How to sow pleated curtains

[Kimber2]

I hope anyone here would be knowing an easy way to sow pleated curtains. I tried a couple of times but the curtain ended up being too short. Appreciate some help in how to measure the window and explain how to evenly split the curtain to pleats.

Also what the best material for sowing pleated curtains?

[Polter]

Are you using header tape? Is that the sort of pleating you mean? Have you got a picture of what you are trying to achieve?

I tend to make them at least a window and a half wide each (for a pair of curtains), cut them longer than necessary then hang to find perfect hem length before sewing the hem.

[scurryfunge]

Plant them in Spring and they will just pop up later in the year.

Just look at tutorials on Pinterest/ YouTube.

[user1486076969]

Try a spot of needle work i.e. sewing

[wowfudge]

The sarky answers say more about you than the OP.

Header tape and an online tutorial are what you need OP.

[Polter]

I can't get on with video tutorials at all. Charity shops often have big old sewing books which almost always have patterns and instructions for curtain making and other housey projects.

And what wowfudge said

[scurryfunge]

Oh,don't be silly. The OP will be the first to say "doh, autocorrect".

[picklemepopcorn]

Have you done much sewing before or are you just starting out?
For curtains, It's all about the header tape.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

do you mean roman blinds? Just wondering as you say they are coming up short.

[HeirOfNothingInParticular]

Do you mean double or triple pleated headings? If so you need to allow a few cm extra in width for 'spring back'. Have a look at this www.mydecozo.co.uk/showthread.php?6275-Pleat-calculation&highlight=Double+pleat+calculation

[Kimber2]

Thanks all for your replies.I meant the triple pleated headings. I can manage sowing simple stuff but this time around , I was thinking of doing the curtains myself to the house. Only the video tutorials are quite complicated and looking for some easy tips to get this done.

[Penfold007]

Do you mean 3 pleats, gap, 3 pleats, gap and so on. All evenly spaced? If so buy pinch pleat header tape. Measure your window accurately and allow extra for hems all round. John Lewis are good for header tape etc.

[HeirOfNothingInParticular]

OP, the best way to get a nice triple pleat heading is to use buckram for the heading and to work out the measurements. It's probably not the easiest type of heading to begin with, but can be done with patience. You need a large work surface, and to be able to double check all your measurements etc. The site I mentioned before has loads of videos about curtain making that you might find helpful.

If you are a novice, then perhaps it would be easier to stick with a pencil pleat type heading, or you can you a 'flop over' which looks nice for bedrooms etc. Until you have made curtains, you don't really appreciate how hard it is to be working with large pieces of fabric.

You mentioned that you had a whole house to do. Why not source cheaper fabrics, ebay and factory shops, and do simpler curtains for some windows, then pay to have your triple pleats done (although IMO double pleats look nicer, and more contemporary!). A good curtain maker is worth their weight in gold, and will be able to deal with different fabrics and patterns - what looks good on the roll might look terrible made up if they don't distribute patterns properly for example.

I've attached a pic of one I have made, I am definitely an amateur but was quite pleased with it. If you have the time and patience, then you can do it, but it is not the easiest thing to start with. Good luck

[Kimber2]

@HeirOfNothingInParticular
The picture looks like a pro.Its really neat. Thanks for the details and tips. I'm going to get some light weighed cloth as you have mentioned from ebay.