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I was wondering, Can any of you ladies tell me? I know it's best to use 3x the width of the base fabric for pleats.But is it posible to squeeze them out of just double the width of the base?Thinking ahead BEFORE I cut. If It will work with 2x, I can get 3rows of pleats. But if needs 3x only 2 rows my orignal insperation dress has 3,I would like to do 3 rows but not if it will look stupid.

You could do by missing every other pleat and by maybe making the pleats slightly narrower. It wouldn't look as nice, but would enable you to have the three rows you want.

[Heather]

I personally prefer 2x pleats. This leaves an equal space between the pleats and makes them show up better, I think. It also makes them less full, and therefore more controlable. 3x gets out of ahnd very easily and require pressing and tacking to make them behave.

Wow. Thanks! Both of you, for a fast answer I am off to cut out my rows of pleating.Thanks again.

I am glad to have read this before I started my new underskirt! Is there any tricks to getting pleats to lay right? I just finished a sleeve with pleated cuffs, but I want an entire bottom half of a skirt to be pleated too. Should I line the pleated fabric(medium wieght dupioni and cotton satine)? How wide should I make the pleats? I was thinking one inch wide, the sleeve cuffs are 1/2 inch wide and I plan to edge the overskirt with 1/2 wide pleats all the way around like on the pic of TV305.

[Heather]

the width really depends on the length. If you have say a 10" tall or more pleated ruffle, then 2" wide is good. A 6" tall pleated ruffle may look better only 1" wide. Box pleats (folded in alternating directions) look cool too, and seem to be better controlled than kinfe pleats (folded same direction). But all look good. Pressing them really helps if they get wild, but with 2x you can often skip the ironing if you want a fuller look to your pleats.

I don;t think you will need to line your pleats. The regular fabric should be just fine.

I second Heathers reply. I used silk dupioni on my bronze dress and i did not line the fabric. I did put a nice 1 inch hem on the bottom to give it a nice finished look. Teh silk presses really nice, i also used a squirt of diluted white vingear and water to help set them along with a pressing cloth.

I also used Heathers fork method to pleat all the pleats on my dress. This dress went all the way to the states and back in my suitcase and only needed a light press to the pleats when i had to wear it.

Thanks! Now that I know this, I can start tomorrow morning if my sick child lets me! I have a Rajah Pressing clothe, but what does the vinagar do? I've never heard of that before!

I've never tried the 'knife' method - I really must give it a go! I tend to pleat by eye, and sometimes get into a bit of a mess!!

I must also try using white vinegar and water for pressing my silk pleats (I've just bought an incredible one off EBay with lovely stripes) - I'd never have thought of that - thanks for that tip!

[Heather]

The vinegar sets the pleat in permanently. I have never tried it myself, but hear that it works wonders.

Perhaps Clancy will give us the water/vinegar ratio that she used.

Dru

I was setting the pleats on the Emily Dickinson wrapper and grabbed my squirt bottle to dampen as I ironed. The pleats set beautifully and I chalked it up to the good cotton fabric and, of course, my expert skills.

After I was done I thought "Wait a minute?" opened the squirt bottle and realized that I had used the 50/50 water/vodka mix I use to squirt the arm pits of costumes during the run of a show when the costumes can't be dry cleaned.

Maybe the vodka worked like the vinegar?

Fork method? Did I miss this? Or am I just forgetfull? Either way some one please explaine. I rather not have to do 3 rows of pleats around the bottom of a skirt by eye if I dont have to.

From memory it was a 50/50 mix. Remember to use white vinegar and not brown and test it on a sample of the fabric. Dont worry about the smell it will disappear. If you didnt want to use vingegar im sure you could make a solution of liquid starch and starch them. I just find the vinegar easy to use and just keep it in the laundry room near my iron.

Heather has instructions (video) on the fork method on her FAQ page. Once you get the hang of it it is quite good. I also have a number of differnt size forks to get different sizes

hm... I am trying to imagine how the 3x and 2x pleats differ in how they look. I am just starting with my first pleating and haven't much experience with it... I have a nic book about pleats and stuff... but it does not explain this...

I might have an idea but I am not sure about it.

MMmmmmm, love the "fork method." And vinegar and water are great! Learned that years ago for pressing hubby's Navy uniform creases. But tell us more about the Vodka solution, please! Does it take away perspiration stains, odors???? Do tell!!!

kate

[Heather]

hm... I am trying to imagine how the 3x and 2x pleats differ in how they look.

The side pleats (all facing one dirrection) don't really loook all that different from the outside. But the general idea is that the distance between the folded edges is twice as wide as the underfolded part. Where you really see a difference is in the Box pleats (alternating directions) 3x pleats are touching fold to fold, so it looks more like a solid piece with slits in it. 2x box pleats have a space between each fold, so you get a forward section/back section appearance to them

Fork method? Did I miss this? Or am I just forgetfull? Either way some one please explaine. I rather not have to do 3 rows of pleats around the bottom of a skirt by eye if I dont have to.

clementine, the Fork Method is demonstrated in the FAQ section that can be reached from the Truly Victorian home page.

I wish I knew about the vinegar/water method before. I have so many outfits that have "lost" their pleats from washing. The cotton ones are ruffles now!