How to Make Pleats for Curtains

Curtains provide shade and privacy to a home by covering windows. Making your own curtains can save you a lot of money. Recycling old material into curtains can also help the environment. Putting pleats into curtains is an easy but elegant effect for any window covering.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Curtains
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Measuring tape
• Straight pins

1. Stretch the curtain out over a flat surface. Smooth out any wrinkles in the curtain. You can iron the curtain or place it in a clothes dryer for a few minutes to remove wrinkles.

2. Measure 1 to 2 inches in from the edge of the curtain. The size of the pleats is up to you. They can be as small or large as you like them. Fold the fabric toward the edge at the point you measured. The amount you fold is the size of the pleat. Again, it can be as large or as small as you like it.

3. Pin the folded edge at the bottom of the curtain, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the top.

4. Fold the rest of the width of the curtain into pleats of the same size. Use the measuring tape to make sure that each pleat is the same size. Pin each pleat in the same manner as the first one.

5. Sew the pleats down with the sewing machine or needle and thread. Sew about 1/4 or 1/2 an inch from the top of the fabric and sew all the way across the top of the curtain.