How to Hang Pinch Pleated Draperies

Pinch pleated drapes are those with gathers of two or three folds connected together. The difficulty with hanging pinch pleated draperies lies in the fact that there's usually so much fabric and it's often lying right on top of your head and blocking your line of vision. When you hang pinch-pleated draperies, you often need a second set of hands to help with the process. If you're living alone and have no friends close by, you can still accomplish the task, but it's a little more difficult.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hooks Traverse rod already in place Draperies Coffee and a friend (optional)

1. Brew a pot of coffee and call a neighbor. It is a great help if you have an additional person. While you wait for your company, iron the draperies.

2. Spread a clean sheet on the floor in front of the window where the draperies eventually hang and lay the drapery lining side down on the floor with the bottom extended. If your draperies have no lining, then place the wrong side, the side the outside world sees, face down.

3. Fold the top of the draperies back so the backs of the pleats show. Start inserting the hooks into the opening. Most hooks accommodate three pleats but usable when you have only two. If you have three pleats, put one prong in each pocket for the pleat, and slide it up so only the hook shows.

4. Adjust the hooks so they're all at the same height. This keeps the drapes level and avoids sags when you hang them.

5. Check on the coffee and answer the door. If you don't have company coming, have a cup anyhow before you start to hang them. This is the most frustrating part of draperies. When your break is through, get a step stool or stepladder. The stepladder is best since you can work in a more natural position without continuously raising your arms above your head. Turn the top of the drape back to face the floor and accordion one drape together. As you do, be aware of keeping the folds at the pleats.

6. Pull the cord on the traverse rod to pull the slides into open position. Pick up the draperies. Hold the drapery at the pleat area and make sure that the hook on each end is easily accessible. Slide the end hook in the hole at the far end of the rod and the other end hook on the first hole if you're by yourself. Put a couple of the in between hooks on the slides. It doesn't matter where you put them on this step, since they're just to keep the middle section up while you hang the rest of the hooks. You'll remove them as you come to them.

7. Set a step stool out for your friend if you have one helping you and skip Step 6. Have the friend stand on the step stool in the center where the traverse meets. Start at the end and insert the hooks into the holes of the slides until you come to the end of the traverse. You may have to move your stepladder as you go toward the center when you hang the draperies on the traverse rod this way.