Pleater Know-how Solid British craftsmanship and engineering for professional results, Pleating and smocking made easy, with a pleater you can really trust.

The Princess Pleater is the only pleater manufactured in the whole of Europe, or the USA. England is the home of smocking. For over 30 years we have produced this machine. Produced by craftsmen with traditional materials, it’s designed to be strong and long-lasting. The Princess Pleater has 24 rows with 47 half-spaced needle grooves along the 23.7cm wide brass rollers. Standard spacing per needle is 1.0cm, or for finer smocking using half-spaced needles, 0.5cm. The machine includes 24 needles fitted.

The process is simple, thread the needles, roll and feed in the fabric and off you go! Most fabrics pleat with ease, even needlecords and wools. The sides are open, so any width of fabric can be used. And handles at each end give complete control. Pleat depth is about 8mm, depending on fabric thickness.

Who uses the Princess Pleater?

• Amateurs and professionals in workrooms, dressmaking and artistic environments.
  
• Shibori artists enhance creativity, increase productivity.
  
• Schools, colleges, universities – for teaching.
  
• In fact, many students buy their own Princess because they are so impressed.
  
  The Princess all-British Pleater enables you to gather fabrics for smocking, shibori, etc. It will save you time and trouble with those tedious tasks, and let you get on with more enjoyable work.
  
  High-quality materials throughout. The base is varnished dense wooden fibre board. The side plates are solid aluminium, solid brass is used for the rollers. No adjustment should be needed, but it is important not to overtighten the screws holding the side plates to the baseboard.
  
  OPERATION:
  Thread as many needles as you need with the lengths of thread you require. You can remove any unwanted needles to save making needle holes in fabric where you want to avoid holes. See the section on changing or moving needles. Try a test piece first in case your first attempt would damage some valuable fabric. There might be some oil or transit grime left on the rollers – practice makes perfect.
  
  Best way is to roll your fabric around a wooden dowel stick about 10 to 20mm. thick, of suitable length. We do not supply the stick with the machine as your requirements will vary according to the size of the fabric pieces you want to use. It helps to attach the end of the fabric to the stick with adhesive tape for stability.
  
  Then slide the rolled fabric (on the stick) through the side loops of the upright coloured plates through which the rollers run, with the fabric coming off the bottom of the roll. Feed the leading straight edge of the fabric into the teeth of the top and bottom front rollers while turning the knobs gently, carefully ensuring that the fabric is taken up straight and evenly, as the start will determine the quality of the gathering across the whole piece.
  
  Keeping the tension even all the way across the fabric is important, this can take a few attempts to get right. You can use either or both turning knobs plus an extra dowel stick laid over the fabric as it comes off the bottom of the first dowel stick. This second stick will need to be about 28cm. in length.
  
  This second stick can be quite thick if you wish. What it does is to keep the tension even across the width of the fabric, while you have two hands free to turn the knobs. As you turn the knobs the fabric will pass through the rollers, emerging onto the needles and you will need to pull it onto the threads to keep the needles clear.
  
  If you meet strong resistance as you turn the knobs it may mean the fabric is becoming folded. If this happens you can reverse up to a quarter turn of the knobs to release jammed fabric, but it is best avoided by making sure the fabric is taken up straight and not folded as it passes through.
  
  FABRIC TENSION AND FINE SMOCKING:
  Probably the most important detail which affects the quality of the gathering you will achieve is the tension of the fabric. If there is too much ‘pull’ against the direction of movement of the fabric, you will put stress on the needles and possibly tear a fine fabric. Conversely if there is no tension (or different tensions across the fabric width) you are more likely to have ‘off line’ or unevenly gathered fabric, or even missed gathers. Again practise makes perfect and lots of users use no dowel quite effectively. It all depends on your individual style.
  
  By now you should have some gathered fabric – and that is all there is to it. Occasionally needles may break and these are easily changed.
  
  There are half-spaced grooves the full width of the rollers to be used if you wish to do very fine smocking. Simply move the needles or use extra ones to fill as many of these positions as you need.
  
  CHANGING, MOVING, REPLACING NEEDLES:
  Using a small screwdriver inserted in the slot in the black circular roller holders. These are recessed into the coloured side plates and they hold the removable roller in position. Push the slots to the vertical position and the roller can be lifted out or levered gently using your screwdriver.
  
