I'm currently adding to my needlework repertoire by learning heirloom smocking. It was something my grandmother did very well, and I'm intent on making something for my child, purely from me. [Seeing as she'll have enough blankets to last through a nuclear holocaust, I decided on something different.]
Smocking by hand, by the way, is embroidering on very thin, finely hand-pleated fabric. It's delicate, and difficult to make look right. -__-; For some reason, however, it's insanely fucking adorable on children's clothing. And I'm determinded to make a gown for my child to come home from the hospital in. With basic smocking on the front.
We'll see how that goes.
Not only do iron-on smocking dots apparently not exist anymore, no one sells combed batiste locally. [Wtf?] So, I'll be turning to the internet for both of those things.