FREE SEWING TOOL
Box & Knife Pleat Calculator
Evenly distribute knife or box pleats around waistbands, skirts, and uniform kilts without tricky division or uneven gaps.
Calculate Pleat Layout
Number of Pleats:
14 pleats
Total Cut Strip Width Required:
85.0 in
Inner Underlay Depth Per Fold:
2.0 in
Pleating Field Manual
Pleat Variations
- Knife Pleat: Each pleat uses three layers of fabric (the top face plus a double fold behind). Fabric needed equals 3x your waistline plus seam allowances.
- Basting Your Folds: Always press and baste the fold lines across the entire fabric panel before attaching to the waistband.
The Math Formula
• Total Pleats = Waist Circumference ÷ Pleat Width
• Cut Width (Knife) = (Waist × 3) + 1" Seam Allowance
• Cut Width (Knife) = (Waist × 3) + 1" Seam Allowance