Different ways of pleating
I had a question on how to pleat at home.and the answer is that there are many ways. There are also many kinds of pleats, and sometimes the ways you make them is different.
PLEAT: Fold of fabric, folded back upon itself so that the pleat is comprised of three layers; occurs vertically only. Pleats may be partially stitched or pressed down. Kinds of pleats include: knife pleats, box pleats, inverted pleats, and accordion pleats.from http://missourifamilies.org/learningopps/learnmaterial/dictionary/pqr.htm Get an eyefull of different types of pleats here.
Pleating can be as simple as folding the cloth back and forth several times. This is a basic technique used in wearing a sari or a kilt.
For an entertaining kilt pleating visit here, I wonder how he would get dressed in a hurry .
I have already discussed making this kind of pleat with a smocking pleater. This is a fav of shibori dyers because it inserts a thread that can be used to gather and compress the cloth.
Tie-dyers also form small pleats with their fingers.
This is also how many ethnic costumes are pleated such an the Hmong or Miao.
I most often make this style pleat by pole wrapping.
SKIRT or KNIFE PLEATS
These are often made from a pattern or by measuring, marking and basting. This gives the most accurate pleats and they do not all have to be the same or even the same at the top and bottom. Think of pleated skirts. The shape garment is formed by varying the size of the pleat , widest at the waist, narrower over the hips. Of course, part of these pleats are stitched down. These same style pleat can be formed with a
Pleater Boards
A pleater board is paper/cloth device that you use to tuck the cloth into and then iron them. Here are some instructions on how to use a pleater board. I always put a tape on the back of the cloth , a strip on each side, before removing it from the board. You can then machine baste the pleats in place before removing the tape. You can buy one here. My experience is these board are good for small pieces only, the size of the board. Taking the pleated piece out and getting it perfectly lined up to do a second segment was a less than satisfactory endeavor. Also you have to watch the alignment of the cloth like a hawk, or your pleated piece is a trapazoid not a rectangle. Every thing has is use but you scrafice control when you go to a pleater board.
Yet to come-- attachments for the sewing machine that pleat.
