How to Sew a Dior Pleat on Drapes
Sew a Dior pleat in your curtains to give them an added dimension. A Dior pleat is a single pleat on either side of your drapes. Make the pleat using a fabric that contrasts with the fabric of the draperies to make it stand out a little more. The one pleat you are making on the sides of the Dior pleat curtain is an inverted pinch pleat. Follow the same pleating instructions to pleat all the way across your drapes if desired. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Drapery fabric
- Lining fabric
- Contrasting fabric
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Iron
Instructions
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1
Measure the length of your windows down to where you want the curtains to hang. Add six inches to allow for the top casing and the bottom hem. Measure the width of your window.
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2
Cut the drapery fabric to the necessary lengths and widths. Cut the lining fabric the same width, but three inches shorter than the drapery fabric. Cut the contrasting fabric the same length of the drapery fabric and 12 inches wide.
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3
Iron the seams.
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4
Lay out the drapery fabric right side up. Top both sides with the contrasting fabric right side down. Match up all the raw edges and use pins to hold the fabric in place and sew all down the edge of the seam.
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5
Spread out the drapery panel with the right side down on a large, flat surface. Turn under the raw edges of the fabric at the bottom ½-inch and again another ½-inch. Use pins to hold the fabric and sew the hems in place.
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6
Hem the bottom of the lining fabric by following the same directions in Step 5.
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7
Place the lining on top of the drapery panel with right sides together. Sew across the main drapery fabric panel and the lining, but not the contrasting fabric. Flip the lining to the back of the drapery panel and iron the top seam.
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8
Stitch the lining fabric to the drapery fabric at the side seams where the contrasting fabric attaches to the drapery fabric.
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9
Pleat the contrasting fabric by folding it in half with the wrong sides together. Flatten the front fold, keeping the raw edges aligned in back. Sew across the top of the pleat to hold the fabric in place and press all the way down the length of the curtain to set the pleat.
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10
Repeat with the contrasting fabric on the other side of the curtain panel.
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11
Fold down the top edge of your curtain four inches. Hold the fabric in place with pins and sew straight across at 1½ inches and 3½ inches to allow for a two-inch wide drapery rod.
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Tips & Warnings
Make the perfect pleat by using pleat tape. Look for pleat tape in the drapery section of your local fabric store.
You can make Dior pleat drapes lined or unlined, but use a fairly heavy fabric that will hold the ironed pleat for the best results.
