Pinch Pleated Draperies » Draperies

Thermal Pinch Pleated Draperies

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:40:18 +0000

There are many reasons for us to cover our windows. Sometimes we cover them for privacy, sometimes to keep the sunlight out, sometimes to keep the heat in, and sometimes to make our rooms look more attractive. Sometimes we cover our windows for some combination of any or all of these factors. When it comes to choosing thermal pinch pleated draperies, one of the main features of this style of window treatment is to keep the heat in. However, since this is an utilitarian reason, it is important to maintain the ambiance of elegance in making the choice of what to buy for your window solution. Since part of keeping the heat in also involves letting more natural heat in, the window treatment needs to be one that allows a lot of sunlight in too. Thermal pinch pleated draperies are a great solution.
These pinch pleated draperies have pleats at the top that let the fabric fall smoothly to the floor, or at least to the bottom of the window sill. Hooks attach the draperies to a rod in a way that lets them slide easily along the rod so you can whip the drapes open for the sun and closed to keep the indoor heat, indoors. They provide a cozy divider from a storm, snow, wind, or rain so that you don’t have to see a chilly outdoors if you just want to bask in warm comfort. As well they offer a great deal of privacy since you cannot even see shadows through such drapes.
Thermal pinch pleated draperies are perfect for areas where there are wide varieties in the elements but the best part of all is that they have a classic look that goes well with any decorating fashion whether it is modern, classic, romantic, or historic.

The Benefits of Pinch Pleated Window Treatments

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:38:59 +0000

While you can have pleated window treatments where the pleats are gathered, pinch pleated window treatments are a better choice for most traditional homes. Pinch pleated window treatments have the benefit of their neat pleats which can be as wide or as narrow as you like and in any fabric, color, or pattern you like. We might all have different reasons for preferring pinch pleats. Here are some of my favorite reasons for choosing them:
1. Pinch pleated window treatments can create a room all by themselves. You can use rods, colors, and fabric to make a statement and the drapes can set the entire scene for the room so that even the most blah furniture basks in the aura set by the windows treatments.
2. Pinch pleats work with all windows and all sizes of windows. You can even out a room that has mismatched windows by creating window treatments that are either identical in size and yet cover a variety of window sizes or that are perfectly proportional and set a harmonious stage for balancing the room.
3. Pinch pleated window treatments are perfect solutions for wide windows. The construction of pinch pleated drapes involved the sturdy addition of buckram that sets the pinch pleated design that is following perfectly from the top to the bottom of the window treatment. The pleats hold their shape for the entire length and provide an orderly and peaceful appearance to the entire window area.
4. Pinch pleated window draperies can also be echoed in the furniture. One of the neatest and most attractive rooms I have seen involved sea green pinch pleats on the windows with a matching creation that covered a small rectangular table and a desk with pinch pleated material that draped to the floor. The table was covered with a piece of custom cut glass so that the fabric also covered the top of the table but allowed it to be useable as a place to showcase pottery. The desk was similarly topped with glass so it could be used as a desk. The actual pieces of furniture were less than attractive but the sleek covers made them accentuate the room.

Hanging Pinch Pleated Drapes Using Clip Rings

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:50:17 +0000

Hanging pinch pleat curtains can be frustrating, but not if you use clip rings.

Pinch pleat drapes are normally hung with pin hooks. Pin hooks slide into the pleated area at the top of the drape and allow the fabric to drape properly.

Once you have the pin hooks inserted, you can attach them to special curtain rings that are made for this purpose.

If you are going to hang your drapes with clip rings, you will not be able to use the pin hooks. Instead of inserting the pin hooks into the pleats, pinch a piece of fabric behind the pleat and attach your clip rings. This may not be the most sturdy way to hang your pinch pleated drapes as it may be difficult to grab enough fabric with the clip rings.

Another good way to hang pinch pleated drapes is by combining different types of hardware. This comes in handy if you have not been able to find the correct hardware. Insert the pin hooks as discussed in step 1. Attach thin hooks to standard curtain rings. These thin hooks can be found in the shower curtain section of stores. Hang the pins from the lowest point.

There are several different ways to hang pinch pleat curtains. You have to decide what method you want to use. Some factors to consider are the look you are going for, how much money you are willing to spend, and what supplies you may already have on hand.

Make Your Own Thermal Drapes

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:47:53 +0000

Thermal drapes can help save you a lot of money on heating costs. Layered drapes help keep your house warm because the thin layers of air trapped between them act like thermal blankets for your windows.

To make your own thermal drapes, start by measuring your window, including at least half the width of the window frame on both sides. Add 1 to 1 ½ inches to allow for seams, as you need to capture the edges of all three layers.

Buy your fabric. The front can be anything that will match your homes décor. For the back of the fabric, choose a neutral color that will look good from the outside.

Buy your aluminized bubble wrap. To save money on this part, you can also use plain bubble wrap for this layer. The insulation value will still be good, but not as high as if you use the aluminum foil back type of bubble wrap.

Cut out your 3 layers. Pin or loosely tape the 3 layers together, inside out. Be sure all layers will be facing the correct way when you turn them right side out. Sew the layers together on all three sides. Turn the layers right side out, being careful to square the corners.

Slip stitch the remaining edge closed. Attach Velcro to the edges of the back of the fabric and the edges of the window frame.

Test your drapes to see if any cold air is coming through in cracks between the drapes and the window frame. If there is, add more Velcro fasteners.

Put up your thermal drapes on very cold days or at night. When you are not using your thermal drapes, they can easily be folded up and put away until the next time you need them.

French Pleated Drapes

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:43:19 +0000

French pleated drapes also known as triple pleated drapes or a fan pleat. French pleated curtains are very elegant and with a bit of practice you can become an expert pleater.

