Tips on Pleating a Skirt
Whether you're looking into designing your very own skirt, or making a few alterations to a skirt that needs an upgrade, pleating a skirt is a simple way to create a traditional and fashionable piece. Pleated skirts come in many different lengths and styles. They range from mini-skirts to having ankle-length hems and many lengths in between. Although creating the pleated look on your own can seem challenging, with the right materials and a straightforward technique, skirt pleating doesn't have to be difficult or too time-consuming. Become familiar with tips for successfully pleating a skirt.
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Folding
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Folding your fabric is the first major step when it comes to making pleats for a skirt. It is important to make even folds that have equal space in between them. The more pleats, the more movement to your skirt will have. If you want to achieve a sleek look, you should fold big and neatly-formed pleats. These pleats will allow the fabric to lay flat and create a crisp, clean look. If you want to make a loose, accordion-style pleated skirt, fold plentiful small pleats throughout the entire skirt circumference.
Pinning
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As you fold your fabric to create pleats, use fine, sharp straight pins to temporarily keep the folds in place. Use two pins to effectively pin each pleat. Insert one pin at the top of the pleat and another at the bottom to ensure the pleat is secure. If you're pleating a short skirt, it may be more convenient to insert the pins horizontally; for skirts longer in length, insert pins vertically.
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Ironing
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Ironing your pleats helps you to create a uniform, crisp and professional-looking pleated skirt. Ironing directly onto your material with high heat can ruin the fabric. When ironing, use a press cloth to prevent any heat damage to the fabric of your pleated skirt. Your press cloth can be a piece of fabric that is about 1 foot wide and slightly longer than the length you plan to make your pleated skirt, according to the Threads website. Place your damp press cloth onto your fabric and iron on the highest setting until the press cloth is almost dry.
Sewing
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Carefully sew one row of stitches across the top of the skirt to keep the pleats in place. You can do this by hand or with a sewing machine. Keep the pleats folded as you sew and remove the pins as you go along.
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References
Resources
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