How to Make Curtain Panels Into Pinch Pleat Curtains

Transforming old cutrains into pinch pleat curtains is both economical and creative.

Transforming one item into something new is resourceful, creative and inexpensive. It is also becoming trendy these days, as the socially chic put more emphasis on recycling. You can change the look of a room and give it a fresh new feel by taking curtain panels and making them into pinch-pleat curtains. Use a set of curtains you already have or buy a “new” set at a thrift shop or your favorite resale shop. Two panels of regular curtains will equal one panel of pinch pleat curtains.

Things You'll Need

• 2 matching sets (4 panels) of old curtains long enough to cover the intended Window
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Iron and ironing board
• Ruler
• Fabric marker
• Hand needle and thread

Instructions

1. Cut off the top of each curtain panel along the seam of the heading.

2. Lay the panels out on a flat surface, right side up. Cut off the left side hem of two panels and the right side hem of the other two panels.

3. Pin the cut sides of two panels together, right sides together. Pin the other two panels, right sides together, as well.

4. Machine stitch. Press the seams open.

5. Measure 6 1/2 inches from the top of each panel and draw a line with the fabric marker on the back side of the fabric.

6. Fold the top of each panel down 1/4 inch and press.

7. Fold the pressed edge of each panel over so that it meets the line you drew previously. Pin in place and press.

8. Hand stitch the top fold in place. Remove the pins as you go.

9. Measure the full width of the winder from the outside frames and divide by two. Each completed panel should be 1 to 2 inches wider than this number.

10. Mark each pleat on the back side of the fabric beginning with the center. Mark 1 inch in either direction from the center seam. Mark another inch in either direction from those marks. Including the center seam, you should have five marks, each 1 inch apart. These are the markings needed for one pleat.

    Measure 5 to 6 inches (depending on how far apart you want the pleats to be) out from each of the outer marks for the first pleat and mark the next pleats in the same way: five marks each 1 inch apart. Continue measuring outward in this manner until the full width of each panel is marked. You should have an even space at the outer edges of each panel approximately 1 to 3 inches wide.

11. Pinch the pleats and pin in place along the outside folds of each pleat. Each pleat is made by pinching along the center mark line toward the inside fabric and matching the second and fourth mark lines. Then pinch the fabric from those points to match the first and fifth mark lines. Place three pins evenly along the outside of each pleat.

12. Press the folds in each pleat.

13. Hand sew the bottom half of the inside of each pleat together. Remove the pins as you go.

References

• Home Furnishing: How to Make a Triple Pinch Pleat Heading
• Curtains Cheap: How to Make a Pinch-pleated Curtain in 10 Easy Steps

Resources

• Denver Fabrics: Curtain Window Treatments–Pleated Headers