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Step 9b: Form the Hand Pleats
Printable Worksheet
FORM THE DOUBLE (PINCH) PLEATS
- Lay the curtain down, right side facing up.
- Hold the pleat flap up.
- Push the centre of the pleat flap down so it touches the sewn in line at the back, causing the sides of the pleat to spread outwards.
- Bring the two sides up together to meet.
- Pinch the bottom of the pleat (at the bottom of the buckram)
- Sew the pinch in place, under the buckram.
- At the top of the pleat sew the pushed down centre to the back of the pleat.
- Repeat for each pleat.
This video shows you
- How to fold a double pleat
- How to pinch and stitch the bottom of the pleat
- How to stitch the top of the pleat
- How to start and finish your stitches
FORM THE TRIPLE PLEATS
- Lay the curtain down, right side facing up.
- Hold the pleat flap up.
- Push the centre of the pleat flap down so the sides of the pleat start to spread outwards either side.
- Continue pushing down until the flaps spreading outwards either side are the same size as the flap you are holding vertically
- With the vertical flap touching the back of the pleat, pull the 2 sides up along side, so all 3 folds are the same height
- Stitch all 3 folds together at the base of the buckram.
- At the top of the pleat either side of the middle fold, stitch the V pinch point to the curtain heading behind.
- Repeat for each pleat.
This video shows you
- How to fold a triple pleat
- How to pinch and stitch the bottom of the pleat
- How to stitch the top of the pleat
- How to start and finish your stitches so you cant see them
FORM THE GOBLET PLEATS
- Lay the curtain down, right side facing up.
- Put a stitch 0.5cm either side of the centre of the pleat at the top of the curtain to help hold the shape of the pleat.
- At the base of the buckram push the centre of the pleat flap down so it touches the sewn in line at the back, causing the sides of the pleat to spread outwards.
- Pinch and pull up the middle slightly just below the buckram.
- Pull the 2 sides up along side, so all 3 folds are the same height
- Stitch all 3 folds together at the base of the buckram.
- Roll a length of buckram and insert into the pleat fold to hold it in a cylindrical shape.
- Stuff the pleat with wadding
- Make a top cap by ironing a piece of fabric onto some fusible buckram and cutting a disc to insert into the top of the pleat.
- Repeat for each pleat.
This video shows you
- How to fold a goblet pleat
- How to pinch and stitch the bottom of the pleat
- How to stitch the top of the pleat
- How to stuff and shape the goblet pleat
- How to make a top cap
- Where to stitch the top
- How to start and finish your stitches so you cant see them
FORM THE CARTRIDGE PLEATS
- Lay the curtain down, right side facing up.
- Put a stitch 0.5cm either side of the centre of the pleat at the top of the curtain to help hold the shape of the pleat.
- Roll a length of buckram and insert into the pleat fold to hold it in a cylindrical shape.
- Stuff the pleat with wadding
- Make a top cap by ironing a piece of fabric onto some fusible buckram and cutting a disc to insert into the top of the pleat.
- Repeat for each pleat.
This video shows you
- How to form a cartridge pleat
- How to stitch the top of the cartridge pleat
- How to stuff and shape the cartridget pleat
- How to make a top cap
- Where to stitch the top
- How to start and finish your stitches
Your Questions & Comments
Hi, loving your incredibly helpful tutorial.
I'm making quite heavy interlined curtains for a draughty bay window. Because of the sheer weight of the total fabric, the price and the work involved, i've gone for quite a low fullness ratio - it'll be 1.6 or 1.7 ish. I'm wondering what kind of pleat would be best under these circumstances. Or would it be best to use heading tape? Have you got any advice? Thanks!
With a Tab top or eyelet heading you can get away with a less fullness, but this wont work in a bay.
Pencil pleat (heading tape) does not look good if the fullness ratio is less than 2.2.
Hand pleated -the pleats will be small and the gaps large with that fullness ratio. Interlined curtains due to their bulk do not make up well with small dainty pleats.
We would not make up with those fullness ratios. We think you need more fabric. When cost is an issue we always recommend going for a cheaper fabric but making up well. We never skimp on the fullness of fabric.
Thank you so much for your great tutorials. Are you using a walking foot when you sew the pleats?
Yes I am in the videos, you don't have to use one, but it does help with slippage between the layers.
Should the return and the leading edge always be the same amount?
My pole length is 360cm do you still recommend 8 cm for this length of pole?
Thank you
That’s how we do it , you can vary it but the longer you make them the flappier they get.
(obviously if you are returning your curtain to the wall the return may be different)
Please can you clarify..does my first pleat start at 8cm (LE) in from the edge of the curtain panel or at my calculated space size (14.4cm)? Thank you
Yes the there will be the LE then a pleat, gap, pleat, gap, pleat etc to the last pleat, then the RETURN.
When you are making a pair make sure you get your LE and RETURN on the correct side of each curtain if the are not the same figure.