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Is it hard to make pinch pleat curtains?
If you want a traditional look for your curtains, pinch pleats, also known as French pleats, are a great option. These triple pleat curtains may look intimidating, but using pleater tape and hooks makes this project simple for sewers of any level. You can also easily add a drapery lining to these curtains.
How much fabric do I need for pinch pleat curtains?
– A pinch pleat curtain requires more fabric to sew in the pleats as it gathers up tighter. As such you will require 2.5x the track width or 150% fullness.
How do you make pinch pleat sheer curtains?
Although you can measure and stitch individual pleats across the upper edge of a sheer curtain panel, the easiest way to make pinch-pleated sheers is to sew on lightweight pleater tape, available at fabric and decorating stores. Use drapery pleat hooks in the pockets that are woven into the tape.
What’s the difference between pencil pleat and pinch pleat?
Pinch pleat is a decorative heading for curtains, suitable for all fabrics. Pinch pleats use more fabric and are fuller than pencil pleats. The pleats are hand-sewn in and permanently fixed for more luxurious, tailored look. This will allow us to gather your curtains to the correct width.
How far apart should pinch pleats be?
Standard spacing is 5 pleats per 54” fabric width, however can be adjusted to accommodate different fullness levels.
What hooks to use for pinch pleat curtains?
The hook for a sheer pleated curtain is called a pin hook. We use pin hooks in sheer curtains so you can get the height correct. This is a pin with a hook. The pin pushes into the seam at the back of the pleat at the desired height.
What is a double pinch pleat?
Double pinch pleat curtains have small groups of pleats separated by flat sections of fabric, pinch pleat curtain hooks are used at each pleat, so the curtains are suspended by the pleats with flat fabric between. Pinch pleats give a more formal look and the curtains tend to hang in uniform folds.
How do you calculate pinch pleats?
Carolina Custom Draperies notes that you should multiply the total width by 2.5 and record the result. This allows for the proper amount of fullness for the pleated drapes. For example, if the total width is 84 inches, multiply 84 by 2.5 to get 210 inches, the calculated fabric width.
How wide should pinch pleat curtains be?
Choose your draperies based on the rod width. For a rod that is 40 to 48 inches wide, choose drapes that are 48 to 50 inches wide. A rod that is 49 to 72 inches wide will require drapes 72 to 75 inches wide. A rod width of 73 to 96 inches wide should have drapes that are 96 to 100 inches.
How wide should pencil pleat curtains be?
For the best results for this type of curtain heading aim for a minimum fullness of 2.25 times the rail width. This will give an adequate amount of fullness to the pencil pleats, across the full width of the window when the curtains are in the closed position.
How do I calculate how much curtain material I need?
There’s a simple calculation to work out how much curtain fabric you need. First, multiply the track/pole width by your chosen fullness (eg. Pole width 150cm x 2.5 = 375). Next, divide that figure by the fabric width, which is typically 137cm (375 divided by 137 = 2.73).
How do pinch pleat curtains work?
Pinch pleat curtains are a decorative style of drapery. The material used is two or three times wider than the length of the curtain rod. Pleats are formed by gathering the excess material into a tight gathering. This extra material is then bunched and stitched together.
Are pinch pleated drapes out of style?
Pleated panels are a classic style of drapery and so never really go out of fashion, although their popularity rises and falls with current trends. They look quite formal, so work best with formal or traditional decorating styles. Pinch pleat is the most common style.
Can you turn pencil pleat curtains into pinch pleat?
With a few supplies from the fabric store, a sewing machine, and some pre-made curtain panels, you can easily sew custom-looking pinch pleat curtains.
Are pencil pleat curtains old fashioned?
Many people believe that pencil pleat curtains are old-fashioned when compared to eyelet curtains, which have ringlets incorporated into the fabric itself – but this is far from a blanket rule. Pencil pleat can look just as stylish as eyelet curtains in a contemporary apartment or new-build house.
How wide should pleats be?
The extra fabric on the width is used to make the pleats. With 50% fullness, the pleat is usually about 3″ wide. With 100% fullness, the pleat is usually about 6″ wide. In both cases, there is typically 12″ from the center of each pleat to the center of the next pleat.
How deep should pleats be?
“That’s an average – a starting point – but you might use smaller or larger spaces to fit your rod”. An average pleat size is 5 inches. Less fullness will create smaller pleats and more fullness will mean your pleats could be 6 inches or more.
