How to Sew Pleated Drapes

Pleated drapes work with nearly every decorating style.

Pleated drapes are classic window coverings that work with virtually all decorating styles. Professionally made draperies can be very expensive, but you can make your own for less money and get exactly what you want for your room. It is important to choose a heavy fabric and use drapery lining so that your drapes hang properly, but the style of fabric--pattern, solid, stripe or print--is entirely up to you.

Things You'll Need

• Drapery fabric
• Lining fabric
• Heavy-duty interfacing
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Pins
• Tailors' chalk or nonpermanent fabric pen
• Drapery hooks
• Drapery rods and hardware

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your window and the length you desire for your drape, perhaps from the top of the frame to the bottom of the sill or to the floor, or even from the ceiling to the floor.

2. Cut your fabric by your length measurement plus 6 inches for top and bottom hems. Your drapery panel should be three times the width of your window, so you may have to cut multiple pieces of your fabric and sew them together to achieve that width.

3. Cut your lining fabric so that it is 2 inches smaller than your drapery fabric on all sides and stitch lining pieces together as needed.

4. Lay your lining fabric on the wrong side of your drapery fabric so that 2 inches of fabric are showing on all sides. Turn under and pin a 3-inch hem on the sides, catching the lining in the hem. Stitch hems using your sewing machine. Turn up one-half inch on the bottom of the lining and stitch the hem by machine. Turn up the bottom 3-inch hem of the drape and hand stitch the hem beneath the lining.

5. Insert a strip of heavy interfacing in the top 3-inch hem and stitch hem closed. The interfacing will give your pleats the stiffness they need to stand straight when hung from the drapery rod.

6. Mark pleats evenly across the top of your drape on the back side using tailor's chalk or fabric pen. It is best to mark the center pleat first, followed by the pleats on the end of each side. Then mark the rest of the pleats at 6-inch intervals.

7. Make your pleats by making a 5-inch fold in your your fabric at the marking. Stitch from the top along the pleat line about 4 inches. Refold your pleat into three smaller folds. All three folds should face out and be approximately 1 inch deep. Using needle and thread, stitch the base of the pleat together by hand and catch the inner folds together at the top.

8. Install your drapery rod above your window. To hang your curtain, carefully insert a drapery hook into the back of each pleat. Hang the hooks from the rod according to manufacturer's instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Pleating tape, available at your fabric store, may also be used to make pleats.

References

• "Laura Ashley Complete Guide to Home Decorating"; Charyn Jones; 1989

Resources

• Do it Yourself: 5 Types of Pleated Draperies