How to make a triple pinch (french) pleat heading using buckram

Buckram is a coursely woven cotten that is purchased in a long length from a roll, and available in various widths. It is used for stiffening. Using buckram at an alternative to heading tape gives a slightly stiffer and crisper heading and the pleats will hold their shape very well.

To work out the desired finished width of each curtain using a triple pinch (french) pleat heading, half the width of your curtain pole or track, and add 15cm. This extra width will allow the curtains to slightly lap over each other when drawn together, plus it allows a little "give" in the fabric between each pleat instead of the fabric being pulled tight between each pleat.

Attach the buckram to the top of your curtain using enough to fit the width of the curtain plus a little extra either end for tucking in raw edges.

Sew one line of stitching along the top edge, and one line along the bottom edge of the buckram. Stitch each line in the same direction. Stitch closed either short side.

Calculate the number and size of pleats you will create using the following formula:

1.Write down the actual width of your single curtain, then subtract the desired finished width (see above) of your curtain.
2.This figure (we will call this the "excess") will give you the amount of fabric you have that is excess, from which you will create your pleats. We recommend each pleat should be 10cm wide. Therefore divide the excess by 10. This is the number of pleats you will sew across your curtain. Round this figure down if necessary to the nearest whole number.
3. Now you know how many pleats you need to sew, each pleat is 10cm wide.
4.Now calculate how much space you need to leave between each pleat. You don't want a pleat to sit on the very edge of each side of your curtain, so the first and last pleat should be about 5cm in from the edge of the fabric. Therefore deduct 10cm from the desired finished width figure you had above.
5.Divide this new figure by the number of gaps between the pleats. If you have calculated 6 pleats, for example, you will have 5 gaps. If you have calculated 8 pleats, you will have 7 gaps, and so on. Make the division calculation.
6.This figure will give you the amount of space you need to leave between each pleat.

Using your calculated measurements above, you now know where to start placing your pleats (5cm in from the edge of your fabric), how wide each pleat should be, and how much gap to leave in between each pleat.

Mark each pleat position on your fabric using pins, vertically inserted at each measured point.

Sew each pleat individually. With wrong sides of the fabric facing, sew a vertical line of stitches from the top of the fabric to the bottom of the buckram, at the point where the pins marking the width of the pleat meet. Repeat for each pleat.

Next, lie the fabric wrong side down,with the pleats facing upwards, pinch the first pleat exactly in the middle, at the top and the base of the buckram (use two hands).

Push the fold down so the pleat bulges out at either side, creating three sections. Pinch the three sections together at the base.

Sew together the pleats using a single stitch by hand, threading the needle back and forth through each of the 3 pleats, just below the base of the buckram.

The top of the pleat should not be sewn together, as they should fan open when hung. But to ensure each of the three small pleats have crisp vertical folds in their centers, pull the pleats together evenly and using a tailors peg, peg them together and leave them for at least 24 hours to make the lines crisp.

Use special pin hooks to hang the curtains. These are made especially for heading using buckram, the pin is literally pushed through the buckram at the back of the heading on each pleat, and hung on drapery hooks on your pole or track.

An important note

You will have to round off your figures when calculating, but you will come as close as possible to your desired finished width of your curtain. Any slight excess in fabric will be hardly noticeable. Tip: Start creating your gaps and pleats from the inside edge of each curtain panel. Therefore, any slight excess fabric will be at either end of the curtain widths and be less noticeable.

sponsors and ads