  Now the needles will lift out easily and go back positioned just between the top and bottom front rollers where the fabric feeds in. The shoulder of the needle rests on the bottom back roller, the top back roller keeps the needles in place while gathering.
  
  SPARE NEEDLES
  Spare needles are available in packs of 16 at £7.50 for one pack, or £14.00 for two packs. For heavy users we do offer a lower price of £70.00 for 10 packs. These prices include UK post and packing.
  
  REPAIR AND TOOLS
  We do not supply any specific tools because all you are likely to need is a small screwdriver. To dismantle the machine (and it is very simple) for major cleaning or repairs you will need a cross-headed stubby screwdriver to loosen the screws under the bottom of the baseboard.
  
  Alignment is important, so is light lubrication. PRINCESS PLEATERS is owned by Geoffrey Magnay, and he will do all he can to ensure you have years of trouble-free use from your Princess.

Extended US Warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor on defects in materials and workmanship.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

5 Pleater Training Videos: Know Your Pleater, Preparing the Pleater, Preparing the Fabric, Pleating the Fabric, Specialized Pleating

Includes 23 Half Spaces, 34 Needles and Rows across the entire 9" pleater needle brass roll, Smock Gathering Machine, Extra 12 Needles

Note: Amanda Jane Pleaters Made in Australia are no longer being made.
AllBrands imports the Read 16, 24 and 32 Row Pleaters which will continue to be available.
Read Pleaters have heavy duty stable base, plate with anti skid rubber feet, extra large side plate opening allowing for large capacity of rolled up fabric, simple pin type roller holding system allows for quick and easy needle access, comfortable and user friendly dual handles for maximum versatility, heavy duty solid brass rollers capable of handling heavier weight fabrics.

Like the Read 32 row, the Read 24 row MAXI has been redesigned and improved offering all the same great features with the difference being the number of half rows. Half row spacing span the entire length of the rollers. Half spaces can be used as guidelines when smocking or to better hold difficult fabrics that tend to open and bubble the pleats. Pleat half spaces on light to light-medium fabric only. Remove half row needles (every 2nd needle) when pleating medium to heavy weight fabric.

Half cm spacing across the entire width of the roller (47 needles). Half-spaces can be used as guidelines when smocking and to improve holding onto difficult fabrics which bubble (no body to the fabric, pleat collapses type fabrics). The MAXI can also be used as a Regular pleater (24 needles) by removing the half-space needles (every other needle)--needle spacing is then 3/8" apart. Heavy-duty stable base-plate with anti-skid feet. Extra large side-plate opening allowing for large capacity of rolled-up fabric on the dowel. Simple, pin-type roller holding system allows for quick and easy needle access. Comfortable and user-friendly dual handles for maximum versatility. Heavy-duty solid brass rollers. Capable of handling some heavy-weight fabrics, plus most lightweight fabrics.

• 24 row pleater has 24 needles
  
• plus 23 half spaces and needles, totaling 47 needles
  
• Brass rollers pleats 12 inch width of fabric
  
• Metal end brackets to match brass rolls
  
• Left and right hand turning knobs
  
• Mounted on base
  
• Made in South Africa
  
• Uses New Style READ Needles Only!
  
• The roller pin device is used in our new range 24 & 32-Row pleaters, whereas the 16-Row uses the original system which has two securing screws, which need to be loosened but not removed, in order to take out the removable roller to clean.
  
  South African Craft Magazines “Stitches” Article about the Read Pleater Company (.PDF)

Extended US Warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor on defects in materials and workmanship.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Lee is a basic yoke dress that may be smocked not not. It can also be made with a smocked collar. Peter Pan collar and puffed sleeves are piped. Smocking design is included.

