Tutorial 2: Pleats

Pleats are very easy to create. They are angular shapes made by folding. It is also known as a crease. There are 3 different types of  pleats:

• knife pleat
• box pleat and 
• kissing pleat

Measurements needed: band/waist, skirt length

calculations needed:

1. waist + 1.5" ( 1.5" for zip allowance)
2. skirt length + 1.5" ( 1.5" sewing hem allowance)

     To get the length of material needed to create the pleats required, you multiply the width of each pleat by the number of pleats desired.

      FOR EXAMPLE:

1. knife pleats : If I wanted a skirt with 24 pleats (like the one i was wearing in my first post; the green one) of width 2" , the length of material needed will be

                                              2" * 24 * 3"     (we multiply by 3" too because to create a knife pleat fold up , you fold over 3 times) as illustrated below. Do not forget to leave your zip allowance at both ends of the material.

2.  Box/ kissing pleat: if i wanted a skirt with 5 box pleats of width 4", the length of material needed will be

                                4" * 5 * 6" ( 6" because to create one box pleat, you fold over 6 times)

      Ensure to measure the length after folding. This is to check if it matches your waist measurement; if not, adjust folds slightly till they meet your requirements.
         Enjoy and keep visiting........