Pleater (Thread) Boxes for Smocking

I recently had a viewer on YouTube reach out and ask if I had a good source for a pleater box for smocking. So in this video/blog post I am discussing pleater boxes, (or thread boxes as they are sometimes called), what they will do and not do for you and where to purchase, or make one if you would like one to help with your pleating. If you would prefer to listen rather than read, the video is at the bottom of the page.

The Purpose of a Pleater Box for Smocking is hold the spools of thread and prevent the threads from getting tangled as the fabric is being pleated.

Since there is a spool of thread for each needle and the pleater typically has 16 - 24 needles (more if pleating half spaces), there is a lot of thread that could get tangled! The pleater box has a dowel or area for each spool of thread and feeds that thread up to the individual needles thus preventing tangling.

The Thread Box does not alleviate the need to repeatedly thread the pleater.

When I was first looking at pleater boxes, I thought that if I had a box, I didn't have to repeatedly thread the needles of the pleater. I thought I would just have to thread the pleater once and I was good to go. I was sadly mistaken! Having a thread box helps to pleat multiple items before having to rethread because it keeps the threads from tangling. But to free the fabric from the pleater, it is necessary to cut the threads and then rethread the next time you are pleating.

Pleater Boxes are Brand Specific because the Pleater mounts to the box.

Another lesson I learned the hard way is that pleater boxes are brand specific because the pleater mounts to the box and each pleater has a different mounting mechanism. A friend of mine tracked down a box for me and when I received it, neither of my pleaters would work with the box. I could still use it as a separate thread box, but it wasn't possible to mount the pleater to the box. I also realized when I used another friend's box and pleater that I didn't care for the pleater being mounted to the box. Mounting the pleater to the box raises it up and in my opinion made the pleater less stable. This may not be the case if. you have a light weight pleater, but my Sally Stanley and Amanda Jane are all metal and quite hefty. That heft helps them to stay put when pleating and I felt the box took some of that stability away.

I use a simple homemade thread box.

My thread box is a simple plastic box that holds 18 spools of thread each in its own compartment. A hole at the top of each compartment allows the thread to feed without tangling. I simply set the box next to the pleater, thread the needles and then hold the threads coming out of the needles while I place the box on the floor out of the way. It works perfectly!

Finding or Making a Pleater Box

If you would like a pleater box, the only place I currently found that is making and selling new boxes is Amberlane from Canada. Judith's husband hand makes each box. You do need to specifiy the brand when you order one. The other option is to look for a used pleater box. Places to check are ebay and facebook group smocking destash sites. Remember that the boxes are brand specific so if you wish to mount the pleater, the box will need to be one that was made for your pleater. Finally, if you wish to make a thread box, any box that can hold a dowel or has individual compartments big enough for the thread spools will work. For my box, simply make a hole in the plastic using a wood burning tool, a awl or heated screw driver. The thread then comes out of each hole and into the needle of the pleater. It works beautifully!

Here is the video if you prefer to listen:

Happy Smocking!