mine isn't quite as good but for a first attempt i think it's not too bad. I apologize for the bad lighting/coloring in the pics - this fabric and the color is hard to photograph. anyway here goes with the tutorial:
To start, like i posted above, make sure you go 'with' the grain on the basting stitches. otherwise you'll get a ruffle, which may be an effect you're looking for but it won't give you the pleats. Also, if you're going to do this, make sure you allow for probably 2x the length of fabric as it is obviously going to be smaller when you're finished.
I don't know how to do this without a sewing machine, so here goes.
1. make a line of basting stitches (my machine goes up to 4 so I used that setting) all the way from one end of the fabric to the other, i can't say how far in you should do them with your seam so you'll have to experiment with it.
(sorry I edited this photo too small I think)
2. on the opposite end of your fabric, make another line of stitches parallel to your first.
3. Take the top string of your stitches between two fingers, and then sort of bunch the material up the thread. This is where your own creativity comes into play because how wide/messy you want your pleats depends on the way you bunch, you just have to play around with it to get your own desired effect. Do both sides the way you want them, and then when you're done, tie knots on every top and bottom thread to hold the bunches where you want them.
4. I recommend pinning the fabric to your ironing board. pin one side and then if your pleats run horizontally, pull it very tight horizontally, then pin the other side. This is also a good time to adjust pleats how you want them. After you iron they'll pretty much be stuck, unless you pull it all out and start over.
5. To iron, I started by just patting the iron rather than gliding it across the fabric. I wanted to make sure I got them a little choppy so I did it this way first. then when everything looked all right I slid the iron in the direction of the pleats. (I had to use a fabric over the material, just because of the material I was working with - make sure to mind your material and it's ironing requirements).
this is what it looked like when I was finished ironing:
And this was my finished product, sadly I cut through on accident at the very last minute.
anyway i hope this helps someone.
