How to Make Pinch-Pleated Draperies

Pinch-pleated draperies are a beautiful addition to any window treatment. You can use pinch-pleated drapes made of heavy thermal fabric for a privacy curtain behind your curtains or draperies. If installed on a drapery rod, you can easily open and close pinch-pleated draperies or privacy curtains. They do take time to make, but by making them yourself you can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Tape measure
• Straight pins
• Steam iron
• Buckram

Instructions

1. Measure and cut your fabric so that you have three times the width of the window opening plus 5 inches for side hems. For length, you will need the length desired plus 4 1/2 inches for the bottom and 4 inches for the header, which will use 4-inch buckram.

2. Hem sides by folding 1 1/4 inches doubled on each side, then steam press and blind stitch. Straight pin every 8 to 12 inches when stitching to keep fabric from stretching.

3. Hem the bottom by folding down to the wrong side of the fabric 1/2 inch. Steam press, and fold 4 inches to the wrong side of the fabric, steam and blind stitch.

4. Zig-zag or serge the buckram -- a stiff fabric that is used to create crisp pleats and reinforce the heading -- to the top on the inside of the panel. Fold down to the wrong side of the fabric. Steam press well. Baste stitch to hold it in place.

5. Mark your pleats, which will require you to alternate marks of 3 and 6 inches all across the top. Do this with long straight pins. Begin with the 3-inch space and end with a 3-inch space. If you have misjudged your measurements, take the slack or overage up in the 6-inch spaces.

6. Bring the pins together so that the 6-inch markings are folded to the outside. This will leave 3 inches between each pleat. Stitch from the top of the panel to the bottom of the buckram on the outside of the panel. This will leave a 3-inch fold of fabric facing outward. After you have stitched all of the 6-inch spaces, it is time to make the pleat.

7. Pinch an accordion pleat in the fabric, holding the 6-inch section. Each fold is 1 inch. Tack each down at the bottom and center of the pleat. Do this by using a long stitch back and forth several times.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice on a cheaper piece of fabric before tackling an expensive piece of drapery fabric.

• You will need a lot of room to measure out your fabric correctly.

• A ping pong table is a great working space for drapery making.

• If you are using a washable fabric make sure your buckram is also washable and won't shrink.

References

• The Curtain Studio Babble: Measuring for Pinch Pleated Draperies