What’s a box fold?

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Box pleats are used to reduce the width of fabric and give a fuller appearance. They are commonly used in skirts and shirts, with a 3:1 ratio. Inverted box pleats have the seam on the outer side, while double box pleats use a 5:1 ratio for a deeper crease.

Box pleats, or pleats of any kind, are used on both tailored clothing and upholstered items. They are generally used for the purpose of reducing the width of a wide piece of fabric and giving a fuller appearance. They are also used to create a more dramatic or streamlined look. Considered a double fold, a box fold is a back-to-back knife fold, which flares out instead of falling flat as the knife fold does.

As part of the design of a garment, box pleats are used in a number of ways. They will typically be seen on skirts, creating a fuller look and giving the wearer the appearance of a narrower or smaller waist. Unlike the narrow tailored skirt, a skirt with box pleats allows for greater freedom of movement.

Box pleats are also often seen as part of shirt and blouse design. The most common place for pleats to appear on a shirt or blouse is at the center of the back, which allows for greater reach, and at the bottom of the sleeve at the point where the cuff meets the sleeve. Pleats are a common addition to many garments, adding comfort and style.

In a box fold, the top two folds of the fold face in opposite directions, while the bottom two folds face each other. The seam is inside this type of folds. Box pleats are created in a 3:1 ratio. This means that for every 3 inches (7.62 cm) of fabric, a 1 inch (2.54 cm) pleat is made. Considered the most basic type of fold, and the basic starting form of the box fold, knife folds also use the 3:1 ratio; however, unlike box pleat, they create a flat look while still using the same amount of fabric.

An inverted box pleat has the seam located on the outer or visible side of the piece, creating a more dramatic look. The inverted box fold is commonly used on jackets and outerwear. In this type of garment, the pleat is not only used to create a more modern look, but it is also used to give the wearer more comfort and less restricted movement.

Double box pleats, also known as stacked box pleats, use a 5:1 ratio, which means that for every 5 inches (12.7 cm) of fabric, 1 inch (2.54 cm) of pleat will be created. . The result is a deeper, more flexible crease. Designers and dressmakers tend to use these types of pleats when more fullness is desired in a garment.




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