How to Make a French Pleated Curtain

French pleated curtains are also referred to as pinch pleated curtains. The process for making French pleated curtains is not difficult. Beautiful French pleated curtains will add a professional decorative touch to your home, and making them yourself will save you a great deal of money over buying them commercially. Measuring your windows to get the proper fit and calculating the amount of fabric are both crucial, even before you start sewing.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Traverse rod
• Wall anchors
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Fabric
• Buckram
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins
• Iron
• Drapery hooks

Instructions

1. Install the traverse rod on the window to get the most accurate measurement for your French pleated curtains. Measure from the ceiling down to wherever the top of the traverse rod will be and mark on the wall with a pencil. When installing the traverse rod into drywall, use wall anchors. Drill the proper size hole in the drywall and insert the anchor. Attach the traverse rod with screws into the anchors.

2. Measure from the top of the traverse rod to the level you wish the bottom of the French pleated curtain to end. French pleated curtains normally come to the bottom of the windowsill or 1 inch above the floor. Add 14 inches to the length measurement to determine what length to cut each width of fabric to. Measure the width of the traverse rod across the face of the rod. To this measurement, add four inches for the overlap of the curtains in the center plus whatever the projection of the rod bracket comes out from the wall. This will equal the total width the pair of French pleated curtains will be when finished. Multiply the total width measurement by 2 1/2 to give generous fullness to the curtains.

3. Calculate the yardage required by multiplying the total numbers of widths of fabric by the cut length. For example, five widths of fabric times a total cut length of 100 inches equals 500 inches, divided by 36 inches per yard, equals 13.8 yards of fabric. Always round up to the next yard so the example would require 14 yards of fabric. If the fabric has a pattern that must be matched, you will need extra fabric. The sales clerk at the fabric store can assist you to determine the yardage required in this instance. Purchase buckram (stiffening for the top of the French pleated curtains) that equals the total width of the fabric lengths added together. If using five widths of 45 inch fabric, this requires 7 yards of buckram. Purchase thread that matches the fabric.

4. Cut the fabric into the predetermined lengths. Note that if the number of widths required is an uneven number, one width of fabric will need to split in half lengthwise. Sew the widths of fabric for each side together. If using a split width, it is to be sewn to the outside of each half of the curtains so that the split width will be on the wall side of the window.

5. Fold the side hems on each half of the pair of French pleated curtains at 1 1/2 inches, fold again, pin and sew. Fold the bottom hems of each half of the pair up 4 inches and press. Fold up 4 inches again, pin and sew. Hand stitch the ends of the hem together at the side hems. Lay one half of the pair to the left of the sewing machine, wrong side down. Slide the edge of the buckram under the fabric 1/2 inch and stitch across the top. Hold the fabric and buckram smooth, do not allow to pucker. Fold the buckram to the wrong side of the fabric and pin in place. Press lightly, do not use steam. Steam may cause the buckram to crinkle.

6. Measure the face of the traverse rod, and add 4 inches for overlap. Measure from the wall to the front of the traverse rod, this normally 3 or 4 inches. Example face of rod equals 48 inches plus 4 inches for center overlap, plus 8 inches for rod projection, equals 60 inches, divided by 2 equals 30 inches. This is what half of the pair of curtains will be when pleated. Figure five pleats for each full width of fabric and two pleats for each 1/2 width.

7. Lay half of the pair of curtains face down on a flat surface with the buckram end toward you. Measure 3 inches from the center and mark with a pin. Measure 5 inches and mark with a pin, this is the first pleat. Measure whatever the spaces calculated to and mark with a pin. Continue across until all pleats and spaces are marker. Pin the pleats together and check for measurement. If the curtains is too narrow, adjust to make the pleat narrower or make pleat wider if it is too narrow.

8. Bring the pins that mark the pleats together and sew from the top of the buckram to the bottom of the buckram on the right side of the curtain. Sew all pleats and check for measurement. If the measurement is good go to the next step. If not, make any needed adjustments in the amount of fabric used in the pleats.

9. Lay the curtain face up with the buckram end toward you. Grasp the center of the sewn pleat and push down toward the curtain. A fold will form on each side of the center section. Fold these side folds up to match the fold in your hand. Tack at the bottom of the pleat with a needle and thread sewing through all three sections. Continue until all pleats are tacked.

10. Insert the drapery pins into the back seam of each pleat at the bottom of the buckram. Install on the drapery rod, by hooking into the carriers on the traverse rod and around the end of rod to the wall.

References

• YouTube: Sewing Instruction for Pleats