Triple Pleat Drapery Compared to Pinch Pleat Drapery

Traditional red velvet theater curtains are made with classic pleating.

Pleated draperies consist of pinched, tented sections of fabric sewn together and located approximately 4 inches from the top hem of the panel. The top of each pleat forms an open cup shape, and the fabric falls loosely from the bottom of each pleat.

Triple Pinch Pleat

A triple-pleat drapery, also known as a "triple pinch-pleat," is characterized by three pinches of fabric sewn together to create one pleat section. Sections of pleats are separated by 3 to 5 inches of flat fabric. The fabric sections between the pleats allow the draperies to stack back, or open, on each side of the window.

Classic Pinch Pleat

A classic pinch pleat is also known as a "single pleat" or, generically, "pinch-pleat" drapery. According to Carol Spier, author of "Big Book of Window Treatments," standard pinch-pleat draperies have three pinches of fabric sewn together to create a single section of pleating. Technically, the definitions of "triple pleat" and "pinch pleat" are the same.

Further Terminology

The term "triple pleat" is sometimes used to refer to three sections of pleats sewn closely together. Curtains that have three groups of double pleats sewn an inch apart, followed by 5 inches of flat fabric and then another group of three double pleats could be called "triple-pleat" draperies. The loose term "pinch-pleat drapery" is also applied generically to refer to any pleat style, such as French, goblet or inverted pleats.

References

• "Big Book of Window Treatments"; Carol Spier and the editors of Sunset Books; 2006
• "Creative Window Treatments"; Elaine Perry, editor; 2000