chintuck

Chintuck is a term found in sewing and textiles that refers to a decorative tucking technique used to create small, raised folds or ridges in fabric. The exact definition and usage of the word vary by region and publication, and in many sources chintuck is described as a form of tuckwork related to pintucks, while in others it denotes a distinct method or a broader category of narrow tucks.

In practice, chintuck involves folding fabric along a line and securing the fold with stitching, producing a narrow, impressed ridge. The technique can be executed by hand or with a sewing machine, and lines of chintucks may run parallel, in a grid, or along curved patterns to suit the design. Each tuck tends to be quite narrow, contributing texture and subtle dimension to the surface of the fabric. Chintuck is commonly applied to lightweight woven fabrics such as cottons and linens and is seen in garments, linens, and heirloom sewing projects.

Applications of chintuck include decorative embellishment on blouses, dresses, and home textiles, as well as formal or vintage-inspired designs where fine texture is desired. Because the term is not standardized, builders of patterns and teachers may describe or implement chintuck differently, sometimes equating it with pintucks or using it as a catchall for narrow tucks.

Overall, chintuck represents a small-scale, textural form of tucking used to add detail and structure to fabric, with definitions varying among sources. See also: pintuck, tuck, pleat, embroidery.