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Techniques: Create pleats and ruffles

a studio shot of a wide-necked, cream coloured garment on a mannequin
  • Written byYosana Leal
  • Published date 19 June 2018
a studio shot of a wide-necked, cream coloured garment on a mannequin
Student work created during UAL Insights Summer Schools, 2017. Photograph: UAL.
Interested in picking up some quick and easy sewing techniques? Getting skilled up can really help you to experiment with shape and form for your fashion designs.

Ruffles

Maybe it’s the Latino influence that’s making an impact across music and fashion, or our continued obsession with the ’80s and ’90s. Either way, this design detail is having a revival on the high street and beyond.

Follow the video tutorial to get started with this technique. Yosana will show you how to pin, fold and stitch a basic ruffle.

Create ruffles

Video: filmed by Yosana Leal.

Knife Pleats

Knife pleat skirts are mainstay of the high street at the moment. But pleats can do so much more. This one requires a little more attention, but once you’ve mastered it you can make use of the technique to inform or enhance your design ideas.

Create pleats

Video: filmed by Yosana Leal.

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