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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 02-25-2006, 01:36 PM (1 of 29)
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Thought maybe we should explore the pleater a little. Some of you have gotten new pleaters or are thinking about getting one. So ask any questions and I will try to help you. One tip is the dowel,there is no magic in the dowel and you can use anything youhave on hand. One gal likes to use the cardboard tubes that come from the dry cleaners,as she likes the stickie stuff that holds the fabric. Another likes to use a pipe as she likes the weight. You can cut off a broom handle,or purchase a dowel. The reason for the dowel is to hold the excess fabric out of the way so it does not get caught in the pleating. Nonie http://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: muddyclothes
Date: 02-28-2006, 11:18 AM (2 of 29)
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Hi, I recently purchases a pleater and caddy. I understood the caddy was useful to avoid having to re-thread every needle each time I pleat something. Darned if I can figure out how this would work. Did I just get the wrong impression? Seems to me all the caddy is only good for is holding multiple of spools of thread ready for me. It makes threading a bit easier I suppose... but silly me somehow I imagined it would eliminate having to thread needles each time. Now that I look at it, seems my idea is illogical. Am I losing it? |
User: muddyclothes
Member since: 01-07-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 02-28-2006, 02:21 PM (3 of 29)
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I can't figure it out either. I have a new pleater, but haven't bought a caddy yet. One thing the caddy would be good for is not having to measure out your lengths of thread each time. Plus you can run multiple items through the pleater and not have to re-thread each time until the last piece. I hope it's possible not to have to re-thread, but I don't see how. I'll be watching this topic! photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
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User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 03-03-2006, 03:43 PM (4 of 29)
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As far as I know you have to re-thread each time as you have to cut your threads when you are done pleating. But the caddy does keep the thread from getting tangled and does stop the having to cut a length at a time. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 03-03-2006, 03:57 PM (5 of 29)
Another tip would be to purchase some already pleated inserts. Many of the smocking shops sell them or do a search on ebay. This is a great way to try the stitches and see if it is something you are going to like to do. I know you will love it!  Nonie http://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 03-25-2006, 10:42 PM (6 of 29)
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Smocking is not just for making baby clothes, make a smocked pocket,smocked insert for an apron, I am doing one with an apple on it. Smocked pillow or purse. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 03-26-2006, 02:45 PM (7 of 29)
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when doing smocking or hand embridery,run your thread through a fabric softener sheet. the thread will slide right through and lay so nice. Nonie http://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MaryW
Date: 03-27-2006, 12:14 PM (8 of 29)
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Smocked Christmas tree balls and nighties too.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 03-27-2006, 03:18 PM (9 of 29)
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Oh Mary,I forgot you can also do smocked Easter eggs,just like the Christmas balls. The shape is a little different ,but a little tree on your table filled with smocked Easter eggs is so cute. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 04-02-2006, 04:35 PM (10 of 29)
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Still more ideas for using smocking. Yestersay I went to a smocking show,and saw the nicest smocked purses with matching smocked check book cover. Even a smocked postholder. What a nice gift that would be. Nonie htto://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MariLynntex
Date: 04-02-2006, 07:15 PM (11 of 29)
| I made a few smocked squares to insert here and there on the quilt I am making for my daughter Lisa. I think they are going to look really nice and different! MariLynntex |
User: MariLynntex
Member since: 01-05-2006 Total posts: 107 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 04-02-2006, 08:31 PM (12 of 29)
MariLynn that is great to hear. I am still plugging away at free motion embroidery.  Isn't it fun to share?Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MaryW
Date: 04-04-2006, 02:15 PM (13 of 29)
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Newborn baby slippers could be smocked. I betcha Martha Pullen has a pattern for those.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 04-06-2006, 12:10 PM (14 of 29)
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I know there is a pattern for newborn slippers in a back issue of AS&E,wil have to look up the issue. I know they went with a chrisenting gown galled"Godchild". For those that don't know,AS&E stand for Australian Smocking and Embroidery magazine. It has all the patterns included in each issue and it is always a beautiful magazine. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 04-08-2006, 01:55 AM (15 of 29)
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When pleating a few rows with your pleater,remove the extra needles. I know it seems like alot of extra work,but the needles are expensive and have to be ordered. So take good care of them Nonie http://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 04-13-2006, 02:03 PM (16 of 29)
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Before running your fabric through the pleater besure it has been washed. The residue from the fabic can dull your needles. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 04-15-2006, 08:16 PM (17 of 29)
