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From: Ashley
Date: 11-04-2003, 10:13 PM (1 of 6)
| I would like to make a pair of silk, French (pinched) pleat panel curtains. How do I actually pleat the material, and does anyone know of a good pattern I can use? Also, how much would you charge if you were to make these for someone else, with them buying their own material? Thanks! |
User: Ashley
Member since: 11-04-2003 Total posts: 1 |
From: MaryW
Date: 11-05-2003, 07:36 AM (2 of 6)
Hi Ashley and welcome to Sew Whats New.  If you go into any drapery fabric store, they will show you the heading and hooks that create the french pleat. The heading is a stiff, wide strip that is sewn flat to the top of the drape, then the hooks are placed in the proper spaces. This creates your french pleat. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: Vicki
Date: 02-01-2004, 12:44 AM (3 of 6)
|
Please, please do not use pleater tape in French pleated draperies!!!!! Way too much stitching on delicate fabric! Silk drapery must be lined and interlined or the sun will rot them right off your windows in no time!! If you have not made pleated drapery before, this is probably not the place to start! Learn on some nice cotton and work your way up. |
User: Vicki
Member since: 11-20-2001 Total posts: 9 |
From: weB2cats
Date: 04-12-2004, 08:46 PM (4 of 6)
|
At the fabric store the other day, I saw that there is a band that can be sewn to the back of the finished top of the drape. There are 3 strings attached that are then pulled til the pleat is pinched. I have never made drapes but this seemed like a great idea. Has anyone out there made drapes this way? I can't believe the price of drapes! And the fabrics are not very interesting in the lower price ranges. It's so depressing. |
User: weB2cats
Member since: 11-07-2002 Total posts: 232 |
From: bren
Date: 04-13-2004, 05:18 AM (5 of 6)
I have seen that used ... it is easy to use ... look's great... that's how I will be making my next pair... 
Bren:
Don't let anyone ...Live Rent Free In Your Head |
User: bren
Member since: 11-30-2002 Total posts: 489 
|
From: paroper
Date: 04-13-2004, 10:36 AM (6 of 6)
|
If you want to hand pleat your draperies, go to your local library and check out a book. There should be several available there. They will explain how much fabric to allow, how deep your pleats should be and how far apart they should be. You will also be able to get solid information about how deep the hems and headers in the drapery should be to hang better; it is suprising how much extra length is hidden in drapes. (Don't forget to add the weights to the bottom corners so they will hang well.) I really enjoy hand pleating them and it is not that difficult. If you want to use pleating aids, then there are a lot of things available in the fabric stores. Regardless, you will still need a good stiff interfacing to go in the header. I don't know how much to tell you to charge...but it is PLENTY. You might call another drapery person in and just price them through those people to get an idea how much they are going for in your area. I was amazed how much a simple set of swags was going for in our area.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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