Smocked heading

[Louise]

Has anyone used the Rufflette smocked heading tape? A customer seems keen on a smocked heading and I'm not sure I can face making it by hand.........

[nic]

Re: Smocked heading

Yes, it's awful. Not deep enough, and a right fiddle to draw up properly. Much better to use pencil pleat and then smock it.I was so looking forward to my silk smocked bedroom curtains, and I was never happy with them.

[Louise]

Re: Smocked heading

Thanks - that's an interesting suggestion - I guess the handmade smocking stitches create the effect rather than the tape itself. Am I right in thinking this is only really suitable for a fixed-type heading?

[nic]

Re: Smocked heading

Mine weren't fixed heading, but didn't look good open or closed. Better hung from a pole perhaps, if working curtains. Since I haven't been successful with them, you'd better wait for someone else!!
Most of the pictures I've seen are fixed, come to think of it, but that might be to show the heading off. Would opening and closing put a strain on the smocking?

[Schuhby]

Re: Smocked heading

Irene used normal pencil pleat tape for her smocked heading, Louise with fantastic results..

Philip

[Louise]

Re: Smocked heading

thanks for that - looks really nice!

[Schuhby]

Re: Smocked heading

I'd only use smock headings for valances and fixed heading such as Italian string.

Philip

[nic]

Re: Smocked heading

I knew I'd seen something authorative about this, just could'nt remember where. The wisdom from my books is that the curtains won't stack back properly, but I think that from a pole, with careful hook placement, they might. I'm shooting the breeze here, I know,but I can't see why not.

[Karen]

Re: Smocked heading

YOu can also hand pleat and then stitch onto buckram. Takes ages but the result is brilliant.

[thecurtainmaker]

Re: Smocked heading

I've hand pleated an interlined valance - didn't use buckram as well. It takes a verrrry long time, but looked good. I would say that this type of heading is for fixed curtains/valances only.