Some years ago, I pleated an acetate fabric using an iron only and it holds pretty well, although the garment hasn't been washed very often. If I had a suitable polyester or nylon fabric, I would give pleating a try using an iron. Be warned, however, that making the pleats is fiddly work and working with slippery fabrics would be slow going and the pleats would need to be basted in place. Maybe think twice about it!

I think you should measure your back length as well.

I took sewing in school starting in grade 5 & continuing to grade 9 but it was just the basics. After I started working, I decided that I wanted a sewing machine & once I had it, I just bought patterns & followed the instructions. So, basically, I taught myself. I've been sewing for more than 50 years now so I've learned quite a bit & I guess I'm still learning. However, I've also become less adventurous because I no longer have the mental & physical energy to do the things I used to do. I have to keep sewing for myself, though, because I have a worsening case of scoliosis & finding clothes that fit would be impossible. Also, I've become accustomed to having just what I want & that would hard to give up. So, the answer is Me.

I notice that most posters learned either at school or from a mother or other relative. I learned at school, too. Started on a treadle machine and eventually made a blouse and shorts in grade 9. However, my very first project was a pin cushion made from flannelette scraps from a nightgown and I used that pin cushion for years and years and still have it.

I didn't sew anything more except for mending until I had finished university and had started to work. I'm really don't know why but I just got the urge to try. So I bought myself a machine and set out to build on what I had already learned at school. I never took any courses - I just followed the pattern instructions which I had no particular problem interpreting, plus some magazine articles and a book or two. I have made just about all my clothes since then, except for coats. At 77, I'm still doing it because I have scoliosis which has gotten much worse as I aged and store bought clothes just don't fit. Luckily my eyesight is excellent. My aim is to build up a stock of every day clothes that will keep me going even when I can no longer sew.

Btw, I am still using my Elna Zigzag Special from 1967 and I also have an Elna Supermatic (which uses cams) which I bought used.