Styles of Curtains
The most popular curtains have a pencil pleat heading usually with a 7.
5 cm wide heading tape with three rows of woven pockets that allows for adjustment in height when hung.
The heading tape has three draw cords running the length of the tape.
The cords are pulled up to create the pencil pleat effect and should be knotted at both ends before gathering the tape.
A more softly gathered look will be achieved if the cords are pulled less.
Ideally, the cords should never be cut, as it is necessary to untie them and flatten out the gathers for cleaning.
Pinch pleated or French pleated curtains have a slightly more sophisticated look with evening spaced triple pleats across the width of the heading.
Because of the pleat and gap arrangement the curtains will fold back neatly and hang better than standard pencil pleat curtains, with gathers and neat pleats that are uniform.
Also, because pinch pleated curtains fold back so neatly and "tighter" than pencil pleated curtains they are ideally suited to windows where the fabric needs to be as far as possible from the glass to allow more natural light in.
Therefore pinch pleat curtains work well for bay windows, patio or French windows allowing more light in and not obstructing the view.
To add to the luxurious look trims can be added to French pleat curtains such as contrasting buttons, tassels or braid.
Goblet pleated curtains as the name suggests have tubular foam or metal fasteners which create a goblet effect at the same regular intervals as the French pleated curtains.
These fastenings or foam tubes should be kept in place when the curtain is hanging, but removed for cleaning.
Like French pleated curtains goblet pleated curtains create a very sophisticated heading and hang to the curtains and trims either buttons, tassels or braid can be added for that finishing touch.
Tab headed curtains are hung from a pole by evenly spaced fabric tabs.
The first and last tabs on each curtain are positioned at the edges of the curtain.
The width and length of the tabs can vary according to the width of the curtains and the size of the pole from which they will hang.
The tabs are made from the same fabric as the curtain and the pole will need to extend at least 30cms either side of window, due to width of tabs.
The pole will also need to be fitted at least 15cms above the window, due to the length of tabs.
Eyelet heading curtains have an even number of metal rimmed eyelets regularly spaced across the width of the curtains.
The spaces between the edges of the first/last eyelet and the edge of the curtain are generally half of that of subsequent eyelets.
There should be a gap or around 4cm between the inner edge at the top of the eyelet and the top edge of the curtain.
Eyelets are available in a choice of colours and sizes.
The curtain is threaded onto a suitable pole, concertina fashion, with the edges of the curtain facing the wall.
This ensures that the lining is not visible when the curtains are hanging.
The even eyelet spacing gives equal folds of fabric in front and behind the pole.
5 cm wide heading tape with three rows of woven pockets that allows for adjustment in height when hung.
The heading tape has three draw cords running the length of the tape.
The cords are pulled up to create the pencil pleat effect and should be knotted at both ends before gathering the tape.
A more softly gathered look will be achieved if the cords are pulled less.
Ideally, the cords should never be cut, as it is necessary to untie them and flatten out the gathers for cleaning.
Pinch pleated or French pleated curtains have a slightly more sophisticated look with evening spaced triple pleats across the width of the heading.
Because of the pleat and gap arrangement the curtains will fold back neatly and hang better than standard pencil pleat curtains, with gathers and neat pleats that are uniform.
Also, because pinch pleated curtains fold back so neatly and "tighter" than pencil pleated curtains they are ideally suited to windows where the fabric needs to be as far as possible from the glass to allow more natural light in.
Therefore pinch pleat curtains work well for bay windows, patio or French windows allowing more light in and not obstructing the view.
To add to the luxurious look trims can be added to French pleat curtains such as contrasting buttons, tassels or braid.
Goblet pleated curtains as the name suggests have tubular foam or metal fasteners which create a goblet effect at the same regular intervals as the French pleated curtains.
These fastenings or foam tubes should be kept in place when the curtain is hanging, but removed for cleaning.
Like French pleated curtains goblet pleated curtains create a very sophisticated heading and hang to the curtains and trims either buttons, tassels or braid can be added for that finishing touch.
Tab headed curtains are hung from a pole by evenly spaced fabric tabs.
The first and last tabs on each curtain are positioned at the edges of the curtain.
The width and length of the tabs can vary according to the width of the curtains and the size of the pole from which they will hang.
The tabs are made from the same fabric as the curtain and the pole will need to extend at least 30cms either side of window, due to width of tabs.
The pole will also need to be fitted at least 15cms above the window, due to the length of tabs.
Eyelet heading curtains have an even number of metal rimmed eyelets regularly spaced across the width of the curtains.
The spaces between the edges of the first/last eyelet and the edge of the curtain are generally half of that of subsequent eyelets.
There should be a gap or around 4cm between the inner edge at the top of the eyelet and the top edge of the curtain.
Eyelets are available in a choice of colours and sizes.
The curtain is threaded onto a suitable pole, concertina fashion, with the edges of the curtain facing the wall.
This ensures that the lining is not visible when the curtains are hanging.
The even eyelet spacing gives equal folds of fabric in front and behind the pole.
