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 SMOCKING PLATE MOLLIE JANE TAYLOR CALLIE SMOCKING PATTERN $3.00 Time Remaining: 10h 18m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 27d 8h 25m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 9h 3m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
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 5 Smocking Plates Bulldog Gamecock Colonel Snowman Mitt $1.49 Time Remaining: 10h 29m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 3h 45m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 5d 34m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Plate Angel Wears Bunny Love $4.00 Time Remaining: 12h 28m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 4h 21m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 18d 1h 20m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 3m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Plate Ellen McCarn Prestons Penguins $4.00 Time Remaining: 12h 34m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 26d 3h 33m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 20d 10h 26m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Plate Little Memories All Dressed Up $4.00 Time Remaining: 12h 38m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 5h 31m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 9d 1h 41m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 28d 2h 36m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 SMOCKING PLATEFLOWER GIRLMOLLIE JANE TAYLOR1982 $2.00 Time Remaining: 13h 5m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 11m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 25d 19m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 1981 JANE PAGE ANGELS SMOCKING PATTERN PLATE NEW $3.00 Time Remaining: 20h 26m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 8d 7h 15m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 6h 24m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 9d 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 JANE PAGE VINTAGE SMOCKING PLATE PATTERN BALLERINAS 1980 $3.25 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3d 2h 49m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 13d 56m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 6h 32m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 JANE PAGE VINTAGE SMOCKING PLATE PATTERN ELEPHANTS 1980 $3.25 Time Remaining: 3d 2h 51m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 6h 37m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 22h 40m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 19d 22h 7m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 JANE PAGE VINTAGE SMOCKING PLATE PATTERN ELEGANCE 1981 $3.25 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3d 2h 53m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 13d 2h 54m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 6h 39m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Pattern Plate from Ellen McCarn Brooks Includes Bishop Variation $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 16m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 5d 5h 45m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 26d 2h 48m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Pattern Plate from Ellen McCarn Bunny Family Bishop Design $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 16m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $3.99 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 17m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 4h 4m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 4h 2m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Pattern Plate from Ellen McCarn Heart Flowers Optional Woven Ribbon $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 16m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 1h 27m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 13d 10h 30m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Pattern Plate from Ellen McCarn Medallion Bishop Design $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 17m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 1h 33m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 11d 2h Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 21d 3h 49m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Pattern Plate from Ellen McCarn Sweet William Bishop Variation $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 17m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 7d 5h 36m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 31m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Pattern Plate from Julia Golson Lighthearted Bishop Design $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 17m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 10d 45m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 3h 23m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 10d 1h 2m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Smocking Pattern Plate from Kathy Crisp Mondays Child Bishop Variation $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 17m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 9d 2h 17m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 5d 3h 38m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 smocking plate Firelight The Childrens Corner $0.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 33m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 18d 1h 6m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 5h 20m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 10d 1h 14m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 SMOCKING PLATES 2 TWO SMOCKING PLATES PLUS 4 FOUR YARDS FABRIC $14.00 Time Remaining: 5d 2h 23m Buy It Now for only: $18.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 22d 1h 50m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 4d 12h 43m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 SMOCKING PLATE TWO VALENTINES + ANDREA PATTERN $4.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 6d 9h |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 16m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 1h 24m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 SMOCKING PLATE TWO PATTERNS JENNIFER DESIGN I II + COLLARS OR GOWNS II $4.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 6d 9h 6m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 11d 2h 14m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 29d 1h Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 15d 4h 34m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 SMOCKING PLATES BABY PIE + FORGET ME NOT + TEAR DROPS THREE PATTERNS $4.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 6d 9h 10m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 19d 13h 28m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 11d 4h 12m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW 1980 JANE PAGE FLOWER BASKETS SMOCKING PLATE $3.25 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 20m |
 June Bug Designs Smocking Design Plate To the Rescue $3.15 Time Remaining: 29d 4h 28m Buy It Now for only: $3.15 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 10d 19m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 20d 10h 45m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 1980 JANE PAGE SMOCKING PLATE PATTERN CATS CALLED MEOW $3.25 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 20m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 4d 12h 18m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 4d 12h 51m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW 1982 JANE PAGE FLOWER CART GIRL SMOCKING PLATE $3.25 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 20m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 11d 3h 5m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 17d 1h 27m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 27d 3h 41m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 SMOCKING PLATE WITH ONE YARD WHITE SHEER MIST BATISTE $6.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 55m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 20d 10h 6m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 26d 4h 48m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Vintage Smocking Plate Pattern Design Scissors Spools Little Stitches 1985 $2.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 5d 4h 43m |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 19d 21h 59m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 24d 3h 28m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 10d 1h 44m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Vintage Smocking Plate Pattern Design Calico Cats And Flowers $2.99 Time Remaining: 6d 11h 59m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 29d 6h 25m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 21d 3h 45m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 Ellen McCarn Smocking Plate Pattern Design Hot Air Balloons Amandas Dream 1988 $2.99 Time Remaining: 6d 12h Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 15d 23h 59m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
 NEW SMOCKING PLATE CHILDRENS SEWING PATTERN BOUTIQUE $4.50 Time Remaining: 9d 1h 44m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 |
Smocking Plate
The Gilded Sonnerie
It was a carriage clock and quite magnificent. Huge for the type, it stood fully 10 inches tall. It was dated 1826, found engraved on the base. Typically French, it was of the highest horological art form, the levers and detentes of the movement pierced out and shaped in swirling, whirling patterns of aesthetic delight.
