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I'm making pinch pleated curtains Need a little help. I look and look and look on how to figure the spacing for the pleats and how many.
skae   Advanced MN USA Member since 4/23/07 Posts: 2746	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/11/12 9:38 PM I'm making some curtains for my son and daughter-law new home. They have One large living room window 120 wide and 54 long. In the passed I could never get the measurement to come out right. I looked on line and looked at my 'books. It's just a little confusing. I know some of you are more experience at this then I am. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------ Galatians 5:22-23 The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these
Baychel3   Intermediate MA USA Member since 1/21/10 Posts: 26	Login to reply to this post Like this post Subject: Im making pinch pleated curtains Need a little help. Date: 10/12/12 8:23 AM I'm sorry, but what is your question? If I'm making pinch pleated draperies, I usually go 2-1/2 to 3 times the width -- I can make really nice, deep pleats. For 54" length I would add -- double 4"hem = 8" + add another 8" for the header/casing, etc. 54 + 8 + 8 = 70" cut length. Hope this helps a little. I made some drapes for a friend who was living in a converted factory. His windows were gi-normous -- each panel was 4.5 YARDS long. Once lined, etc. they were very heavy and difficult to work with -- however, they were amazing once we got them done!! well worth the labor of love!! Good luck!
Miss Fairchild   Advanced USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 6999	Login to reply to this post In reply to skae << 1 member likes this. Date: 10/12/12 10:48 AM I'm going to copy what Baychel said. Measure 2.5 to three times the width (the fuller the width, the more pleats you can make). Every five to 8 inches, make a pleat about 1-1/2" deep (total takeup is 3"). You can also measure this out math-wise, but I'm not too good at that. I made pinch pleated drapes for my family room (four windows) and placed a piece of fabric about 6" long and 2.5 times the width on my window and used it to practice where I wanted the pleats and how deep I should make them. And old sheet is great for this, but you don't need all the length of window; just enough to work with. It works as a template. ------ "We don't impose our rhythm on Nature. The key is to respect and live within Her." Jean-Charles Boisset, Winemaker "And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit, and I'd like a refund" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln My Etsy shop: auntmaymesattic My blog: auntmaymesattic.wordpress.com Avatar: First place award for jacket at county fair
NhiHuynh   Advanced CA USA Member since 1/4/11 Posts: 593	Login to reply to this post Like this post Subject: Im making pinch pleated curtains Need a little help. Date: 10/12/12 1:55 PM At Joann's in the home dec department there is this strip you can sew onto your curtain to get the pleated perfectly pleated and spaces. There's a string in the middle that you pull and everything cinches up. You do have to plan so your pleats start and end so it looks pleasing.
B Intermediate MN USA Member since 12/5/03 Posts: 626	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/12/12 2:21 PM Just Google "how to make pinch pleated drapes" and you will get both tutorials and videos on You Tube. Sorry I didn't check them out. I used to make these drapes a lot (moved a lot as a military spouse) but can't remember details any more. There are also books available on the subject and I think that is where I got some basic information. As mentioned, if you want to spend a bit, the pleating tape is also an option. ------ Janome serger 634D, Brother PC6000, Singer 500A & 328K, Bernina 600, White Rotary treadle, New Homestead A VS treadle
Susan obsessive sewing   Advanced AB CANADA Member since 10/5/03 Posts: 54	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/12/12 4:12 PM I have not had great success with pinch pleat tape, i find it does n,t give a smart clean pleat, I prefer handpleating with buckram. I use a book by Merrick and Day "Blinds, curtains and cushions" for my curtain making and roman blinds, really really good.
clt3 Intermediate OH USA Member since 2/6/06 Posts: 770	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/12/12 4:21 PM Calculating the pleats works better than the tape because it's easier to adjust. There is a table in the Singer book "Sewing for the Home". I've used it more than once and it works perfectly. I'm not home now, but I have a scan of the page if you need it. If you are making 2 panels that draw from the middle, I'd use 3 widths of 54" wide fabric for each panel. -- Edited on 10/12/12 4:23 PM -- ------ Singer 66-16. Singer 600e, Kenmore 158.1913 , Viking 1100, Brother 4000D, Brother Quattro, Bernina 930, White 634DE, Babylock Evolve, 2 Featherweights ,Pfaff Creative Performance,Janome Coverpro 1000CPX
M.S. Intermediate Member since 3/6/09 Posts: 1140	Login to reply to this post In reply to skae << Like this post Date: 10/12/12 4:50 PM You need 5 or 6 widths, total, for the window x 70" cuts.....this is assuming no pattern repeat. So, 10-12 yds, depending on how full you want them. Or, are you already to the point of figuring pleats and spaces? Tell me the size of your returns (space from rod to wall,) amount of space to cover (rod length,) and amount of fabric to pleat up & I can help. Usually, there are 5 to 6 pleats per width of fabric. ------ Pfaff 138-6 Brother PQ1500S Necchi 4795 US Blindstitch 718-9 Kenmore 16644 Janome CoverPro 1000 Singer 201-2
skae   Advanced MN USA Member since 4/23/07 Posts: 2746	Login to reply to this post In reply to clt3 << Like this post Date: 10/12/12 7:02 PM Yes that would help. I have figured i need 4 panels. for each side and 64 long. I think I will have to make 13 pleats I think. I just been calulating with differen't figures from differen't companys. I also watch the youtube videos. It just isn't what I'm looking for I want the real know how to do thing. My curtain material is 43 inches wide. thanks to all who gave me good information. ------ Galatians 5:22-23 The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these
clt3 Intermediate OH USA Member since 2/6/06 Posts: 770	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/12/12 8:54 PM Ok, first you need the finished drapery width. Measure the width of the rod and add the returns(how far the rod projects from the wall) and add 3 1/2" for the overlap. Take that number and divide by 2 to get the finished panel width. Now the Singer book says to figure 6 pleats for 54" wide fabric and 5 pleats for 48" so I would figure 4 pleats for your 43" wide fabric. So 4 widths of fabric times 4 pleats is a total of 16 pleats. The number of spaces is one less than the number of pleats - so you would have 15 spaces. Now take your finished panel width (that you figure above) subtract your overlap (3 1/2") and returns. Divide that number by the number of spaces which is 15. That number gives you your distance between pleats. Now onto the pleats. How wide is your finished , hemmed panel after you sew your 4 widths together. Take that number and subtract your finished panel width from above. That's the amount that needs to be taken up by the pleats. Divide that number by the total of 16 pleats. That will give you how deep each pleat is. If it's hard for you, just tell me the numbers and I'll figure it for you. Like I said, I've done more than a few. Also helpful to have a math degree! ------ Singer 66-16. Singer 600e, Kenmore 158.1913 , Viking 1100, Brother 4000D, Brother Quattro, Bernina 930, White 634DE, Babylock Evolve, 2 Featherweights ,Pfaff Creative Performance,Janome Coverpro 1000CPX

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