I’m not sure if everyone saw my Sunday post, but I managed to get Molly’s “First Day of School” set listed on Ebay. You can see it by clicking the picture at the right side bar, or you can click HERE. I made some school books for Molly to put in her book bag… check them out! :o)
I almost forgot to show you the final way to make pleats. Up until 2 weeks ago my Perfect Pleater was pretty much the only way I made pleats, unless they were box pleats. I’ve learned a few new ways of making them and hope you’ve enjoyed this “in depth” series on how to make them too.
These are the pleats I’m talking about and I’ll show you step by step how to make them…I made my pleats in every slot on my pleater for this dress. The green dress had pleats that were done in every 2 slots…
We’re going to talk about the “Perfect Pleater” today. I bought mine from Clotilde many many years ago and have used it many many times. I checked and Clotilde is not in business any more, but you can find the Perfect Pleater online and on Ebay…It is a small cloth covered board that has louvers in 1/4″ and 1/2″ (if you tuck under 2 at a time…)
The board is somewhat flexible when it’s lifted up…but rigid when laying flat…
I took a scrap of fabric about 25″ long and hemmed one edge of it. It was about 4″ wide. My plan was to make a skirt for one of my Little Darlings.
Take your Perfect Pleater to your ironing board and work on top of it because you’ll be pressing every pleat. Starting on the left side, work from left to right.
Leave a little hanging off the left edge.
Then lining up the bottom edge, tuck the fabric in the first slot with your fingers,
then use something like an old credit card to tuck it in even better, then press.
Then do it again, keeping the bottom edge straight along the edge of the pleater edge. If it starts to get a little uneven along the bottom, you can shift it and manipulate it to go the way you want…
Repeat that all the way across your pleater… tucking and holding the ones in place that you’ve already done. Make sure as you use the credit card that you don’t pull your previous pleat out… just hold it lightly in place…
If you get to the right edge and you still want it to be longer… let it cool just a bit, and take it out and fit the last pleat you did into the left side and begin again… just continuing on…
…until you reach the end of your fabric.
Let it cool in the pleater, then you can remove it. It will be like an accordian, or one of those construction paper fans you made when you were a kid. The pleats can be easily tucked where they should be and stay in place. You can spray some starch on it if you like and give it one more good press. I use a steam iron.
Take it to your machine and stitch along the top edge to keep your pleats in place. You can pin them if you like, but they really just tuck one under the other most of the time.
Aren’t they pretty?
Now you are ready to attach a waistband to the pleats. It’s best to use a strip of fabric cut on the bias (diagonal) but I didn’t have enough fabric to do that so I cut a long strip about 1 1/2″ wide and long enough to go the length of my pleats.
I stitched right sides together with my pleats on top…
I pressed the waistband flat and turned about 3/4″ of an inch to the back side…and fitted it around Lian’s waist.
But because I didn’t cut it on the bias, I will have to make a couple of small darts in the back to take up the slack…
I just took about 1/4″ darts in the back and folded the back edge over…
Let’s see how it will look…
Yes, it will be fine…
I didn’t take time to finish the back but it will be easy to do… add a few snaps and line up my pleats and I’ll be set.
I hope I didn’t miss any steps in showing you how to use the Perfect Pleater. They do come in various sizes and I’ve seen many of them on Ebay… but they aren’t cheap…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne I love my ‘perfect pleater’ however as I couldn’t afford the prices that they were charging I made my own and it cost me nothing. You will need a piece of lining wallpaper I asked for a sample at my local diy store, a piece of fabric and some strong spray adhesive . If you google ‘how to make a pleating board’ and find Nicole Beaufrog on you tube her method works really well. You will have to adjust the size of the pleats for doll size mine is a 1″ crease followed by a 3/8″ return. Hope this helps if you would like to make your own.
Hi Lorna,
I did see Nicole’s video and even watched it twice.. I didn’t know what lining wallpaper was so didn’t add the video here. But it certainly was intriguing. Her’s was so big and long…a doll sized one should be a snap!!
I might ask about the lining wallpaper the next time I’m in a DIY store. Thanks!!
Blessings, Jeanne
I have this same Perfect Pleater, Jeanne, but have never tried it. Of course, someone is staying up late, peeking over my shoulder and seeing this, and thinking, “mom can make us all pleated skirts now!!” and waiting for her sisters to wake up so she can tell them, too!! LOL Well, maybe, eventually!! I have a “few” other projects ahead of dolly pleated skirts at the moment! LOL
Lorna, thanks for how to find the info on making your own pleating board; I’m sure someone will be happy to have that!
Oh Charlotte,
You just HAVE to give your Perfect Pleater a tty…for your girl’s sake!! As fast as you sew, they could all have new skirts by evening!! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
The pleats look nice and sharp with the pleater board. Great idea Lorna to make your own too. I’ll have to take a look.
Moderate air quality today which isn’t bad. 🙂
Hi Joy,
Glad the air is better today, but ” it’s probably BEST if you stay inside and play dolls or sew!”