It was what's called a grande sonnerie, or great strike. It would strike the hours on a bell, and then the quarter hours on a little gong. For instance, at quarter past seven, it would strike seven times on the bell, and then once on the gong. At half past, another seven and then twice on the gong and so on. It had a perpetual calendar, which I confess had given me considerable trouble, an alarm mechanism which was easy, and also it was a repeater. A little button at the top of the case could be depressed, which would act on a plate under the case and the previous hour and quarter would be struck.
Repeaters, now, are anachronisms, merely fascinating adjuncts. These days, we have digital clocks that light up and can be seen when we roll over in bed at night, but in those old days, the repeater was very necessary.
The case was gilt, with fluted columns, and wonderfully executed flowers and leaves surrounding them. The handle at the top was a circular wreath that folded when not in use.
I'd removed the movement from the case very carefully, had serviced and cleaned it with proper concern for its condition. It belonged to a gentleman who possessed a fine clock collection, and this was his latest acquisition. He didn't actually tell me how much it cost, but he did say that the bidding had been fierce. He'd purchased it from one of the smaller houses in Paris, Artcurial, and ascertained in advance that the clock didn't work. It had probably sat on someone's shelf for a hundred years; all the oil hardening in the pivots and bearings. Now, though, it was back to its former glory - except for one silly little fault. It struck all the hours perfectly, except when it came to 12 o'clock. It struck 13 times! 1 to 11, no problem at all, then with the hands showing 12, that wretched count of thirteen.
I was being paid handsomely for this restoration, and there was no hurry on the job, but it was just one of those silly little faults that nag at you. No-one had 'butchered' the movement, thank goodness, so nothing made sense. I pulled every trick in the book, and some that weren't, but to no avail. I spent a whole day trying to puzzle out the problem. There was an answer, there had to be, but for the moment it eluded me.
I'd set my workshop in what had been the attached car port of the house. I decided to call it a night at about 9 o'clock, walked up the three steps into the kitchen and thence to the drawing room. I poured myself an excellent single malt and absently watched television in an effort to take my mind from the problem. The whiskey did its work, and I went to bed at about eleven.
I slept fitfully for about an hour, then awoke and twisted and turned until around two in the morning. Something more than idle curiosity drew me to the shop. It was as though I had to go. I can't explain it, but I slipped on a shirt and trousers, made my way through the kitchen, reached the steps leading to the shop - and stopped dead. I shivered involuntarily. An ethereal green light drifted around the bench and the spectral figure of a man was standing behind it, holding the movement of the clock upon which I'd been working.
He wore a smock and a shapeless beret. He raised his head and looked at me, a slow smile drifting across his face.
"Je la fabrique, M'sieur," he said in a gentle voice.
He was the maker of this masterpiece. I knew that instinctively. He placed the movement back on the bench with infinite tenderness, and suddenly I felt incredibly tired. Nothing mattered except sleep. I turned, shuffled off to bed and slept until 9 o'clock that morning. I leaped up, showered, shaved and went straight into the shop. There was the movement where he'd left it. I tried the strike. One, two, all the way around to eleven. Then the final test. Another thirteen? But no. Twelve o'clock. My nighttime visitor had come to repair his own.
I'd always been happy in the shop, but now it held a sort of added comfort, as though the old clockmaker was still watching over me from beyond the veil. .
About the Author
I'm a 70 year old Englishman, a retired clockmaker, who's lived over here in the U.S. for 26 years. I enjoy writing, and reading espionage novels and historical works
What is a smocking plate? Is it the pattern of what to embroidery on a piece that has been smocked?
A smocking plate is a published combination of stitches that can be used to embroider a pleated piece of fabric.
Smocking plates are available for picture smocking, English Smocking, Continental Smocking and more.
Adzika Tuna http://www.verru.ee/Rec_Eng_May.html