Pleater

I went to a flea market on Friday morning. I discovered it last year and made sure I remembered about it this year.

The find of the day for me was this smocking pleater. It's a Read 16-row pleater with a board to hold the pleater and spools of thread. It came with lots of thread and a few extra needles.

These books were included. I looked them up online and the books range in price from $12.99-19.99 each.

And some vintage, yet timeless, smocking patterns.

And a binder of information, including patterns and techniques.

Two and a half years ago (while I was on bedrest during my pregnancy with Sawyer) my friend, Christy started to teach me how to smock. I worked on it a little, but when my bedrest turned into couch-sitting (when Joe had to return to work after the first week), I had very little time with Jackson, Mason, and Spenser still at home to do "busy" work. I tried to pick it up a few months ago, and was completely lost. This is as far as I got...

When I saw the pleater, I couldn't believe my eyes. They are expensive. I have often bid on them on eBay, but am always, always outbid. This one was affordable. He was asking $35 and, without my even asking, said he'd take $30 for it. I think once he noticed I knew what it was, he just wanted to get rid of it. And, I didn't even buy it right away, I walked around and pondered it a little longer, knowing that it would take up most of my remaining money for the day. And then I went in like a vulture and scooped it up. Very happily.