pleating by design

[Karen]

Could not resist pleating by design with this bold floral print. Sanderson Lilia.

Interlined curtains and bespoke made to measure pole to match handles on kitchen and black/chrome Aga.

Its a rubbish shot and they looked better in reality.

[attachment=0:ld6w075m]DSC_0001.jpg[/attachment:ld6w075m]
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[suel]

Re: pleating by design

Very nice. I'm loving the black and white look that seems to be very popular at the moment.

Sue.

Its a good photo - all my portfolio photos seem to be ruined with the light coming in through the windows. The curtains almost always look black or a murky shade of grey!

[Karen]

Re: pleating by design

You need good lighting for interior photos to bring them to life. Its not easy to do the work justice.

[irichmond]

Re: pleating by design

Hi Karen

Curtains look lovely, pleating by design is something i have not tried yet, do's it take lots of working out? Are they working curtains, if they are was it easy to get the right width. I can't imagine it been straight forward getting the right size. The next fabric that comes my way that has a prominent design I will have a go. your curtains are a great example of how they should look.

Irene

[Karen]

Re: pleating by design

No it does not take a lot of working out but with curtains up to double width you usually need an extra drop most of which is trimmed away. I usually inform customers that if they want that look they will have to pay a bit extra.

Its easier to pleat by design in a lot of ways becasue you do not need to pin. You just take a note of where the pattern will be in the centre of the pleat. I do every second one then go back and fill in the missing ones. Its really easy but as I said you usually need extra fabric and usually a 1/4 drop more of lining and interlining. You need to work all this out before you cut.

[thecurtainmaker]

Re: pleating by design

Hi Irene,
As Karen says, you need to do your calculations before you start. Allow 10-12cm for each space and of course the return and overlap. Then on the fabric you will see the horizontal repeat of the pattern and how much you will have for each pleat. Add together the amounts for the spaces, pleats, return and overlap and make your flat curtain up to this size.

[irichmond]

Re: pleating by design

Thanks Karen and Pen, I will definitely have a go next time.

Regards

Irene

[Sharon]

Re: pleating by design

Curtains look great, good job Karen.
I havent done this yet, but will try it out when i get chance. I am making pinch pleat at the moment, first one is months, really had to get my head around them after having a break like that. it did evetually come flooding back thanks goodness.
thanks for posting the pics
sharon

[suel]

Re: pleating by design

Hi,

I have tried pleating to pattern on valances and also a stripe fabric where the client wanted narrow cartridge pleats and been very pleased with the results. I have tried to avoid it on curtains, mainy because a lot of fabrics are asymmetric, and also the returns and overlaps are not usually equal and therefore I have never been entirely sure that it would work.

Sue.

[enid]

Re: pleating by design

I personally think that it is one of those things that sometimes works, sometimes does not and one does not know why. I have just done it on request. It looks good but the finished ratio of pleats/spaces is not my choice, there is no space at the beginning or end of the pleats. These are dress curtains so it should not matter, but it does to me!!!!!!

Hey ho, I am doing what I have been asked.

Enid

[Karen]

Re: pleating by design

If you try to get eight pleats out of two widths you cannot. Because the pleats either end will not allow any space or return. Its just the way patterns are printed.

You usually get four repeats on a width but the first and last design will be near the edge. If you measure between each design you will usually come up with 34/35cm which is a quarter the width of the fabric ie 140cm . This allows a pleat of 20 and a space of 15cm which gives you the ideal curtain at 2.25 fullness. Normally with double width curtains you will need a half drop extra to the inside of the curtain. Some of the fabric is trimmed away at the leading edge and some will be trimmed away at the curtain return. On a double width curtain you should end up with eight pleats seven spaces a return and an overlap. Most probably your pleats will be around 20cm and the space around 15cm.

Sometimes the design is more complex and you will have the design repeated every 70cm. You can still pleat by design but you will have a different design in the centre of each alternate pleat.

[thecurtainmaker]

Re: pleating by design

If you find that the design on the leading or outside edge starts in the wrong place, then cut a strip off the fabric vertically so that you can have a return/overlap before the pleat with the design. Pleating by design often takes more fabric.

[esther]

Re: pleating by design

hi they are lovely i love the black back ground it makes the flower stand out well done.
esther

[Karen C]

Re: pleating by design

Beautiful - you should be proud.