How To Make a Pleater Board
November 1, 2010 2:08 pmWhen I saw Andy on Project Runway had a pleater board, I though “GENIUS”! I’ve spent so much time marking pleats and ironing them to perfection then pinning them… We’ve all been there. So I did some research on how to make my own and came up with my own version.
Get some poster board and cut it in half.
I found it really useful to use my cutting board and my quilting square. That way I could get all my lines perfect.
I decided to make this board for 1/2 inch pleats. Get an exacto knife and score the cardboard every inch, then every half inch, as shown.
Then fold the pleats.
Then get your other piece of poster board and staple the top of the board to the top of the poster board.
To keep it in place, I stapled inside all each pleat at the ends and the middle. You want to make sure not to staple the whole pleat down because then you cant get fabric in there.
This is what it will look like.
After you staple all the pleats on the board, here’s what you’ll end up with. If you wanted a bigger board you could just use two pieces of poster board.
Now to test it! Insert your fabric into the pleats, making sure they really get into the back of the pleat board. I found the first couple the hardest to do. You can hold them down with weights. You can also use something to help poke them back there like a metal ruler.
Iron them down on medium heat. (Shhh…. I briefly used hot.) Then take them out and voila!
You’ve got pleats!
I’ve got a tutorial coming this week on tea dying and I also made a tailors ham if anyone wants to know how to do that.
Have a lovely Monday!
Tags: notions, pleater board, pleating
Posted in other | 12 Comments »
By Fay on Nov 1, 2010 | Reply
Lex, Please, please, please, please, please post a tutorial on how to make a tailor’s ham! That would be absolutely fantastical! And it would be so great if you could give suggestions on the best places/ times to use them to. I have read about them, but never used them before, and now that I’ve started making clothes instead of just sewing 2-D (place mats, blankets, curtains), it would be great to know how to keep things looking a little more polished and professional.
Thanks so much for all of your fantastic ideas and tutorials. You are such an inspiration!
By Sarah Lunt on Nov 1, 2010 | Reply
Genius! Thank you!
By Megan R on Nov 1, 2010 | Reply
Nice! Helpful tool. I would also really love to know how to make a tailor’s ham! Love your blog!
By Sally on Nov 1, 2010 | Reply
Fabulous!! Thanks so much for sharing! I’d also be really interested in your tailor’s ham tutorial. Love our stuff!
By Nellie on Nov 2, 2010 | Reply
This is why I love Project Runway, I have learned a lot from the show too. Thanks for this pleating tip.
By Suma on Nov 2, 2010 | Reply
Thank you very much for this tutorial. Please can you post the tailor’s ham tutorial. I have read that its really important to have one to make clothes professional looking. Love your blog!
By Marianne Firth on Nov 2, 2010 | Reply
Not only will I be making this, but also a tailor’s ham if you put up the tutorial. I never thought to make one myself, and I’m too cheap to just buy one. If that goes well, then I will make a sleeve/pant ham too!
Keep up the awesome!
By erin on Nov 5, 2010 | Reply
Yes! Totally awesome tute. I’ll be linking… Thanks!
By Rachel on Nov 7, 2010 | Reply
This is SOOOOO fabulous! Thanks so much for this, I’ll be linking.
By Gail Jacobson on Nov 9, 2010 | Reply
Don’t you agree that Andy’s pleated dress was the best? I’m always surprised that the contestants on PR don’t do more of this kind of thing. Thanks for the info.
By Annette on Nov 9, 2010 | Reply
Oh, my gosh. Last year I struggled to do this for my daughter’s bridesmaid dress because my pleater was the wrong size. Thank you so much for the tutorial.
Annette
By katie kortman on Nov 11, 2010 | Reply
girl I am loving these tutorials! I have always wanted to do pleats, but thought it would be way too hard! this makes it possible! and I have tea-stained many times, but never knew how to “fix” it!!! thanks!