Size 7-8

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Lezette is a classic dress with three knife pleats on each shoulder in the front and back and a pleat under the arm. VIEW A has an elegant style with a portrait collar and a banded puff short sleeve. VIEW B shows modern influences with a bias band at the neck and soft ruffle. Both views button at the back.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Kaki is a bodice dress designed for knit fabric with interchangeable skirts and sleeves.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Ruthie is a versatile pattern for a basic yoke dress that buttons down the front. View A has a short yoke above the armhole, and View B has a longer yoke below the armhole. Both views have a one piece collar and can be made with either a lined, slightly puffed short sleeve, or an unlined long sleeve with elastic and a ruffle at the wrist. Because it has less fullness than some basic yoke dresses, it is not suitable for smocking. Ruthie is available in Sizes 4-8

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Ruthie is a versatile pattern for a basic yoke dress that buttons down the front. View A has a short yoke above the armhole, and View B has a longer yoke below the armhole. Both views have a one piece collar and can be made with either a lined, slightly puffed short sleeve, or an unlined long sleeve with elastic and a ruffle at the wrist. Because it has less fullness than some basic yoke dresses, it is not suitable for smocking. Ruthie is available in Sizes 6m-3

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Ella is a versatile peasant-style dress or blouse. The raglan dress and blouse are unlined with a casing for elastic around the neck and arms, for ease in dressing. Pattern includes a short, long and 3/4 length sleeve. Create personality with the addition of the optional faux placket. Shorts in cover image are the Robert pattern and are not included in this pattern.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

The girl’s view features lace edging around the neck, front facing and sleeves. With ribbon attached to the beading at the neck and sleeves this is sure to be an heirloom gown for her wardrobe. The boy’s view features Swiss trim at the front facing with a bias band at the neck and sleeve edge giving him a soft tailored look. Also included is a slip that buttons at the shoulder and features a flat lace edging at the hem. A shell edge at the neck and armhole is finished by hand.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

This flexible design can be used with just three fabrics or many! This fat-quarter friendly pattern makes it easy to choose a different color for each flower or keep it simple with a repeating color, the choice is up to you. This full-color pattern includes instructions for Baby, Throw, Twin, Queen, and King sized quilts. Paper templates are included, but the hard Shorthand Template set is suggested for precise and easy cutting. Note: This is a cross promotion with the Enchanted line by Valorie Wells for FreeSpirit. Use Template RRT97953

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Jordan is a bubble for boys and girls, designed for knit fabrics. The neck and armholes are finished with elastic. This knit bubble will keep your little one comfortable and always in style.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Birdie’s Bloomers is a quick and easy bloomer for boys and girls, designed for woven and knit fabric These bloomers feature no side seams, a couture bubble silhouette, and elastic at the waist and leg openings for a secure fit. Pair with shortened dresses and shirts to complete the darling look.
Specifications

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

April is a dress perfect for May flowers inspired by the vintage pinafore. The bodice is framed with gentle ruffles and can be made with a smocked insert (View B).

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Our newest pattern, Parker's Pants, has arrived from the printer and we are really excited about it! It is a pull-on pants pattern that comes in sizes 5-8

Parker’s Pants is a versatile pants pattern for both boys and girls. The pants are slim with a slightly tapered leg and have an elastic waist. Separate patterns are enclosed for Pants, Capris, Long Shorts, and Shorts. Instructions and patterns for a cargo pocket are included which can be added to the Pants, Capris, and Long Shorts. Parker is available is sizes 5-8

Instructions and patterns for five techniques are included for finishing the bottoms of the legs.
View A is a plain hem.
View B has a 1” band topstitched 3/4” up from the bottom of the hem.
View C is a ruffle.
View D is a turned-up casing with elastic that gently gathers the bottom of the leg. View E has a casing sewn into the inside bottom of the leg for a bias tube that exits through buttonholes and ties on the outside of the leg.

Views are available as following:
Pants: Views A, B, C, D, E
Capris: Views A, B, C, D, E
Long Shorts: View A only
Shorts: Views A and C
We recommend View A of the Pants and the Long Shorts for boys.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Juliet is a girl's dress with a square neckline that slips over the head. This is allowed by a front and back neckline casing with 1/4" elastic on the front and back yokes that stretches over the child's head. There are also casings at the underarm that allow the child more room, but the 1/4" elastic in this casing lets the dress fit perfectly on many size girls. There are three casings for elastic at the waistline, shirring the fabric between the front and back necklines and the waistline. The skirt flows from the elasticized waist to knee length. The armholes feature self-lined cap sleeves. Juliet is available in sizes 4, 5, 6.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

• The Children's Corner is very excited about our new pattern, Rose. sz 1-4
  
  The yoke is perfect for a monogram, cutwork or embroidery. It is edged with corded piping.
  The dress front is softly gathered in the center. The dress buttons down the back with soft gathers on each side.
  
