pleating

Creating accordion folds

Pleating is the process of folding fabric into pleats—evenly spaced, parallel folds that add texture, fullness, or decorative detail to garments and textiles.

Different techniques produce different effects: knife pleats fold in one direction, box pleats fold toward each other, accordion pleats alternate back and forth.

The pleating on that skirt is exquisite.

construction

fold

Bend onto itself

gather · stitch · press · iron · baste · mark · measure · allowance · seam · hem

garments

skirt

Waist-hung lower garment

  • kiltWrapped Highland garment
  • trousersBifurcated lower-body garment
  • blouseLoose-fitting upper garment

bodice · cuff · sleeve · waistband · ruffle · jabot · frill · drape · panel · yoke

textures

crimp

Pinch into folds

groove · ripple · flute · pucker · wave · undulation · gather · shirr · ruche · smock

techniques

accordion

Bellows-driven reed instrument

pintuck · honeycomb · organ · rolled

fabrics

chiffon

Delicate transparent textile

cotton · linen · wool · polyester · taffeta · satin · crepe · tulle · plisse · velvet

effects

volume

Amount of space filled

dimension · structure · shape · flow · swing · body · depth · interest · detail · texture

Categories
Opposites
fabric manipulation technique

pleatingdraping

Arranging cloth loosely

gathering · smoothing · flattening · stretching · ruching

surface texture

pleatingsmoothing

Reducing irregularities systematically

smoothness · flattening · flatness · unwrinkling · pressing

Family

pleat, pleated, pleats, unpleated, pleater

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G