How do I tie off these pencil pleat curtains?

[Maggiethecat]

I’ve just had these altered and they have done it by shortening from the top and replacing the heading tape.

However, the replacement tape is not like ones I’ve used before where you pull then tie off the threads at both ends of the curtain.

The ends of the thread are stitched to the heading tape - I’ve picked at one to show that there is no loose thread dangling at the end.

So how do I deal with these (the 3 parallel threads) - do I just keep pulling them and when I have enough length try to tie them off?

Don’t want to ruin them!

Don’t you need to pull them to create gather in the top of the curtains. Snip them right on the stitching to free them, pull till curtains the correct width then I tie all 3 together and kind on tuck it in.

You pull and create the threads to tie at the outer edge (not the edge that meets in that middle of your window). Maybe first check both ends of the curtain are the same and there is not a loose edge already?

Do exactly as you have described. If you pick them out you will release the loose end of the thread.

Pull (start to gather the curtain) until you have enough loose thread to tie together.

DM makes curtains (for us) & we just unpick the end threads from the stitches holding them in place, tie them together then pull.

Thank you all!

it’s strange that there is stitching along the edge vertically (perpendicular to the run of the threads).

I’ve tried pulling them so that they would come free of the stitching, but it seems that I’ll have to do as @Lostinthecoop says ie snip them and then pull.

Anyone around? I’ve snipped 3 threads on one end, knotted them off and am trying to pull in order to get pleats along the entire length (228 cm length being pulled to 114cm) and it is very hard work!

should I be snipping threads at other end to pull from that end too, sort of like pulling half way from each end?

No one end only or you’ll see the dangly threads in the middle and run the risk of pulling them full out without a good anchor.

yes hard work. Might take an hour or so to get right.

just managed to pull all the way along but the fixed end sort of curls up and won’t lie flat iyswim!

Like this

cant work out what’s happened at the end from the photo. Just need to keep working it

I’ve beat it into submission!! 😂

It’s lying flat now but boy did I bust a sweat. I think because it has a heavy thermal lining it wasn’t easy to move the gathers along.

thanks for your help!!

I always see mine in (and knot them)
I pull from the middle so that there are no unruly threads at the curtain edges...much more professional. Can't believe people had you snipping threads!

Hopefully they’ll survive the snip! 😱

I have never heard of this but I will definitely use it in the future!

@17to35 that is brilliant.