Draft of a Dirndl Skirt with Unpressed Pleats

dirndle-skirt

A dirndl may use soft un-stitched pleats for a smoother look at the waistline. For an attractive pleated skirt the amount of fabric used should be at least double the hip measurement.

PROCEDURE

EXAMPLE

1. Find the amount of fabric available for pleating by adding together the width of each piece of fabric you intend to use and subtracting the seam allowance.

Two 36” widths = 72”. Subtract 2” for seam allowance =

Fabric available 70”

2. Plan number of pleats desired

Shown above: 10 front and 10 back pleats, meeting at center front and center back as inverted pleats. The side seam is un-pleated.

Pleats 20

3. Find space between pleats by dividing the number of pleats into the waistline measurement.

25” waistline div. 20 pleats =

Space 1 1/4”

4. Find total width of inlay of pleats:

A. Subtract the waistline measurement from the total width of available fabric.

B. Divide fabric by the number of pleats.

A. 70” fabric available

-25” waistline

=45” left for pleat inlays

B. 45” div.20 pleats =21/2”

Pleat inlay

21/4”

PATTERN FOR A SKIRT WITH 20 PLEATS

square a rectangle the desired length and width to develop the skirt pattern

unpress-pleats

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