Techniques

A pleat formed by two folds turned away from each other on the front, creating a flat panel with fabric hidden behind it on both sides.

A dart that curves inward at the middle and points at both ends, shaping fabric closely to the body at the waist without a horizontal seam.

A tapered fold of fabric stitched to a point that removes excess fullness and shapes flat fabric to a body curve, such as at the bust or waist.

A dart pointed at both ends and widest in the middle, used to shape a fitted garment at the waist where no horizontal seam exists.

A long, diagonal dart running from the side seam near the hip up toward the bust point, shaping the garment with a single seam line.

Drawing fabric along one or more rows of stitching to reduce its width into soft, even fullness before attaching it to another piece.

Stitched horizontal tuck added to a child's garment hem or sleeve to shorten it temporarily, released later to lengthen the garment as the child grows.

A pleat formed by two folds turned toward each other on the front, the mirror of a box pleat, hiding extra fabric behind the fold.

A series of uniform, single-direction folds pressed sharply to one side, used in skirts and trims for controlled fullness.

Multiple parallel rows of gathering, often stitched with elastic thread in the bobbin, that create stretchy, textured fullness over an area of fabric.

A decorative technique that gathers fabric into small, controlled folds secured with embroidery stitches, both shaping and ornamenting the surface.