The informal ‘pleats’, or frills designed to give a fabric more fullness. Gathers may be made using especially designed tapes or elastic, making it easier to manufacture sheer and plain curtains. The thinner the fabric, the greater the initial width needed to gather up into a beautifully full drop..
Gathers make frilled edges,that are finishes for cushions, pillows, curtains, tiebacks, bedspreads in feminine environments but also deliberately to relax the formality of another environment.
Something as simple as cushion frill, or a soft pelmet or frilled skirt for a loose cover can be enough to make a room feel more comfortable and approachable.