Blessings,Jeanne
The perfect pleater looks intriguing. I’ll look on eBay and see how scary the prices are.
Dad and I had a good time at Tom’s. (Mr. Red Shirt😁) He grilled corn on the cob,potatoes, chicken breasts, and biscuits hot from the oven. Later we had my apple pie with ice cream.
Today I’m making supper in the crock pot, & baking cookies. Dad already hard boiled a pan of eggs and now is doing his laundry. 👍 We are going downtown to have lunch in the cafe at noon. I better get my skates on!
HI Julia, (aka…the good daughter!)
It sounds like you are having a wonderful time and eating great too! He must be so happy to have you around! (have fun “skating” with daddy!)
Blessings, Jeanne
I have a Perfect Pleater but have never used it. You’ve given me the incentive to make some pleated skirts for my girls. I bought mine from Clotilde years ago. Mine came with a metal bar but I like your idea of the old credit card/gift card. I found the metal bar awkward. The Clotilde line was bought by another company that I buy from, I think maybe Annie’s. I looked on the website and they do not sell the Perfect Pleater but they have a video on how to use one, which we don’t need now. I can’t remember how much I paid for mine. I have several pieces of pretty plaid fabric that would make lovely skirts. Can’t wait to give it a try. I have a dress to make for Lissy and then I can ask who wants a pleated skirt. Okay, maybe I should not ask. Too many volunteers.
Now that everyone, dolly girls and grandkids, are back in school I can move forward with more creative endeavors. My daughter-in-law has decided to have a theme for her nursery this time. My son was out of work when Skyy was born and in school when Jaiden was born so having a nursery theme was not in the budget. She’s chosen “I love you to the moon and back”. I crocheted baby afghans for all my grandkids but having a theme thru me off a bit this time because I need to follow the “rules” (yes there are some). So I searched the other day and found a baby quilt to make with the proper theme. The making is pretty simple and for the quilting I will check in with Embroidery Library. They have tons of quilting patterns and I’ve been wanting to try some. I have everything I need to quilt, including an Accuquilt Go Big electric cutter, and would love to do more quilting but it seems every time I head in that direction, life has other plans for me. Doing the baby quilt might give me the push I need to do more quilting.
The weather here in our area of Texas has been unbelievable. We’ve barely reached 90 degrees some days and yesterday the high was in the 70s. Night time temps in the 60s. So unusual for this time of year. More like November weather. Tropical Storm Beta is providing us with some much needed rain. It’s expected to come onshore I think tonight. It wasn’t supposed to “go over” Houston, but now will. We are under a flash flood watch where I live but not a tropical storm watch so wind probably won’t be a problem. We sure do need the rain We’ve been promised some with the last two storms but never got any.
Thanks for the pleating tutorials. They’ve been very enlightening. I plan to try several of them.
HI Barbara,
For someone who sews as much as you do, the pleater will be a piece of cake for you! Your girls will be thrilled!
I was taken to Annie’s too when I typed in Clotilde, but I didn’t see the video.. I probably should watch it to see how a “professional” video is made… :o)
Oh, I ‘d love to see how your Accuquilt Go Big works… I bet it’s a real time saver…isn’t it?
We’ve been having wonderful weather too… in the 70’s, breezy and cool in the evenings… sweater weather… my favorite!
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think that pleater looks like a great tool to have. ….will be looking out for one!
I’m finishing up dressing 5 Dionne Quints. I do love those dolls…this set is the 14 ‘ with wigs. One by one I have found them. Doll club tomorrow will learn about their history…the real girls and the Alexander Dolls. I have the fabric all dyed in their colors and I may have enough to pleat at least the front of the dresses. Thanks for all the lessons!
HI Kathie,
We stopped at an Estate Sale on the way home from church yesterday and I bought a doll book for $2.00 and it shows pictures of the different editions of the Dionne Quints dolls. I never knew much about them… Maybe I can photocopy the pages and send them to you…
I’m glad you enjoyed learning all the different ways to pleat. I learned a few new ways myself.
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
I had never heard of a perfect pleater till you mentioned it Jeanne, it looks really great. I will have to watch the video to see how to make one.
I am having a lot of trouble with my sewing machine at the moment. I do have another one but it doesn’t have a walking foot and since I am quilting I really need that. Trying to finish the two pieces for the exhibition, otherwise I would put it in for fixing if I can get hold of the only person who fixes Elna locally. Tried to get him a few times.
I remember the Dionne Quins. They are around about my age and often saw stories about them and pictures as I was growing up. It is a very sad story really. They were virtually kidnapped and controlled by the Doctor who delivered them. He treated them like they were chimps in zoos at the time. The parents tried to get them back several times. I think it caused them a lot of issues as they became adults.
Hi Anne,
I’m going to try and find that wallpaper lining paper and try my hand at making one…
There’s nothing worse than a sewing machine that isn’t working right. I hope you get it fixed soon…
I don’t know much about the babies…I’ll have to read up on them…
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne