How to Make Cartridge Pleat Drapes

Make cartridge pleat drapes from luxurious or simple fabrics.

Cartridge pleat drapes feature tailored, round tubular pleats or folds. These draperies deliver a sleek and sophisticated look. They are perfect in formal and informal settings, depending on the type of fabric used. Silk or velvet cartridge pleat drapes enhance a living or dining room and a heavy cotton fabric is perfect for den or family room draperies. Use pleating tape to make this sewing project a snap, delivering a contemporary alternative to traditionally pleated draperies.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Drapery fabric
• Lining fabric, white or off white
• Tape measure
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Needle
• Iron
• Cartridge pleating tape
• 2-prong drapery hooks

1. Determine fabric yardage for two drapery panels. Measure the height from the drapery rod to the bottom of the window or the floor, adding 4 inches for hems. Multiply the window width by 2 and add 4 inches for the side hems. Divide the width in half for two panels.

2. Use the same measurements for the drapery fabric lining yardage, but without adding 4 inches to the length.

3. Pin the wrong side of the lining to the wrong side of the top of the curtain fabric. Sew the fabrics together with a straight stitch 1/4-inch from the edge. Fold the curtain fabric 2-inches from the seam line on the right side and press to create a top inside margin of curtain fabric above the lining.

4. Sew the bottom curtain panel and lining hems by turning the fabric under 1 inch twice, pinning and machine stitching 1/4-inch from the edge.

5. Pin the cartridge pleating tape to the top inside of the curtain panel. Attach the tape with a line of stitching at the top and bottom edges, 1/4-inch from the edges.

6. Sew the curtain panel side hems by folding the curtain fabric over the lining, pinning, and hand stitching.

7. Pull the cartridge pleating tape blind cord to create the pleats.

8. Insert the drapery hooks in the pleats, hook side facing outward, to fit over the curtain rod.

References

• Leslie Cunningham; Professional Drapery Maker; Oakland, Michigan
• Drapery Sewing Supplies – How To Use Our Pleating Tape and Drapery Hooks