  Sleeve lengths included are a short sleeve, along with a long slightly fitted sleeve with a casing and small elastic at the wrist.
  We LOVE this new little short sleeve! Gathered just enough to cup into shape and crisply edged with corded piping, the sleeve keeps the style traditional without looking "old-fashioned."
  
  Rose is available in size packages: 1-4.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

• Sizes 3-5.
  
• Becky is a bloomers and top set. The lined sleeveless top buttons down the back and has decorative slits at bottom of top front that are finished with contrasting bias-tube bows. The Peter Pan collar is trimmed with rickrack. The shorts in sizes 3 to 8 have a flat center front area at the waistband and elastic in the remainder of the casing.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Amy is a smocked jumper or sundress that buttons on both shoulders and is lined to below the armhole. Smocking design is included. The blouse pattern has a short puffed sleeve, piped collar and is buttoned in the back.

Size 5-8

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

CC6
Katina Sizes 1-8
Children's Corner

Classic, full skirted sundress. It is designed to be smocked or gathered (unsmocked). The smocking is done in a rectangle and does not go under the armhole. The gathered or smocked front and back skirts are attached to narrow yokes that are piped across the curved yoke top. Straps over the shoulders button onto the front yoke. Underarms are finished with a bias band. Difficulty rating is moderate for gathered version, expert for smocked version. Sizes 1-8 in one package.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Bobbie is a baby bubble for a girl or boy that is fully lined. Underarm casings allow for an adjustable fit and make it incredibly easy to dress a child. View A has a round neckline with a keyhole opening at the center back neck edge that fastens with a loop and one button View B fastens with over-the-shoulder straps that button on the front. The boy's romper has a casing with elastic at the legs and the girl's romper has a small ruffle below casing Difficulty rating is easy. Sizes 6 mo, 12 mo, 18 mo, 24 mo in one package.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Product Description


Laura is a dress or top that can be sleeveless or have short piped sleeves. The top of the garment features a few gathers at the front neckline and has a partial two-piece collar that buttons to the dress in front and back. The neckline is finished with a bias band that is completely stitched by machine. The garment bottom has a contrasting band that is suitable for an embroidered monogram. Garment buttons down the back.

The sleeveless garment is completely lined. The garment with sleeves has the option of being completely lined or unlined. Available in size packages 3, 4, 5, 6.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Poppy has the classic silhouette of an A-line dress with the modern twist of tapered diagonal pleats. It is quick to construct. Detailed illustrated instructions teach how to make the unusual pleats so they look perfect and don't fall out! Poppy has a square neckline, a high lined yoke, and bias finished armholes. The shoulder is 1/2" wider than a sundress/jumper shoulder. It buttons down the back and may be made in a dress or blouse length. In addition, Poppy contains pattern pieces and instructions for hidden side-seam pockets and a perfect little bow that can be used with many other Children's Corner patterns. Available in sizes 5-8

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

• The Children's Corner is very excited about our new pattern, Rose. sz 5-8
  
  The yoke is perfect for a monogram, cutwork or embroidery. It is edged with corded piping.
  The dress front is softly gathered in the center. The dress buttons down the back with soft gathers on each side.
  
  Sleeve lengths included are a short sleeve, along with a long slightly fitted sleeve with a casing and small elastic at the wrist.
  We LOVE this new little short sleeve! Gathered just enough to cup into shape and crisply edged with corded piping, the sleeve keeps the style traditional without looking "old-fashioned."
  
  Rose is available in size packages: 5, 6, 7, 8.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Juliet is a girl's dress with a square neckline that slips over the head. This is allowed by a front and back neckline casing with 1/4" elastic on the front and back yokes that stretches over the child's head. There are also casings at the underarm that allow the child more room, but the 1/4" elastic in this casing lets the dress fit perfectly on many size girls. There are three casings for elastic at the waistline, shirring the fabric between the front and back necklines and the waistline. The skirt flows from the elasticized waist to knee length. The armholes feature self-lined cap sleeves. Juliet is available in sizes 1, 2, 3.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.

Non-US Warranty: 30 days parts and labor.