Smocking

[obelia.livejournal.com]

Does anyone have any first hand experience with smocking?
I need some tips hints and tricks = I've designed 3 outfits that all have some sort of smocking/textured fabric detail on them and none of the (really old) books I've borrowed are much help

otherwise, anyone know what rats tail braid and russian braid are, or has anyone ever tried puttting cord behind fabric to get it all bumpy and textured? (i haven't but will try soon enough and post pictures on how it goes)

thanks in advanced people :)

p.s X-posted