Garden Fairies Trading Company has pre-pleated inserts, or clothing, if that is what you mean. Sometimes a non-chain fabric store will do pleating of your own fabric for you for a fee.

Hi Mary, I have a little machine (hand, not electric) which pleats the material ready to start smocking embroidery. It is just a long set of cogs, with lots of needles sticking out of it. If you need, let's say 10 rows of smocking, you would thread 12 needles. Then insert the material into the place between the two cogs and start winding it through. It comes out pleated, with threads. Perhaps someone in a local Craft Group may own one and help you. I could, but rural Australia is too far from The Dominican Republic!!! Good Luck.

Another site that sells pre-pleated inserts and clothing is www.marthapullen.com - she has a lot of items for heirloom sewing. Her online store is a secure site, so I can't post a direct link - just click on Shop, scroll down & on the left side select Ready Made. You can then choose ready to smock.

Have you seen this site?

http://www.elizabethsembroideries.com/smocking14.html

I remember using a transfer to put dots onto plain fabric to use as a guide for gathering ready for smocking. I've also used gingham and followed the checks.

I wish we lived closer, I could pleat you an inset or a dress front to get you started. My 1st project i smocked was a romper that I made for my g-d 11 yrs ago. My friend had a pleater and pleated it for me. I read, followed directions( no classes ) and taught myself to smock. I can also picture smock, a feature that my friend won't try. My husband ask me how much a pleater was, b/c I was trying to do the dot thing. I told him about $125 and he told me to order me one. He liked her outfits/dresses I was making her too. We both love the bishops-Toogie