How to make a pencil pleat heading

The best hanging method for your pencil pleat heading is a decorative curtain pole or curtain track using drapery hooks.

Pencil pleat is probably the best known and most widely used heading for curtains. The deep, crisp pleats are drawn up tightly to an even, neat form. Pencil pleat is a safe choice. It always look right, whether your furnishings are traditional, contemporary or casual.

Pencil pleat heading tape normally has at least 2 rows of pockets, either of which can be used to suspend your curtain hooks. This means that you can use any type of curtain track depending upon whether you wish to hide the tracking system or not. The tape is available in various widths. We recommend using the deepest width - about 15cm for full length curtains where the heading will be exposed and not hidden behind a pelmet. The deep pleats you will create using this heading tape will look wonderful.

Purchase enough pencil pleat heading tape to fit the flat width of both curtains, allowing a little extra for tucking in raw edges.

First of all, you need to make up your curtains. Refer to our section "how to calculate fabric amounts for curtain making" to ensure you make up curtains using the correct amount of fabric needed for a pencil pinch pleat heading.

Choose to make either lined or unlined curtains as you prefer - according to our guide "how to make lined curtains" or "how to make unlined curtains".

Pin and tack the pencil pleat heading tape firmly in place across the top of each curtain, about 3mm from the top edge of the fabric.

Turn the ends of tape under to hide the raw edges before you start sewing. Carefully release the three cords of the tape, and knot them together so they don't slip back inside the tape while you are pulling on the other end.

Make one line of stitching across the top of the tape, and another line across the bottom of the tape. Always sew in the same direction to avoid puckering of the fabric.

Vertically stitch and close each end of the heading tape close to the inside edge of the curtain. Ensure that the heading tape cords are exposed first and that the raw ends are tucked under.

Carefully, starting pulling evenly on the cords at one end, to gather up the heading tape. This can take time, especially for very wide curtains. You continually must push the pleats across the top of the heading as evenly as possible as you pull the cords. Change ends and draw up the cords from the other side of the curtain as well.

Create deep, even pleats across the entire curtain top by pulling the cords alternatively from either end of the heading tape. When you have finished, check the finished gathered width of the curtain will fit across a little over half the width of your curtain track (include any return arms).

If there is not enough finished width, push the pleats evenly apart a little, so they aren't so tight and the curtain becomes wider. Check the width again. You can also do this once you have hung the curtains if you find it easier.

When you are happy with the finished width of the gathered curtain, knot the ends of the cords and secure them with a simple hand stitch at the back of the heading tape so they are hidden from view.

Position and insert your curtain hooks at regular intervals across the top of the heading tape. Hang your curtains.

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