Pleated & Crinkle Fabric

Crinkle and pleated fabrics get their texture built in, so they add interest to a make with none of the ironing. This collection leads with crinkle cotton, viscose and chiffon, alongside a smaller run of pleated polyester for occasion wear. Crinkle fabrics are relaxed and breezy; pleats are dressier and more structured. Order a sample first to see the texture before you cut.

Crinkle Cotton Blend - White Floral

Crinkle Cotton Blend - White Floral

Crinkle floral 130cm, 90gsm poly cotton, lightweight, textured for summer tops.

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Regular price £9.90 per metre
Crinkle Cotton Blend - Ivory Floral

Crinkle Cotton Blend - Ivory Floral

Ivory crinkle floral 130cm, 90gsm poly cotton, airy, soft drape for summer wear.

Regular price £9.90 per metre
Skyfall - Black

Skyfall - Black

Made from polyester, this black chiffon dress fabric has a crinkled face, excellent for skirts, puff sleeves and blouses!

Regular price £5.50 per metre
The Other Half

The Other Half

Pleated animal print dressmaking fabric made from polyester, excellent for skirts, blouses and party wear!

Regular price £28.00 per metre
+ More colours Fiona - Volcano

Fiona - Volcano

Our pleated, 100% polyester dress fabric with a digitally printed tie-dye effect is ideal for loose palazzo pants.

Regular price £18.00 per metre
+ More colours Fiona - Rhubarb

Fiona - Rhubarb

Fluid pleated dress fabric with an abstract lime, pink and lilac print, perfect for flowing makes.

Regular price £18.00 per metre
Punch

Punch

Fabulous crinkle effect chiffon dress fabric featuring a bold "highlighter" yellow and black leopard spot print on an off-white background.

Regular price £7.00 per metre
Cord Season

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Made in Italy Ethereal Blue

Ethereal Blue

Exquisite ex-designer Italian deadstock fabric with a fabulous blue tie-dye print. 152cm wide polyester dress fabric.

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Regular price £19.00 per metre
+ More colours Yoryu Chiffon - Brown

Yoryu Chiffon - Brown

A 150cm wide very delicate polyester chiffon in brown with a floral deign in shades of red, purple and coral.

Regular price £6.00 per metre
Made in Italy Auralite

Auralite

158cm wide, purple polyester chiffon made in Italy featuring an abstract design and crinkled face, ideal for dresses and puff sleeves!

Regular price £14.00 per metre
+ More colours Crinkle Viscose - Neon

Crinkle Viscose - Neon

140cm wide, viscose dress fabric with an interesting subtle crinkle finish and neon abstract print, ideal for blouses.

Regular price £12.96 per metre
+ More colours Fibre Mood - Warp Crinkle - Red

Fibre Mood - Warp Crinkle - Red

160cm wide, 85% viscose, 15% nylon red crinkle fabric. Lightweight at 140gsm, OEKO-TEX certified.

Regular price £14.50 per metre
Made in Italy Ebb Tide - Jersey
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Ebb Tide - Jersey

155 cm wide ivory jersey in polyester-nylon with a dreamy wrinkled texture, it hugs the body but politely ignores any lumps and bumps

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Regular price £8.00 per metre

Textured fabrics like crinkle and pleats do a lot of the work for you. The finish is set into the cloth, so it holds its shape without pressing, adds movement and body to a simple shape, and, in the case of crinkle, means you can more or less skip the iron altogether. It's the sort of fabric that makes an easy make look considered.

Crinkle, plissé and pleated: what's the difference?

The three are related but not the same. Crinkle, also called crushed fabric, has an all-over puckered texture, relaxed and irregular, and it's the bulk of this collection in cotton, viscose and chiffon. Plissé, from the French for pleated, is a finer, more regular puckered finish. Pleated fabric has pressed-in folds that are sharper and more structured, usually in polyester, and reads as dressier. Crinkle is casual and breezy; pleats are for occasion wear.

What to make

Crinkle cotton and poly-cotton are light and breathable, perfect for relaxed summer dresses, blouses, shirts and children's clothes. Crinkle viscose drapes more, lovely for palazzo trousers and floaty summer dresses. Crinkle chiffon suits skirts, puff sleeves, blouses and overlays. Pleated polyester comes into its own for occasion and eveningwear: statement skirts, party dresses and gowns.

Caring for crinkle and pleats

The golden rule: don't iron the texture out. High, direct heat will flatten a crinkle or a pleat permanently, which defeats the point of the fabric. Wash cool, at 30 degrees or below, skip the fabric softener, and to revive a crinkle you can twist the damp fabric into a rope and let it dry that way. If you must smooth something, steam at a distance rather than pressing. Follow the care guidance on the individual product page.

Can I iron crinkle or pleated fabric?

Best not to. High, direct heat flattens the texture permanently, which defeats the point of the fabric. If something needs smoothing, hold a steamer at a distance rather than pressing, and let the crinkle or pleats stay as they are, which is much of their appeal.

Will the crinkle wash out?

No. The crinkle is a set finish woven or fixed into the cloth, so it stays through washing. To revive it after a wash, twist the damp fabric into a loose rope and let it dry that way rather than pressing it flat.

What's the difference between crinkle and plissé?

Crinkle (or crushed) fabric has an irregular, all-over puckered texture, while plissé is a finer, more regular puckered finish (the word is French for pleated). Pleated fabric proper has sharper, pressed-in folds. Crinkle is the most relaxed; pleats the dressiest.

What can I make with crinkle fabric?

Crinkle cotton suits relaxed summer dresses, blouses, shirts and children's clothes; crinkle viscose drapes well for palazzo trousers and floaty dresses; and crinkle chiffon works for skirts, puff sleeves and overlays. The pleated polyesters are better suited to occasion skirts and dresses.

Can I order a sample before buying?

Yes. Most fabrics are available as a sample so you can see the texture and colour before committing to a full cut. Use the Order Sample option on the product page.