Modernist Smocking Workshop with Annie Coggan, June 13, 2026

Date: Saturday June 13, 2026

Workshop Fee: $275 

Description: 

Smocking is, at first glance, a domestic stitching technique of folding and stitching, but in Annie’s research, she has reimagined its application by taking it beyond the garment,  working with it both in utility and artistically. This workshop will  illustrate the deep history of craft and reveal the potential for all participants to infuse smocking into their practice.

The Fiddlestyx workshop will be a day long venture where we explore multiple smocking stitches and test these stitches at an architectural scale. The morning session will include a historical introduction to smocking, instruction for two smocking stitches, the bird beak and the wave pattern. The afternoon session will utilize one of these stitches at a large architectural scale to create a group full scale tapestry.

Materials provided by the instructor. Each participant will receive a copy of Annie's Computations Catalog.

Workshop Size: 12 students

Schedule: 10am-4pm, lunch provided.

Instructor: 

Annie Coggan, Designer and Architect

She is an Associate Professor at Pratt Institute School of Design as well as a principal at Chairs + Buildings Studio. Coggan received her Bachelor of Arts from Bennington College in Vermont and her Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles CA.

Recent projects include The Smocked Building Project at Ruth Smith Gallery, UK and Infinite Smocking at Toast, NY.

Location: 85 Sharon Mountain Rd, Sharon CT. The workshop will take place in the great room at Fiddlestyx, a Russell Janis space located in the foothills of the Berkshires in North West Connecticut.

Accommodations: There are 4 guest rooms at Fiddlestyx available for the workshop. To inquire send an email to info@russelljanis.com.