Today was a great day. I now have my own pleater. It's at least twenty-five years old and was owned for many years by my new friend Sally, who I met at the SAGA meeting the other night. I love the pleater. I sewed together this little Bishop dress this afternoon and pleated it on the pleater all by myself (with Andy's help). The pleating worked out just fine. I am extremely excited.
Thank you so much for all the bread recommendations! I will definitely be working my way through that list! At this moment, I have just put down my smocking to get Amanda's WHO bread on the rise. Andy's in the kitchen making my dad's chili and listening to Wilco (for you, Amanda :-). I learned that my blocking board just got shipped yesterday (sadly — I thought it would be here yesterday, but no), and I will do a tutorial on blocking the grannies, for those of you who asked (and the pattern for the grannies will be ready next week, too. Sorry for the delay, but I really want to block it before I photograph it for the pattern, and I realized a little late that having a grid will be very helpful here). I'll show you how the pleater works next week, too — I was so nervous while I was doing it there was no way I could've stopped to take a photo, and I barely knew what I was doing anyway. Andy said I was breathing heavily while cranking it, and it wasn't from the exertion (though the gears on that thing deffo don't turn themselves) it was from extreme . . . anticipation and anxiety. I am such a doofus. I cannot help it people. It just is.
You are a brave woman to tackle a pleater! I never had the nerve, just had mine done by others. I smocked my first dress at age 9, an empire style pattern with smocking across the top on pink and green rosebud fabric. Oh, how I wish I still had that dress!
Posted by: Jenny | January 29, 2010 at 05:15 AM
I can't wait to see the pleater! I'm coming up with all kinds of pictures in my head!
The heavy breathing cracked me up! But I totally get it!
Posted by: shabby girl | January 29, 2010 at 07:00 AM
Yay! I knew it would be just a matter of time before you tried the real smocking!
The pleater makes the process more do-able!
When I started smocking for my girls years ago, I used the iron on dots! Time consuming!
You inspire me to get my stuff out and do something! There are a couple of girl babies expected in my circle of friends.
Love your fabric.
May you begin a renewed interest in smocking here in blogland.
Good weekend to you.
Dawn @ 4:53am
Posted by: Dawn | January 29, 2010 at 07:51 AM
Love the material and the pleats look very professional.Can't wait to see the finished dress.
Sue
Posted by: Sue | January 29, 2010 at 07:57 AM
this is simply gorgeous. i've always wanted to learn to smock but thought i'd never fit it in. my mother made us the most beautiful smocked dresses when we were little girls. i can't wait to see the finished project.
Posted by: colleen | January 29, 2010 at 07:59 AM
Smocking is so beautiful and soooo intimidating.
I had a little freak out just before my daughter turned two and HAD to buy her a smocked dress.
I can't wait to see what you are working on!
Posted by: April | January 29, 2010 at 08:42 AM
I can totally identify with the pleater stress. I hold my breath and pray the entire time. I used to break needles on my pleater, until I learned that I needed to make my seams minute when I put the dress together.
Posted by: Betsy | January 29, 2010 at 09:31 AM
Doofus, no. Uber-excited about a new toy...I mean work tool... YES! I get the same way with geeky new knitting products, fancy new harp tuning wrenches and, lately, my new vacuum (have you SEEN how hairy my cat is? : http://amykortuem.blogspot.com/2009/04/two-sure-signs-of-spring.html) !!
Posted by: AmyKortuem | January 29, 2010 at 09:36 AM
It's all those needles to keep threaded and going straight on the pleater that is so stressful!
Posted by: Harriett | January 29, 2010 at 10:01 AM
So, glad that I and my good college buddy are not the only people in America who smock. Here's to the pleated sisterhood.
Posted by: Lisa | January 29, 2010 at 10:11 AM
I'm excited to see what updates will come next time :) way to up the anticipation!
Posted by: quirkygranolagirl | January 29, 2010 at 11:24 AM
Had a look at your dad's chili, but no idea where to get Liquid Smoke from, so I'll have to give it a miss.
It's ashame, I've been thinking about making chili for a few days...
Posted by: Yummy Lavender | January 29, 2010 at 11:28 AM
That must've been SOME class if you've done this after one!! I think smocking is beautiful, so I'm anxiously watching - but don't think it will be on my list soon. Enjoy.
Posted by: Charlene ♥ SC | January 29, 2010 at 11:29 AM
LOVE Amanda's WHO Bread recipe.
You're discussion of smocking has made me wistfully nostalgic. I remember my Mom was very into smocking when I was about 4 or 5 years old. Wonder if she still has her pleater? Wonder if she still as all of those unfinished projects?
Posted by: Melissa T. | January 29, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Wow Wow that looks good!
I was breathing heavy just to see how the smocking was going as I clicked.
I want to smock. When I had a baby girl all my Mom talked about for months was how I should learn to smock. Smock smock smock. AH!
my favorite line
- and pleated it on the pleater all by myself (with Andy's help)
:)
Posted by: Nancy | January 29, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Wow, that looks intense. I can't wait to see what you are talking about and what you come up with. I'm not confident enough in my sewing skills to make my own clothes, but if it can be used for a decorative pillow or something, I'm willing to give it a whirl. What you've shown so far looks so pretty.
Can hardly wait to see what comes next.
Posted by: Rita RC | January 29, 2010 at 12:25 PM
This brings back so many memories for me. I learned to pleat for English smocking when I had my 2nd child (a boy) almost 27 years ago and couldn't go out much because he had some health issues. My best friends' mom helped me buy it since money was tight. She's gone now but I hope she knows how much it meant to me and how much I loved all the smocking I did for my girls (and a little for my boys!) Have fun!!
Posted by: suesue | January 29, 2010 at 07:11 PM
Congratulations on learning a new 'skill'...is that the correct word? No. learning a new 'art form'!!!...yes that's better...
I very much understand that feeling..I have had it myself. When I began to turn out hand made dolls for my little cousins..and clothes to go with them...I was so excited I didn't want to eat....or be bothered with potty breaks....isn't that a lovely thing when we can get so much enjoyment out of creating something?
I am enjoying your pleasure so much. Don't forget to feed your little four legged partner. Smile.
Posted by: Wrennette A. | January 29, 2010 at 09:13 PM
Ohhh, I love that fabric! That pink emb. floss looks so sweet next to it too...:) Enjoy your new project!
Posted by: Gloria | January 29, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Okay, now you've gone and made me want a pleater.
Posted by: Jamie | January 29, 2010 at 11:34 PM
You are the cats pah-jamas sister! I don't know what a pleater is either, but I DO like the photo. (Is smocked fabric that flattering tho?)
Posted by: Kasumi | January 30, 2010 at 12:23 AM
Beautiful pleats! And gorgeous photograph. Love the cherry preserves too.
Posted by: knittingoutloud | January 30, 2010 at 06:10 AM
Bewarned, you will become a smockaholic. I used tissue paper with the iron on dots. It took longer and I learned a great deal of patience. There were a lot of smocked dresses for three daughters. So many, that one day in a dept. store the request was "Can I buy a dress that doesn't have those threads on it." :D
Posted by: Laurie | January 30, 2010 at 01:52 PM
My first entry on a BLOG!!! I am so thrilled my 30+ year old Pleater has a new home, and with someone who will love smocking as much as I did! Your photo is Great, when do we see the smocking?
Posted by: Sally Kenney | January 31, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Alicia, your dress turned out super lovely!!! (btw, HI!)
Posted by: Amy Nieto | February 08, 2010 at 11:07 PM