I Made a Thousand Pleats Using a Handmade Pleating Board

Pleating is the most painful yet satisfying thing on earth.
More about Me
ins: @clairezhangyx
website: clairezhangyx.com

[@jennypockets]

After hours of sewing pleats in by hand, tacking in place , pressing, then removing tack stitches and pressing again..... Oh, I wish I'd known this earlier. Pleats, buttons and pockets have always been my favourite additions to any garment I make. Thank you for sharing.

[@blackcatsandunicorns7594]

Wish I had thought of this when making knife pleats for an 1870's wedding dress. Spent days measuring, pinning, pressing, measuring, pinning, pressing. I like your way better, much smarter 😁

[@clairezhangyx]

Live and learn! I spent a whole week pleating for my petticoat and only thought of making this board when I had already finished the whole thing :)

[@jenniferj.9973]

Funnily enough, just yesterday I watched a video about artisans making folding paper fans. The flat paper was placed between two pleating boards like this to make the folds. Very interesting process!

[@peggymason7438]

Brilliant! I'm 72, started sewing when I was 8, and have never come across a pleating board before. I always keep my mind open for new ideas and am so glad I saw this video!

[@wynnewhitten-holmes5090]

Genius! I'm saving this one to my sewing techniques playlist in case I ever get the courage to try pleats.

[@peggymason7438]

Take a chance on practice fabric! You'll be glad you learned something new.

[@lazygardens]

Great instructions. If you use a plastic spatula or "drywall knife" to shove the fabric into the pocket it's faster. Drywall knives come in several widths, up to 12".

[@yetibigfoot1037]

Thank you so much. I’m trying to make David Bowie’s white parachute for my dear neighbour, (she’s going to a 3 day Bowie festival in June at 62years old 🤗👊🏼), and I’m not great at sewing. I’ve had 3 attempts but the pleating foiled me every time. I will try again with at least a little more confidence. ❤️❤️❤️

[@somyagarg5357]

Girl you just saved me from getting failed at my graduation project. I love you ❤️😭

[@introspectiveme8719]

That is so much easier than I thought although still tedious and a lot of work. Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks.

[@ManorandMaker]

Great job! Helpful extras in the commentary about rulers & credit cards to get a clean 'dip' - so simple, but something I might not think of in the moment. Tasks like this can be hypnotic - in a good and bad way!

[@nans969]

Beautifully done. I worked in a dry cleansers in the 80s. Pleated everything was the thing at that time. There is a very good reason a pleated skirt or drapes cost a bit more to press. Very time consuming.

[@AnotherHeidi]

I was thinking of ironing over some metal pronged device but I knew someone would have a device all figured out. Looks good

[@kathryncoelho2249]

This video just saved me! I’m starting a long pleated ruffle and have been trying to decide the best way to go about it. This option is perfect for my needs. Woot! Thank you!!

[@CopenhagenDreaming]

This is when the internet is best! Somebody posts something a bit niche - and another person goes "that's just the information I needed!" (Having sewn a fair amount of facemasks in the past year, I now hate pleats. Something like this would have made everything easier and probably given more consistent results.)

[@makingpixierose]

This is actually genius. Thank you for sharing! I would have never thought of any of that. Didn’t think cardstock could be ironed!

[@dianeseverns2382]

This was so much help. Im not doing anything to fancy but this is still going to be a great help. Thank you.

[@mirimiriela480]

Omg, I saw something like this in a video about a shop that uses these, but I've never seen anyone use it in a home setting! I love this!! The shop that did this sandwiched the fabric between two layers of paper and then had a special steam room setup to set the pleats into the fabric. Your result looks SO sharp. I'm so impressed omg.

[@MelodyLovelace]

This is so clever and must save so much time!! Excited to see the final product :)

[@antoniettek8287]

wow this is amazing, I have been struggling with pleats on 2 garments and about gave up (lol). thank you so much!

[@crimsonanna1980]

This is brilliant! I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks so much for sharing your pleater board.

[@noisydoll168]

Ooh, thank you for the tip about storing the pleated material on the cardboard tube!

[@bygraceonly182]

I can’t like this enough!!! Thank you!

[@TheGabygael]

I decided to use an awl instead of scissors to mark the lines it works wonders and doesn't hurt my plastic ruler (does have an issue with my desk/sewing machine table, so I added a cloth underneath)

[@haneulsjams]

I think it’s so amazing what humans can do. I’m still so fascinated with technology despite using it everyday

[@christinecameron1612]

Thank you for this! This is by far the best and easiest pleating-board I've seen!

[@knitntea1672]

Wow! I am impressed with your ingenuity, precision, and perseverance! Kudos to you :-) beautiful dress you were working on

[@chtitmog]

THIS IS GENIUS!! 🤯💚 Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial - so helpful!! Radha x

[@annh.8290]

This is great, thank you for posting!

[@gochemoche1821]

Very helpful video. I make pleats at smaller scale like 1:3 to 1:12 and I found several pointers in this video that will make my life easier. Thank you! The resulting gown is also stunning !

[@genevagolah9283]

Love it...thanks for this, been thinking about making pleats for a lose fitted trouser and I needed alot of pleats...will try it and post on my channel whenever I get to it...and definitely tag you as my inspiration ❤

[@buzzanoa]

This is brillant! And as always, you explain it so well!!! Thank’s a lot 💖

[@kellyoconnor5684]

Such good tips--thank you so much! And your finished gown looks amazing!

[@lauragagliani4691]

That's very clever!! Thank you for sharing this method!

[@ashmeesh]

Your dress is amazing!! Love watching these tutorials as I am making my own victorian gown too! Fellow NY'er here as well :)

[@kestrels.9189]

What a wonder idea! Thank you for sharing. I enjoy your videos. 🥰

[@waterbitten]

Thank you!!! A million blessings to you this tutorial is a God send!!!!

[@alanamary]

Lovely tutorial, thank you! I used the back of the pointy side of a seam ripper to mark the paper and it worked perfectly (in case the scissors against the ruler is a pain in the butt).

[@byusaranicole]

WOW. That's incredible!!!!

[@chinny7109]

Quite helpful, I just discovered that the secret to long lasting pleat is in starch and white vinegar. Thank you.

[@Erida526]

This is genius!

[@brigidscaldron]

That’s BRILLIANT!

[@springequinox4051]

Thank you!

[@MichelleLalonde-bq2cu]

To keep the pleats pleated, you can put a strip of iron on light interfacing down the middle on the back

[@EmilyJeanCreates]

Okay now I want to make something that requires pleats!!

[@tc7403]

Brilliant! I will try this myself.

[@Kittyququmber]

Nifty. Thank you!!

[@barelypedestrian]

yo this came in my feed just in time for a project, this is genius! many thanks

[@nancyholcombe8030]

Greatest way to do pleats I've ever seen!

[@znycelondon5313]

Perfect . Could you please share your ratio of starch/vinegar/water mix. Thank you.

[@jori7398]

Wonderful!

[@Stitchadress]

Beautiful! I will try it out!

[@kieraoona]

Thank you for this great tutorial! a DIY method is always handy to have!

[@msouzamp1]

How beautiful! Thank you so much! I will try today

[@AdventureFreak86]

Thank-you so much!!!

[@lucijajenel8485]

Your videos are so calming 😊

[@TheFineLinen]

That is so cool !! Very easy to follow tutorial. Thanks for sharing !!!

[@leslyerucker8083]

I'm so glad I found you on my first attempt. It will make my project so much easier and faster. One question: If you're using double-sided fusible interfacing, how can you iron one side directly onto the interfacing? I must be missing something and this may be a dumb question. But help if you can.

[@nicolletteternes4224]

It's probably been too long but there's a paper backing on the double sided interfacing

[@CopenhagenDreaming]

Nice tutorial! Where were you when I needed this just over a year ago when I started making pleated facemasks? ;-) I'm definitely going to try making a pleat-board for my mask pattern, because nobody deserves the eternal punishment that is measuring, pinning, pressing, measuring, pinning, pressing, repeat...