Decide how deep each pleat will be by experimenting with fabric. Take a section of fabric an inch in from the left hand edge. Make a ½ inch fold to the left and pin it in place. Next to the first fold, make another ½ inch fold, and pin them both down. Make your third fold. Unpin folds one and two and pin them together perpendicular to the fabric in a triple fan shape or French pleat. You may want to play around with different depths of material so you know how much fabric you will need to make the right size pleats.

Now that you know how much fabric you will need for a single French pleat, determine how many pleats you will need to cover the width of your window. Normally pleats should be 4-6 inches apart. Take your fabric measurements after you know how many pleats you will need in between. Do not forget to include the edge pleats. Add fabric per panel to the width for 2 inch side seams and 8 inches to the length for a 4 inch header and a 4 inch hem.

Make your basic curtain by sewing the two 2 inch side hems, raw edges turned under from top to bottom. Turn the top edge down. Before sewing it closed, insert a light piece of pellon or buckram to stiffen the header. Turn the raw edge under, stitch along the bottom of the header hem. Complete the bottom hem the same way, just eliminate the buckram.

Start making your French pleats following step 1. Pin the top of the pleat ½ inch from the top of the header. Go down 4 inches and pin the bottom of each pleat. This will accentuate the depth and folds of each pleat. Adjust the fullness across the width of the fabric. Once you have the right depth and width for your pleats, put a stitch at the top and bottom of each pinned pleat. This will help secure your pleats. Continue across the width of the curtain, until the end is reached. Repeat process for all other curtains.

Insert pleat hooks on the back of your drapes behind each pleat and hang your drapes on a traverse rod.

Using Pinch Pleat Tape To Make Your Drapes

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:40:22 +0000

Anybody who has basic sewing skills can make pinch pleat drapes using pinch pleat tape.

Sew the drapes as you normally would. Pleating will use twice the amount of curtain, so the curtain panels need to be twice as wide as the window that is to be covered.

Turn drape panels right side out. The top of the curtain panels should be left with raw edges. Drop one or two pennies into the inside of the panel through the top open edge. You can use weights instead of pennies, you just want some weight to improve the way your drapes will hang.

Iron the hem and the body of the curtain panels. With the back side facing up, fold the raw edge over about ½ an inch. Spread the pinch pleat tape along the edge near the fold. Cut the pinch pleat panel so it matches the width of the curtain panel. Add about ½ to each side. Fold under the side edges of the pinch pleat panels to conceal any raw edges. Be sure to press firmly.

Stitch the pinch pleat panel to the drapery panel. Make sure not to sew the ends of the pocket hooks closed. Repeat until all drape panels are done.

Create your pinch pleats. Gather the top of the panel where you sewed in the pinch pleat. Make two pleats if you are using double hooks, and three pleats if you are using triple hooks.

Slide pinch pleated drapes into the pockets and hang your drapes on any kind of drapery rod you choose.

How To Hang Pinch Pleated Drapes

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:39:15 +0000

The main problem with pinch pleated drapes comes when it is time to hang them up. Having an extra set of hands will come in handy!

Call a friend and iron your drapes while you wait for them to arrive. Spread a clean sheet out on your floor in front of the window you will be hanging your drapes. Lay the drapes lining side down with the bottom extended. If your drapes do not have lining, place the wrong side face down.

Fold the top of the drapes back so you that the backs of the pleats are showing. Insert hooks into the openings. Most hooks will accommodate three pleats, but work if you only have two pleats. If you have three pleats, put one prong in each pocket, and slide it up so all you see is the hook.

Make sure all the hooks are the same height. This will help keep the drapes level and avoid sagging when they are hung. Using a step ladder will allow you to work in a more natural position than a ladder. Turn the top of the drape back to face the floor and accordion one drape together. Be aware of keeping the folds at the pleats.

Pull the cord on the rod to the open position. Hold drapes at the pleat and make sure that the hook on each side is easy to access. Slide the end hook in the hole at the far end, and the other hook at the other end hook on the first hole. Put a few in between hooks on the slides, the position does not matter as you are just keeping the middle section up while you hang the rest of your drapes. You will remove these in between hooks later. Now your windows look great with the help of your pinch pleated drapes.

How To Make Pinch Pleated Drapes

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:34:19 +0000

If you know how to sew, making your own pinch pleated drapes should be no problem for you. It will also save you money by making drapes at home.

To make pinch pleated drapes, sew your curtain panels as normal, adding weights if needed to improve how the fabric will hang. If you do not want to sew weights in, try putting pennies into the hem, it will do the same thing. Pinch pleated drapes look better and hang better with some weight added.

Turn and press your panels, leaving the top raw. Press the seams, tugging along the seam line. You do not want the lining to show from the front of your drapes once they are installed.

Fold the raw top over about a half an inch, tucking the fabric inside of the pinch pleat panel, and press it flat. Stitch as close to the edge and as neatly as possible. Measure the right length of self pleater tape, plus a little extra to fold over the unfinished edges. This will make your header just shy of the width of the drape, and will keep the tape from showing when you look at your drapes from the front. Cut this header piece for each panel you are making.

Stitch the pleater tape onto your panel. Be sure to cover the row of stitches you closed the top with (about a quarter of an inch from the top). Stitch all 4 sides of the panel, be neat. Avoid the ends of the hook pockets. If you forget and sew the pockets closed, you can not install the hooks. Repeat this process for all additional panels.

Form your pinch pleats by gathering the header, making 3 pleats for 3 pronged hooks, or 2 pleats for double hooks. Now slide the hooks into the pockets. Skip a pocket or two between pleats as desired.

Now all that’s left for you to do is hang up your new pinch pleated drapes and enjoy!