Inverted Pleats: Sewing tutorial

inverted pleat

An inverted pleat is a box pleat sewn in reverse and a box pleat is a combination of 2 knife pleats made back to back. So it is all in the family of pleats. To put it in simple words, inverse pleats are what you get on the back of a box pleat.

But the look of an inverted pleat is quite different from that of box pleats or any other pleats. For one, they are not in-your-face. An inverted pleat very unobtrusively contains the fullness and gives generous ease for comfort and decoration.

To make an inverted pleat, you will need three times the fabric that you normally need. ie if you want to sew a 2 inch wide inverted pleat you will need to take 6 inches fabric. 

Related posts :Sew pleats in clothesPleat variations; Box pleats; Kick pleat -sewing tips; Variations of pleated skirts ; Sewing pattern for a pleated skirt

How to sew an Inverted pleat

Mark 5 lines equidistant from each other on your fabric.ie if you want a 2 inch inverted pleat, mark 5 lines 1 inch apart on 4 inches total area.

inverted pleats

Now you will have to fold the fabric at lines 2 and 4 and bring this to meet at line 3; ie the folds of the pleats you make on either side is brought to meet at the center.

inverted pleat

Fold the other side also to meet the 3rd line.

how to sew inverted pleats
inverted pleat

You can baste stitch your folds in place, before you sew the folds in place.

inverted pleat sewing

Sew across the folds as in the picture above, catching the pleat edges. When you reach the end of the stitching of one edge, you will have to pivot the fabric keeping the needle in the fabric and make 3 stitches across the fabric and then pivot again and stitch the next edge. 

inverted pleats

How did you like this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 3.3 / 5. Vote count: 3

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

This article was written on

& updated on

Subscribe to get weekly notifications of posts in your email

Author: Sarina Tariq

Hi, I love sewing, fabric, fashion, embroidery, doing easy DIY projects and then writing about them. Hope you have fun learning from sewguide as much as I do. If you find any mistakes here, please point it out in the comments.

3 thoughts on “Inverted Pleats: Sewing tutorial”

  1. sharon

    thank you.

    Reply
    • Joycelin

      Thank u, it’s easily understood.

    • Joycelin :

      LOVELY !

Your opinion is important here. Leave a comment