Next Test, no 3.

You know what this experiment has taught me? Don't go mouthing off over what you are going to do before you've got a firm (experimentally confirmed) grasp of what you are doing.

 So. Test 3. Quasi smocking. All with a plain iron, no starch, no vinegar.

Far left, using machine gathers. Two at top, two at bottom. 4:55 inches, max. Slightly loosened for pic. Pleats not even enough.  

Middle, using hand gathers at 1/4 inch. Better, but not perfect. 4:55 ratio as presented.. Ironed at 1:55 ratio.  Pleats not even as source image.

 Far right. Two rows at the top, two at the bottom. Two at at the 1/3rd point to control the pleats. 4:55 ratio. Loosened a 1:55 ratio and ironed into place 4:55.

The controlled pleats on the right fair better, though even without the markings you could tell where the pleat line was. With care that line would be invisible, though the precision would be less than the original work. If a less sensitive fabric than gauze was used, it could possibly withstand using a pleater machine and subsequent heat treatment. Not sure silk gauze is up to that level of manipulation without  shredding.

All this work and I've yet to try heating/vinegar/starch combos. At this rate, by the time I'd done with samples the CoCo deadline would have come and gone.

Hand pleating, vs the machine kind, take time.