Pleats are such a beautiful sewing detail to add to any clothing.  They can add to the design element of any garment.  Today I’m very excited for the first sewing tutorial to show you how to add a wide horizontal pleat to a skirt.

First, find a skirt or dress that you would like to add a pleat to (or you can make one from scratch).

Depending on how wide you want your pleats, you’ll want the skirt to be a little longer than where you want your hemline to hit.  For each pleat, you’ll want to add double the length of the pleat to your hemline.  I’m adding two, 1.5 inch pleats to my skirt, so I’m adding 6 inches to my hemline.

1 & 2.  Measure where you want to place the top of your first pleat and mark it using either sewing pins or tailors chalks.  (I’d suggest using pins so no marks show).

3.  After you’ve marked the correct length, finish marking all the way around the skirt.  Then mark the second line for your first pleat.

4.  Match up both of the line marks that you just made and pin together.

5.  Sew them together on the right side of the fabric, using the long stich setting on your sewing machine.

6.  Press down your pleat with an iron so the line is nice and crisp.

7.  Congrats!  You’ve got your first pleat done.  Isn’t she a beauty?

NOW…

8.  Mark where you’d like your second pleat to start and follow the same steps again until your second pleat is finished.

Tada!  Now you can go pleat crazy!  Start experimenting by changing the size or spacing of the pleats.  Try making vertical pleats using the same technique that you used for horizontal ones.   Use different fabrics for different outcomes.  You can make a skirt with light color chiffon and then line it with a darker color so the pleats show up easier.  It’s totally up to you.  If you do try it, be sure to post it on your blog and leave us a comment with your link.  We want to see your lovely creations!

Have fun sewing and stop back next month for another sewing tutorial by me!

xx Esther

**note: while you can usually find Esther‘s DIY Sew column on the 2nd Thursday of every month, I have a very special post planned for tomorrow, so the column has been moved to Wednesday this time around.

graphics by amy moore for drifter & the gypsy