Almost one year later and finally altered

Care

I finally got around to hemming this skirt I bought last year. Those pleats are tricky! I spent a long time ironing them, but they still don't lay quite flat. I will take it to the dry cleaners next and see how they do with it. My last experience with the dry cleaners and pleats was not better than what I could do at home, so I don't have high hopes. But the skirt does need to be cleaned. Any hints for ironing pleats? Thanks for taking a look. Suggestions are always welcome.

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11 years ago

What I Wore

9 replies

Latest reply was from Mary

Thistle

Veteran

Pleats have always eluded me! I was so glad when they changed our high school tennis uniform to one without pleats! And I haven't worn them since

11 years ago

Anonymous

I avoid pleats like the plague, so no help from me on this one, except to say the shorter skirt length is a lot better. I hope you can get the problem fixed.

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Would a steamer work better than an iron? I've been eyeing a little handheld steamer on Amazon myself. Otherwise I'd say press, don't iron - arrange the pleat on the ironing board, put down the iron for a bit to get the wrinkles out and the hem flattened, then lift away from the fabric while you move it to get the next pleat. Don't move the iron on the surface of the fabric like you're ironing a shirt or some sheets.

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

i love pleats! It doesn't look very odd to me. The dark fabric is more forgiving of pleat or wrinkle issues, and you've hemmed it to a nice length.

11 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

To press pleats, put a terry cloth towel on your ironing board. ( under the skirt.) then move the skirt aroumnd and press each section. That will keep the parts of the skirt that you're not pressing, from slipping and pulling out what you've slready pressed. Use a dry, hot iron...as hot as the fabric will take...and you should be fine. A steamer will not work here, you need to press those creases in.

11 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

Typing on the iPad makes for some strange spellings!

11 years ago

Care

Active Member

Thanks for the suggestions Laura and retailgirl. I think I need to invest in a pressing cloth and try "pressing" vs ironing. I dropped it off at the dry cleaners and we'll see how they do with it. I do like the shorter length. It's a bit nostalgic for me because all the popular girls wore these in high school, when I found one at a thrift store, I couldn't resist.

11 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Nice job! I like the new length. For pressing crisp creases in wool, I use a clapper--a smooth oblong block of wood. Hold it on the crease you've just pressed (with steam, on the wool setting), for a few moments, until the pressed fabric has dried. The wood absorbs the steam while holding the crease in place.

11 years ago

Mary

Active Member

I can't help with the pleats question, but I can relate to fashion procrastination. I will have a single button sit around for weeks before getting sewn back on!

11 years ago

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