A Perfect Row of Pleats

By Elizabeth M.

 Dear Venturers,

Good evening! Today I was finishing up my 18th. Century cap and created a new tool...


If you sew and are ever on the internet, the you’ve probably been bombarded with the newest sewing hack of using a fork to make perfectly uniform knife pleats. So I gave in one day and tried it. The result was BEAUTIFUL! I love to see a neat row of pleats all looking identical. It’s just such a pretty sight, and far outweighs gathering. So as I was making my cap, I reached for the fork that I now keep in my sewing kit (😁), but I didn’t want pleats that large. I decided that I needed a smaller fork to make a smaller pleat. And so, my newest creation was born... I tried meshing the words pleat and fork, but all I could come up with was, “pork”, and, “fleat”... or well...


I used round nose pliers and some jewelry wire that I have. It’s  essentially a smaller sized fork with only two points (because it’s for pleats and not food...). To make the shape, I made a V-shape out of the wire. Then I bent the bottom halves of the wire ends outwards (away from each other), and then downwards (but at a different point that was farther out from the first bend). The I twisted the top part and created a loop out of the twisted part. This part help you turn the fabric over more easily. 






“I am no bird, and no net ensnares me.”

Comments

Post a Comment

How does this relate to you? What did you think?

Popular Post

My First Post and Portfolio

By Elizabeth M.
Image
  Dear Venturers, Greetings! My name is Elizabeth. I love historical sewing, reading, chickens, and pretty much anything obscure and interesting.  I have named this blog, Venturing in the Prior because I like to think of my sewing endeavors (that's mainly what I intend to write about) as grand adventures, whisking oneself away into another world full of fun mysteries waiting to be discovered. Since, of course, I'll be writing about most of these adventures, I thought it would be amusing to take all you (those who might happen to read this blog) on my adventure with me, making us all venturers into the unknown and intriguing world that is the past so that we all might learn something.  Since you've bravely agreed to accompany me this far at least, I wish you the best of journeys as you set forth reading the reports of my findings. They may not be entirely accurate, nor the quality of work as nice as one might desire (one being me), but, as previously stated, I am still lea...
Read more

My 1860’s Corset (With Measurements)

By Elizabeth M.
Image
  Dear Venturers, I have one literal day to complete a corset. Sounds crazy, right?? I was looking for how to make one. There’s lots of videos and stuff, but no patterns! Unless, of course, you buy one.  So here is how to make one yourself!  (for free! ;)) NOTE: this is for one half of a corset! Not for both sides!  1. Choose your fabric. I would recommend a twin sheet for this one. Maybe 2-4 king-sized pillowcases. I used a white cotton sateen which I will also double-layer. 2. Cut out the main piece. These are the measurements: 3. Next you’ll need a triangular piece to fit in the V-shaped hole for the bust. The larger the V and triangle, the more bust you have. Here’s mine: 4. Add in the hip piece. These are the measurements. This part was very tricky for me!  5. Cut a few slits in the sides. Do this by cutting a straight line wherever you have extra fabric hanging, and then curve in each side of the slit by just a little bit. Then sew the slit together again....
Read more