[@nantanakala7769]

Thank you so much for sharing.

[@jaslynnegladney8869]

This just changed my life lol wow thank you!

[@dear._sky]

great technique! thanks for sharing

[@erikaalexandraparrabernal2021]

So happy to have found this tutorial!! Is super helpful! May I ask what is the exact formula of starch/vinegar you used? thanks!

[@Lucia-hr2co]

I love this!!! Im making pleats in mi design for school and that save my life

[@LadyNikitaShark]

This video is so relaxing.

[@mohmeegaik6686]

Claire you really are talented & resourceful. I am just a new subscriber. Jia you.

[@alicegreene7059]

this is awesome, thank you so much

[@bohemiansusan2897]

I've enjoyed seeing the progress made. Thanks for sharing.

[@iDelta77]

So good. Thanks for sharing

[@frankfrank6541]

Thank you for sharing.

[@libertylady1952]

Great trick. Thanks!

[@marenerk5091]

how creativ ist that 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏻

[@kittycatt738]

That's such a great idea!

[@Nowairah_Beauty]

incredible idea , thanks alot😍

[@malihaqureshi2457]

YOU ARE A LIFER SAVER!!!!!!

[@maryharvey724]

Brilliant!!!

[@jillosiecki3049]

Vinegar and starch! What kind of starch? Regular cooking cornstarch?

[@charmainegarnham9722]

Simply amazing

[@francescaward3631]

Tgis is genius! I am very impressed

[@blinkydinkle]

how would you prevent the pleats from weakening or from losing its shape when you wash it in the laundry multiple times? Would it not eventually lose it shape after several usage? beginner sewing student here:,))

[@sophieross399]

this is so genius...

[@jasperpuddingface]

Great content thank you. xx

[@Holly888Gan]

It s very easy when You Pro

[@marshaa8288]

Amazing!

[@StellasScrappyCrafts]

Brilliant

[@lauraoergel6003]

Definitely gonna make one now

[@DataShawol]

Do you know how to calulate how nuch extra fabric do i need to buy to make it plead? Like if i goona need 30 cm in a straight fabric, how much more do i need to have 30cm worthy of pleaed fabric?

[@jacqualinewilliams802]

Lovely

[@MsRoRussell]

WoW! 😍

[@RaeOkaay]

Genius!

[@mayarockafellow1446]

Brilliant. I just made a pleater board recently. But I was unsure how to use it. May I ask the ratio of vinager, starch , water ratio you used to make the pleats stay? I'm using it on polyester organza for a show I'm working on.

[@marinagrimshaw2810]

Thank you very much for this tutorial. I just didn't understand what type of paper are you using? You said: 'you need two pieces of ..... paper'. But I didn't catch the word🤦‍♀️

[@kadeshalee4723]

she said card stock paper

[@edgarorlaineta1469]

Will this folding pleats stay, are they permanent even if wash? Is there a technique to make them permanent? Thanks for the video.

[@mavzunatohirzoda1869]

Can I ask something if wash that 10 times will pleats leave?

[@lovelylittlegirl3332]

Seeing the math she was doing in the beginning unsettled me a bit. Then I remembered that I am an Engineering student and I can do most of that math. Perhaps then I can just engineer the pleats? Perhaps I am studying engineering to follow my calling of making pleats!

[@lilliporoshtica5594]

a great video. Unfortunately, I couldn't really understand what you used as a mixture to spray over it. I would be happy to hear from you. 🥰😀😀

[@clairezhangyx]

water mixed in with starch and vinegar!

[@Helz777]

Fantastic! Fan of pleats, just not of making them!

[@jjp5259]

Please let us know the model / brand iron you used.

[@MP-vf8qz]

Did you finish the dress?

[@essech]

will the pleats stay after washing the garment?

[@gerryjackson3656]

never did see the completed dress

[@michelleross9782]

ABSOLUTELY STELLAR IDEA!!!!