How to make a smocked heading

The best hanging method for your smocked curtain heading is a decorative curtain pole or traditional curtain track using drapery hooks. For the best visual effect of a smocked heading, we recommend the heading of the curtain to be stationary. Therefore the top of the curtains should be drawn together and fixed together permanently using a curtain hook in the center of the track or pole. Then each curtain can be swept back and held back with a tie back.

Smocked curtain headings look very complex to achieve, and therefore many don't attempt this intricate, diamond-lace look for the top of their curtains. The smocked heading is so intricate it deserves to be the focal point of the curtain rather than any pattern detail on the fabric. The smocking shows up better when a plain fabric of medium to heavy weight is used.

Purchase enough smocking heading tape to fit the flat width of both curtains, allowing a little extra for tucking in raw edges.Smocking tape is usually between 8 to 12cm wide.

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 smocked 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 smocking tape firmly in place across the top of each curtain, about 3mm from the top edge of the fabric.Ensure that the hook pocket face upwards.

Turn the ends of tape under to hide the raw edges before you start sewing. Carefully release the four 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 smocking 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 by hanging the curtains first if you find it easier.Check to make sure you have an even number of pleats running across your curtain heading.

When you are happy with the finished width of the gathered curtain, you can then begin to make the smocked heading.

Use embroidery thread, of either the same color as your fabric or a contrasting color to add interest. Use 4 strands of embroidery thread, all the same length, threaded through a large needle and knotted at the end.

Place the fabric right side up. Starting with the first two pleat on the outside edge of the curtain heading, pinch the 2 pleats together, and stitch them together about 1cm down from the top edge of the curtain. Loop the thread over the front of the pleats and out through the back of the curtain, through the heading tape several times. This will hold the pleats firmly together and the embroidery thread will be visible from the front of the heading and become a decorative feature.

Repeat the process with the next 2 pleats, and continue across the top of your curtain heading until all the pleat pairs have been sewn togeher.

Starting at the bottom of the heading tape following the line of stitching you made to attach the smocked heading tape to the fabric, pinch together the same pairs of pleats at the bottom, using the same stitch. Continue across the bottom of the smocked heading tape until all the bottom of the pleat pairs are stitched together.

Use the same process across the center of the pleats. Make sure you sewn in the exact center. This time you will need to start with the 2nd and 3rd pleat stitched together. Then the 4th and 5th, and so on. You will see immediately the diamond shape being created with the pleats as you sewn them. Continue across the entire width of the smocked heading tape.

Insert your curtain hooks into the back of the smocked heading tape and hang your curtains.

Secure the ends of the cords 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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