Gather it may have been hard pressed (5)
I believe the answer is:
pleat
This could be a double definition.
'gather' is the first definition.
(to gather or fold into pleats)
'it may have been hard pressed' is the second definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pleat that I've seen before include "work on skirt?" , "Crease" , "Fold sewn or pressed into cloth" , "Fold in a skirt" , "Fold in material" .)