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When pleating staright pieces,such as skirt's inserts ect. draw the armhole onto the fabric,do not cut out the armhole. Nonie http://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 05-01-2006, 12:23 PM (18 of 29)
The thread recommended for the pleater,is quilting thread,as it doesn't break as easy as regular thread. Nothing worse then pulling up your pleats only to have a thread break  Soak your quilting thread first,as this will take the twist out of the thread. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-02-2006, 11:13 AM (19 of 29)
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Do you soak several lengths or throw the spool in the water?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 05-02-2006, 12:43 PM (20 of 29)
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Yes,I do soak them in a bowl with some warm water. Then,lay on a towel to dry. Some have said never would they go to that extreme,but it is worth it. Another thing you can do and I have been successful with this and that is to run,your sewing thread through some bees wax to add strength. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: Ann Made
Date: 05-07-2006, 11:30 AM (21 of 29)
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I am enjoying reading this thread. I have a smocking pleater in the basement and have done a fair amount of smocking when our daughter was young. My dowel is metal and it comes apart and is held together with long magnets. I love it. You have me wanting to get my pleater out and smock an apron. Will have to think on this as I want to start making retro aprons and they would be nice with smocking on them. Am also thinking about making BBQ aprons with a western twist. You have my head spinning but I have western shirts to make so will have to calm that urge down. Will come back and see what is new. Ann Learning is a journey, not a race.
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User: Ann Made
Member since: 04-07-2001 Total posts: 67 
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 05-07-2006, 06:14 PM (22 of 29)
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Ann, So glad your head is spinning with ideas. Our smocking group are doing aprons right now with smocked apples,and the quilt shop had the perfect apple fabric to sew the apron out of. Oh! then one of the gals brought a potpourrie heart,that was smocked and so very pretty. By all means get that pleater out and get to smocking. I think it also works as a smocking tip,I know of a gal that use's a piece of rebar for her pleating rod,she loves the weight. So Gals you can use anything. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-08-2006, 09:36 AM (23 of 29)
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There is a real resurgence in heirloom sewing lately. Have you noticed the blouses in the magazines all have tucks and heirloom stitching. Oprah wore one a couple of months ago on the cover of her magazine. I hope smocking goes the same way.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: sewingnonie
Date: 05-08-2006, 07:44 PM (24 of 29)
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Mary,that would be wonderful,to see smocking take a giant step forward. I love the look of heirloom sewing and hope we see alot more of it also. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-09-2006, 04:46 PM (25 of 29)
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For those of you with pleaters, I think we sometimes forget that our pleater need maintence also. Take the bar off and wash it in hot soapy water, rinse well and dry. Residue from fabric can build up on the rollers. Now, with your roller off, take a good look for any stray threads that might have wound their way around the end, remove those with tweezers. When you put your roller back on use some slide oil, this is oil you can get from a misic store, do not use your sewing machine oil. Also take this time to check your needles, are they bent? do they have burrs on the end? Replace any faulty needle now. Now, your pleater is all clean and ready to pleat up lots of projects. Have fun and enjoy the summer sitting in the shade smocking. Nonie http://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-23-2006, 01:27 AM (26 of 29)
| Smocking on print fabric can be a challenge in itself. If you have a large print fabric, the fabric itself will be the focal point. Don't add another one by adding smocking. Also large print fabrics do not go through the pleater with much success. |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 06-29-2006, 02:47 PM (27 of 29)
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Center-center-center!! When you start your smocking you are going to want to count the pleats, mark the center one and start smocking in the center. Also start with the main design of your smocking plate. Even though the design has numbers this is not the order your design needs to be done. If the main designs starts on row 6 for example, then start smocking on row 6. Nonie http://www.everythingsewing.net |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: sewingnonie
Date: 07-03-2006, 12:34 PM (28 of 29)
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When purchasing smocking plates from e-bay, check to make sure the plates are from a known designer. Now with computers many designs are being generated using computer softwear. Some of the designs are copyright infringments, some are just poorly done, some are both. The graphs are very hard to read. Nonie |
User: sewingnonie
Member since: 09-23-2004 Total posts: 175 |
From: ricstew
Date: 07-09-2006, 07:09 AM (29 of 29)
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One that has been missed is to run some wax paper thru the pleater with the needles in. It lubricates the needles and rollers and it runs much smoother. cheers Jan |
User: ricstew
Member since: 06-29-2006 Total posts: 18 |
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