Pleats

Always mark your pattern with an arrow showing the direction of the pleat

There are three main types of  pleats.

Knife pleat- equal with pleats folded in the same direction.

Box pleat- two knife pleats folded over away from each other.

Inverted pleat– two knife pleats folded towards each other.

The amount of fabric needed for the pleated fabric is three times that of the completed pleated width. For example for a pleated skirt three times the finished hip measurements plus seam allowance must be allowed.

The key to getting a good pea is pressing the pleat well before assembling the pleats.

Always mark your  pattern with an arrow showing the direction of the pleat . When you come to the stage of joining fabric for the width to be pleated it should be joined with a plain seam that is arranged to come in at the inner fold of a pleat so that it is invisible with as little extra thickness as possible.

	Knife pleats   Mark position of pleats and pin Fold and press accurately each pleat Machine stitch to the required length along the folded edge, fasten off securely.
	Box pleats     These are made of two knife pleats folded away from each other. Follow the same process as a knife pleat but fold in a different way as image shows.
	Inverted pleat These are made by to knife pleats folded towards each other, this forms a box pleat. Mark position of pleats Fold and press accurately Fold edge diagonally baste into position. Machine stitch  upward onto second folded edge.  Note: two inverted pleats have created a box pleat.