The Seven Folds

Drapery worn has distinct architecture to it sue to it's continuous or tubular nature. The seams are caused where the folds occur and depending upon the thread size and number of stitch lines, the seems will have more or less of an influence on the folds.

There are seven folds types.

1. Pipe Fold

All folds are more or less a pipe of some kind, flattened or heightened depending on  the material you are drawing. The name is the visual reminder of how they should be drawn. 

2. Diaper Fold

Diaper folds occur because of two tension points that are closer together that the cloth is wide. The folds alternate and if you can imagine a sleeve is a complex series of diaper folds traversing from one side of the arm to the other it makes drawing this often complex piece of clothing easier and more accessible

3. Zig-Zag Fold

These diamond or triangular looking-like folds can create what looks like a serrated edge to the material and are often seen in crumpled sleeves or at the back of heavy trousers and jeans, just behind the knee.

4. Spiral Fold

A bunch of drop folds, pipes or zig-zags all spun or wrapped around the form create these spiral folds. This fold is dominated by a series of S-curve rhythms as the material falls.

5. Inert Fold

Inert folds are folds that have no activity underneath them. Usually the material is the architecture for the material we see in a jumbled mess, such as a messy clothes pile, a scrunched scarf or a crumpled handkerchief.

6. Half-Lock Fold

This is seen in material that turns back on itself. Half-Locks occur in the elbows, knees and the hips. When these parts of the body are bent and tension forms at the joint.

7. Drop Fold

This can look pretty much like a pipe fold, but this is vertical by nature, dropping with gravity towards the floor. It's found in heavy fabrics, such as formal dresses and curtains.