How to Widen Pleated Drapes

If you love the fabric and style of your pleated drapes but find they are not quite wide enough, you can do something about it. You can widen the drapes yourself to save money. It can be quite costly to have drapes professionally altered.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Meter stick
• Fabric marking pen
• Sharp scissors
• Common pins
• Needle and thread or sewing machine

1. Choose a fabric the same thickness as the pleated drapes. Using a thinner or thicker fabric may look awkward. The fabric does not have to match the drapes exactly, but it should blend well with the colors and pattern of the drapes. Use a meter stick to measure the length of your drapes. Add 3 inches to that number. This is how long to cut the fabric. Decide how much wider you'd like the drapes to be. For drapes that are 3 feet wider, you'll want to cut 2 strips of fabric that are alike, each 1 1/2 inches wide. Use the straight edge of the meter stick and a fabric marking pen to make your cut lines.

2. Lay your pleated drapes on a flat work surface, pattern side down. Lay the first strip along the left edge of the drape, pattern side down, leaving 2 1/2 inches sticking up at the top edge of the drape itself. Make sure the edges are straight. One-half inch of fabric will go past the bottom edge of the drape. Fold the edge up 1/2 inch, and secure it with common pins. Fold the far left side of the fabric to the right 1/2 inch. Secure with common pins. On the right side, where the new fabric meets the fabric of the drape, gently grasp the two fabrics together, starting at the top edge of the drape and working your way down, securing with common pins 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabrics.The top 2 1/2 inches will remain unpinned for now.

3. Use a sewing machine or a needle and matching colored thread to stitch each seam. Stitching twice helps add strength and durability. Remove all pins when you are finished sewing, making sure not to miss any. Follow the same steps on the opposite side of the pleated drape.

4. Fold the top edge of each side of the new fabric down 1/2 inch, pin and sew. Remove the pins. Fold another 2 inches to create the pocket that your curtain rod will slip through. Pin along the bottom of the fold, 1/4 inch up from the edge of the fabric so enough space is allowed in the pocket for the rod to fit through. Stitch twice. Remove all pins.

5. Turn the newly expanded pleated drapes over so that the pattern side faces you. Inspect them carefully. Insert the curtain rod back into the drapes and hang them. The drapes will be 3 inches wider than they were before, with a new enhanced look. Arrange and pleat according to your taste.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the time to measure carefully.
• Use care and caution when using sharp scissors and a sewing machine.