MKT25 – Basic Pleats [Sample]

Pleats can be made on the main bed or by using the ribber.  This basic pleat is made using only the main bed.  To make the knit fold into pleats easily, you will use the crease stitch MKT018 and a needle out of work.

1.The repeat for this pleat is 3 stitches +3. Each pleat will be 3 stitches after it is pleated, except the first pleat on the left (right when on machine). It will be 6 stitches. There are a few examples of how to use or eliminate the extra 3 stitches on the first pleat on the left. See the below examples.

This pleat is 3 stitches wide in repeat for the finished pleat although you will cast on several more stitches to make the pleat. The pleat is 10 stitches wide (1 of which is out of work) in repeat before folded into the pleat. You will 1st need to figure out how many repeats you will need.

Example A:    

 You need 30 stitches after the pleat is folded.
30 stitches final / 3 stitches per repeat = 10 repeats

You need 10 repeats of pleats.
10 repeats X 10 needles per repeat = 100 needles

If the pleats will be sewn to other pleats, there is no reason to change the required number of needles. Use 100 needles.

Example B:    

To make it with only a 3 stitch pleat on the left, subtract 3 needles a the end of the calculation.

You need 30 stitches after the pleat is folded.
30 stitches final / 3 stitches per repeat = 10 repeats

You need 10 repeats of pleats.
10 repeats X 10 needles per repeat = 100 needles

100 needles - 3 needles = 97 needles

Example C:             

To make it with a 6 stitch pleat on the left, subtract 3 stitches before the calculation.  This is how the below knitting instructions are done.

You need 30 stitches after the pleat is folded with a 6 stitch pleat on left.
30 stitches final - 3 stitches to complete first pleat on left = 27 stitches
27 stitches / 3 stitches per repeat = 9 repeats

You need 9 repeats of pleats.
9 repeats X 10 needles per repeat = 90 needles