Another drapery question...traverse rods and non-pleated panels

14 years ago

I'm a couple steps closer to getting my bedroom windows dressed. However, the custom pinch-pleated drapes may cost more than I want to spend right now.

Could I hang flat, lined and inter-lined panels from the traverse rod to simulate the look below? This rod is not a traverse rod, but mine would be. Would I have to adjust the flat panels every time they were opened and shut?

Pictured below is the rod I'm getting. I still have to choose between oak, to match my floor, or off white, to match the room's trim. Which would you suggest?

I'd like to get the traverse rods installed, and something hung on them now. Later in the summer I can tackle making my own pinch-pleated panels.

I ordered the Singer book, Window Treatments that was suggested in my last post. There will be lace panels, or sheers, hung next to the windows.

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Comments (5)

graywings123
14 years ago
I doubt that your drapes will fall into beautiful folds like that.

You could sew on pleater tape and use pleater hooks to turn a flat panel into a pinch pleat.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pleater Hook
amysrq
14 years ago
I have done this in two rooms, though not on traverse rods, just regular rods with hooks and rings. In both cases, the panels are linen and remain pretty wrinkled. I had my seamstress interline the tops with some kind of stiffener so the hooks would have something to bite into and the tops would not sag.

Graywings is right, the folds do not fall neatly but rather have a casual look to them. This suits me fine, as does the somewhat messy trouser break at the floor. I guess I just like messy! :-) YMMV.
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Looks like kmcg posted the link that I used when hanging our pinch pleats. In our case the sheers were on a traverse rod and the outer drapes on a decorative rod with rings. However, I did not use the clips on the clip rings. What I did was I removed the little clips from the rings so they were then loop rings. I then used the drapery hooks like you use with the traverse rod and put the hooks into the loop on each ring (no clip). It's a much cleaner look. If you need any close up pics, let me know and I will snap some. Here is a link that might be useful: My drapery for slider
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I can't understand why you are trying to put the hook between the stitches--it doesn't go between any stitches. I can help but I need more info. What kind of tape are you using? There are dozens of kinds of tape for making pinch pleats. Is it the kind where you measure and create your own pleats or one that has pockets for hooks If it's the first kind--did you sew your header down--you are not supposed to. You sew the tape to the top of the curtain, fold it over and measure for your pleats. Then you make a loop where the pleats will be and sew it the full length of the header. Then go back and make your pleats in the loop and tack them widthwise on the bottom of the header. The hook goes under the header on each side of the pleat. The header is open between the pleats. If you are using the kind of tape where you insert hooks to make the pleats or the one where you pull strings to make the pleats you don't sew over the pockets but under neath them. If I haven't answered your question or you have more questions, I'll check back tomorrow
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Hi Meg, I own a custom window treatment business and fabricate them myself (most of the time!) So as a window treatment seamstress/designer I can see how this could happen. I had it happen to me not long ago but didn't forsee that I would have a problem with the drapes until I test hung them in my workroom. At that point I realized that they looked like I hadn't pleated them correctly because the colors in the plaid weren't lining up the same horizontally across the 2 widths. What I wound up having to do was to turn the 2nd panel upside down (it was non directional buffalo plaid) and so that when the panel was pleated the correct dominant colorway would show horizontally across both panels. I know this is too much information! I don't think your fabricators would be able to do that because your pattern would be different - the leaves would be on the bottom instead of the top. Do you know if the sheers were 118" railroaded? Or were they a 54" width? I can't imagine that a reputable drapery company would use a workroom who doesn't do the basics - like cutting drapery widths at the same repeat!!! I will be anxious to see how they resolve your problem.
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Let me see if I understand. You're moving up the rod, and adding this fabric as contrast at the top, and putting grommets on the patterned fabric? I think it would work, as the weight of the solid panel would encourage it to fall into place. You could also just make a cornice or box valance out of the patterned fabric and mount it on a separate rod above the solid panels leaving them just as they are. I used outdoor upholstery fabric on grommets to cover the stacked washer/dryer is the bathroom. It looks and hangs okay to me.
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megsy
14 years ago
Just a thought, have you looked at JCPenney for pinch pleated drapes? They're rather affordable, fully lined, and very nice IMO. They look like garbage online so go into the store if you can.
WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a
14 years ago
I bought some rod pocket curtains that I liked that did not come in a pinch pleat. So what I did, was to make a "pencil pleat" (I think that is what it is called) with my fingers and, while holding the pleat in place, clipped the ring clip on it. It worked just fine. The pleats are small - just about the size of a pencil - three pleats for each pleat, then clip. I hope this makes sense. The pleats are not ironed or sewn in place, but just fall naturally.
CaroleOH
14 years ago
It looks to me that the picture you posted has been finger arranged just the way the owner wants them and probably doesn't open or close them ever!

I would think the traverse rod would make your flat panels look the most uniform because the controlled spacing of the traverse rod will keep the "pleats" evenly spaced.

I have a non traverse rod and rings on flat panel drapes in my LR. In this photo you can see the flat panel and how the rings are not uniformly spaced out. I took this picture for a different reason, but IRL, I do have them fairly evenly spaced to try and get the pleats to be even.

I do have a traverse rod in my FR and while I don't ever close my drapes, I do like the way the traverse rod manages the rings in a nice even way. I think the hardest part of using a traverse rod with a flat panel is getting the hooks evenly inserted across the panel so the pleats fall evenly.

Another drapery question...traverse rods and non-pleated panels

Comments (5)

graywings123

amysrq

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megsy

WalnutCreek Zone 7b/8a

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