Pencil pleat or pinch pleat

[PrimroseBed]

Tudor cottage, small pretty windows and low ceilings. Would you go for pencil or pinch pleat curtains? They will be on cast iron poles. Fabric is a floral cotton/linen blend.

Thank you.

I think I would go for pencil pleats as I think pinch pleats look a bit more formal. I don't know what I'm about to describe is called, but I have some curtains on a pole where the tape has been sewn approx 3-4 inches below the top of the fabric, so it's like pencil pleat but there is a lovely informal ruffle at the top.

What length are the curtains?
If they were my curtains, I would only do traditional pinch pleat on a long curtain with a higher ceiling. I would be tempted to hand pleat them using a small neat pleat onto the rings. This will keep the proportions and give a "heritage" look. Although this may not be the look you're after!

You can use a gathered heading, which is very traditional and informal. Looks better on short drop curtains though.

Thank you all- sounds like pencil or gathered is the way to go.

Gathered looks especially nice in older houses/cottages I think so I suggest that. Pinch is very formal and a bit dated now.

I found with pinch pleats that the stitches broke and the hooks fell out. Never again.

In the end, I unpicked them all, and put ordinary pencil pleat tape on.