CURTAINS
When it comes to designing an interior space, it’s often the window treatment that can take a room from a nicely thought out room to something absolutely spectacular.
They can either act as the feature in the room with a dramatic print or puddled on the floor, to something that cleverly blends into the background but in their own right, enhancing the quality of what you wish to create.
Several components need to be taken into account, and whether it’s the fabric you choose, the heading or the fullness in the curtain, it all impacts the final look of not just the window but the entire room. So it’s important to get it right.
We've provided some pointers to help you think about certain aspects you should consider, but we’ll guide you through each stage to ensure your new curtains are exactly what you’re after.
HEADINGS
The type of curtain heading that you choose is as important as the fabric choice and overall design. Not only does it draw the eye, but it also dictates the style and mood that you are creating and is an important detail when deciding on whether you want curtains to blend in or be the focal point in the room. It can also change the way a curtain can hang, so it's an essential detail to consider.
It’s important to remember that the curtain heading you choose needs to work with the fabric selection and the thickness of the curtain itself. The heading will also dictate the fullness of the curtain, and therefore the quantity of fabric required.
At EJS we hand-sew a stiffened buckram into the more formal headings, such as the Twin Pleat, Triple Pleat, Cartridge, Tailored and Goblet to give a sharper, cleaner line to the heading. We hand-stitch where ever possible to avoid visible machine stitching on the headings too.
Below are examples of typical curtain headings, each one making a statement in their own right.
Twin Pleat
The most commonly selected pleat for hand-made curtains, the Twin Pleat offers a classic and timeless look to all curtains types. It's a formal heading with two folds being sewn into the heading of the fabric at equal intervals and requires a good fullness of fabric, to create a fuller looking curtain and excellent drape.
It's perfect in both traditional and modern settings, and an excellent choice for both long and short curtains.
Triple Pleat
The Triple Pleat is a classic and formal heading choice with a trio of folds sewn into the heading of the fabric. Out of all heading types, the Triple Pleat requires the most fabric creating a luxurious full drape.
Despite the volume of fabric, this pleat still stacks well in areas where there is limited stacking space. Perfect for traditional settings, this is an elegant and timeless heading type.
Pencil Pleat
The Pencil Pleat is popular due to it being suitable for all fabric types, and works in traditional, modern or casual interiors. These Pleats are created by gathering or pulling the cords in the tape sewn at the top of the curtain. The rows of cords are pulled up evenly, creating the "pencil"effect pleats.
The Pencil pleat is an inexpensive and safe choice for your curtains if you do not know the exact width of your window or pole, and is mostly used for readymade curtains.
Wave
Rapidly becoming the most popular choice for both curtains and voiles, the Wave heading is beautiful in its simplicity and symmetry. It opens and closes with perfectly uniform folds due to the design of the header tape. It has evenly spaced hook pockets to ensure a regular appearance in the wave like folds.
They require less stacking space beside windows but the depth of area where the pole is being fitted needs to be considered for the deeper folds.
Cartridge
The cartridge heading is the same as the Twin Pleat but without any of the hand stitching to create the folds. The cartridges themselves are often packed with wadding to help them keep their uniform shape.
Like the Goblet, this heading needs the most stacking space due to the cartridge widths. It's an extremely smart finish and offers a more modern feel to curtains.
Inverted
Also known as a Box Pleat, the Inverted Pleat is one of the more contemporary curtain headings. The pleats are hidden at the back of the curtain, creating a wall of fabric at the front.
It is a fashionable choice as it creates clean lines and a neat look when the curtains are drawn. For a simple and modern style, the Inverted Pleat is the perfect choice.
Tailored
Also known as the Fan-Fold Pleat, it is exactly the same as the Twin Pleat but isn't pinched at the neck of the pleat. It's more unusual and often seen in a contemporary setting.
The curtain falls in beautiful uniform folds and has a simplicity about it so is well suited to plainer fabrics and softer looks.
Goblet
The name of this heading comes from the shape of the pleat, which looks like a goblet. A cone of fabric is formed and pinched together at the base to create a luxury finish for formal curtains.
This heading requires the most stacking space out of all heading types but is especially suited for long curtains. The Goblet Pleat is a traditional and sophisticated heading type, and looks beautiful in grand settings.
Eyelet
Eyelet curtains have metal eyelets that are evenly spaced across the top of the curtain, with the pole being threaded through the eyelets. Because the eyelets are evenly spaced, the curtains hang in nice soft loose folds. Curtains with this heading type require less fabric fullness and therefore stack back to a minimal space.
Eyelets are available in different sizes and colours to match your fabric choice. The Eyelet Pleat is a popular heading type and adds a contemporary finish to your curtains.
Tab Top
Tab Top offers an alternative to traditional headings. This finish works really well when a casual look is desired in a space.
The Tab Top heading works only on a curtain rod, not a track as this heading isn’t designed to glide. Although it is possible to open and close these curtains, they are not as functional as conventional headings.
Tie Top
Like the Tab Top, this heading offers an alternative to the stiffened traditional headings. It uses far less fabric with little ties that are evenly spaced, and are tied onto a curtain pole or rod without the need for rings.
This heading requires very litle stacking space and is especially suited for long curtains due to the informal drape. It offers a contemporary but relaxed feel to the curtains.
Pocket Rod
These are very simple curtains and, like the Tab Top, they are designed to have the rod threaded through the pocket. The curtain is gathered slightly to give the ruched effect and is not designed to be drawn.
If the pocket is fairly loose, it is possible to pull the curtains, although they are not designed for frequent use in this way.
SHEERS & VOILES
Sheer and voile fabrics have come a long way since the net curtains of post-war Britain. We get nervous at the very thought of them for this reason but, in truth, they have become a significant option for dressing a window, providing a luxurious and elegant feel irrespective of budget.
Apart from the vast range of beautiful voiles now available, the header you choose significantly alters the very look of the curtains. For a more traditional feel, the pinch pleat heading is the most widely chosen pleat as the fabric behaves in a much less structured way, falling in gentle folds.
But an alternative heading can significantly alter the first impression, from a gentle fullness with a Gathered heading to a contemporary structured look with a Wave heading. These are becoming increasingly popular in kitchens and living areas, to both diffuse light at large bi-fold style windows but also give a sense of privacy without blocking out light.
They are an incredibly cost effective solution too, as you are only talking about one layer of fabric. Whether they stand alone or are combined with curtains, they are an extremely clever window dressing and a very popular choice.
FULLNESS
Curtain “fullness” is determined by the width of the window relative to the width of the curtains and is based on how many widths of fabric are in each curtain.
The type of fabric you choose for your curtains effects the cut width necessary to achieve a desired amount of fullness. Lightweight fabrics and sheers, for example, usually need to be cut wider than heavier fabrics. It is recommended that you multiply the width of the window by 2.5 to 3 for sheers and lightweight fabrics; for medium to heavy weight fabrics, multiply the window width by 2 to 2.5.
You can customise the fullness by using a higher or lower factor within these general parameters as you wish. However, the fullness can also be determined by the heading style chosen.
As well as using a curtain interlining, a 'fuller' curtain generally provides more insulation because they include extra fabric and trap more air (a natural insulator) between the pleats.