Grace could continue with her teaching and designing. Doris had a family of five and continued to work in the company. She eventually took over from Grace and successfully carried Grace's design work on. The company is now run by Grace's grandson, George Webb. Judith Marquis, a well-known Canadian designer and teacher of the sewing arts, has upgraded and revised Grace Knott's original smocked doll dress patterns.

As for me (Sally Robertson is writing this), my sister and mother taught me how to smock after they took a class in Oregon about 30 years ago. I instantly fell in love with smocking. I bought Grace's first book on smocking and it was the only one I had for quite awhile. In the Introduction to this book, Grace said the book was the realization of her dream of making smocking patterns available to all. I have always felt deeply grateful for her contribution to me directly, it still brings tears to my eyes. Smocking has been an absolute joy in my life.

Individual Sewing Pattern "The Classic Yoke Dress" by Grace Knott, Judith Marquis - $8.00

The Classic Yoke Dress Pattern by Grace Knott, Judith Marquis

The Classic Yoke Dress Pattern
by Grace Knott, Judith Marquis