Pleat to pattern, pleat to pattern, are we tired yet of pleat to pattern? UMMMM...... NO!
At least not on this project for
Crosstown Shade and Glass.
Pleat to pattern just keeps getting more fun. This applique stripe is such a cool fabric, OF COURSE it had to be pleated to pattern.
The homeowner's original idea was ripplefold draperies with this fabric. I made mockups to help the client and designer choose how to best show off this pattern and address the practical issues.
With ripplefold, half the fabric goes to the front, half to the back, just like grommet draperies. A workroom sample like this helps everyone visualize the effect.
I did a mockup with buckram on a string to simulate the profile.
We also made a mockup of inverted pleats, so the client could compare
styles. This creates a wave effect, which visually is very similar to
ripplefold, except instead of a backward-projecting ripple, that fabric
is pleated to the back and stitched down flat.
Guess what, inverted pleats were the choice.
The pleats are sewn to the back, instead of to the front as they are with pinch pleats.
Since these draperies were unlined, we French seamed the widths together, so there were no raw or serged edges.
The pleats were flattened out and "stitched in the ditch" on the front.
The pleats lie flat, but once they're hung on a rod, the flat part rolls forward like a wave.
Everybody was happy with this project!
Beautiful work!!
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