Thai Pleats on Brass Hardware

The Thai pleat creates eye-catching texture, and in this sample showcases the stripe pattern in the sheer material. This pleat can also be used for lined or interlined draperies, or as a heading for pleated valances on decorative hardware.

To create Thai pleats, make a drapery panel with a double-fold heading at the top. The amount material used in each pleat needs to be twice the depth of the heading, for example; if using a 4" double fold heading, allow for 8" in each pleat. Fold-in the pleats and sew the bottom half vertically, stopping at the bottom of the heading.

The photo above shows that the top half of the pleat is "open",  and not sewn as you would with other pleats; which are sewn all the way to the top.

Gather or pinch at the base of the pleat and tack, using a doubled thread

After the bottom of the pleat is tacked, stab the needle through the top of the pleat, at the center, and pull the thread to bend the top of the pleat down.

Stitch to secure the top edge of the pleat at where it meets the bottom of the pleat.

This stripe sheer drapery with Thai pleats is shown hanging on Aria™ hardware from Finestra® Decorative Hardware.  The photo at the top of the blog features brushed brass pole rod, rings and ball finial.  The photos at the bottom of the blog features brushed brass pole rod, rings and plain end cap. 

For easy installation, clip-on rings can be used.  The clip will be hidden inside the pleat.
 

www.FinestraDecorativeHardware.com

If rings with eyelets are used, drapery pins can also be inserted into the back, stitched-are of the pleat.

www.FinestraDecorativeHardware.com

Creating a Pleated Drapery Heading

The draperies for our upcoming webinar are ready to be pleated.

They are going to look fabulous and make a bold statement with the graphic print fabric from Greenhouse Fabrics and modern black gloss square pole from Finestra Decorative Hardware.

(To see more details about the draperies and this project, see our previous blog entries).

 To sew in pleats, an industrial sewing machine is used.  This machine will easily sew through the multiple layers of fabric, buckram and blackout lining. The pleats are marked and stitched from the top to the bottom of the buckram heading (4").  There are two "right ways" to sew the pleats.  From the bottom-up or from the top-down.  We are showing both methods here.

Sewing from the bottom up: Start 4" down from the top edge, back-stitch and continue up towards the top, back-stitching at the end.  To prevent an uneven top edge, purposely start with the top slightly uneven, the fabric will push forward as you sew.  How much uneven?  This depends on the layers, fabric and sewing machine being used.  One practice pleat will give you the proper step-back for all the rest.

Sewing from the top down:  Start about 3/4" below the top with the needle seated in the down position.  Back up and continue sewing from the top to the bottom of the buckram, back-stitching at the bottom.  Starting below the top prevents the fabric from shifting out of position.

The pleats have been hand-tacked into the French Pleat style.

Heavy Duty pins (#DPHD)are added using the Pinsetter tool (#PS10/D) from Rowley Company.

The drapery pins are set 3/4" down from the top edge to fit onto the carriers of our traversing track.

Ready to install!

If you would like to see the final room design join us for Glam for the Fam: A Dining Room Makeover 
on Tuesday, August 23rd at 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time. 
Click here to register.

French Pleated-Grommet Panels

Do you like the look of traditional pleated panels but would like to update the style for a more modern interior?  This drapery style combines both tried-and-true French Pleats with sleek Grommets to create a traditional panel with a contemporary edge.

Here's how:

1. Make a drapery panel with a buckram heading.  Allow for 6 grommets and three 5 to 6 inch pleats for each width.

2. Determine grommet placement, cut holes and set the grommets, leaving space for the pleats to be sewn in-between.

3. Sew in the pleats from the top to the bottom of the buckram and tack to create any pleat style such as French (shown here), Goblet or Euro styles.  Install on decorative hardware just as you would for a flat grommet panel.

This style offers a very small stackback on the window, perfect for situations where there is not much room for traversing draperies.  One width stacks back to approximately 4" and when pulled out on the pole covers approximately 20".  Like with flat grommet panels, a baton should be used if the draperies will be traversed on the pole.  This will make traversing easier and prevent the fabric from being stretched or soiled.

This French Pleated-Grommet Panel features EZ-Set™ Matte Nickel Grommets #GE12/T and 4" Heavy Weight, Iron-On Buckram #BXA44 from Rowley Company.