Yes, double rings will create the correct orientation for your curtains to hang properly. You can slide the curtains over the expansion joint; get wands to close them. These are small rods with a ring on the end that is typically either sewn to the edge of the curtain or clipped to a pin in a pleat. They can be bought at a variety of sites online; Rue de France used to sell beautifully made brass wands but they have gone out of business. You have undoubtedly used these in a hotel when closing curtains---- they keep hands off the curtains, preserving the material, and when you use them you can lift slightly and that will take the rings over the expansion joint. The wands featured at the site below are a bit industrial/hotel-y to me, but they should give you the idea. Here is a link that might be useful: curtain wands

Okay, after taking a good ten deep, deep breaths, it hit me how to hang the panels soon after I hit submit message! Since we had dinner plans, I was trying to get ready to go out, and figure out how to hang at least one panel before doing so. My progress so far: First panel pressed and hung before leaving for dinner:) Following our lovely and very relaxing weeknight dinner out (rare treat) at our favorite neighborhood Italian spot, I have now pressed and hung the second panel on the first window, LR: By way of background, DH has never met a drapery treatment that he likes, (says drapes remind him of a coffin, lol). Therefore, I am only "framing" my front facing windows in the spirit of marital harmony, thus the use of only two panels on each double window. The Foyer and LR drapes will never be closed. However, DR drapes (back of house) will be closed in the evenings during the late fall/winter when the leaves are gone from the trees. I ordered 2 extra panels which I will hang in my office window which will also be closed in the evenings. Office window faces the front of the house as well. Silly pet peeve, I like the look of all window treatments seen from outside front of my home to be uniform. I know ~ crazy. After I posted, I sat down for a minute to re-think things, and again looked at the rod, the pockets, etc. More importantly, I tried to block my incessent need to use the rings. Only then was I able to get out of my own way, and see that I needed to hang the panels directly on the rod via the tabs on the back ~ Much as suggested in your responses to my original panic post, only being pressed for time, I didn't get to read all of the responses until we returned from dinner! I feel as though I have gotten the somewhat pleated look I was trying to achieve. These drapes were a JCP steal, so I was so hoping to "make it work". After Loribee's post on a fall reno of her LR, I was motivated to get to a much needed fall update with regard to my LR/DR/Foyer windows. Especially motivated as I am doing it on the cheap! Although I ordered both the Ivory and New Orleans Red, I will be keeping NOR, returning the Ivory. I originally thought I would use the Ivory, however, the gold in the pattern was off in color against my SW Blonde walls. Not the best of pics, but you can see that I have used some binder clips from my office to hold the panels tight at the bottoms. Using those and starching the panels when I pressed them, should take/keep the shape I am going for. I will remove the clips once the drapes conform to my plans.lol As soon as we returned from dinner, I checked to see if anyone had posted suggestions. Although I had pretty much had it figured out, (I'd hung the first panel before we headed out to dinner), it was great to see the quick responses! Many thanks to all who posted. So nice to come here with a question and get responses very quickly. As you may have surmised from my post, I am an instant gratification-type gal, thus, my love for this forum! Thanks again!

Uh oh, I found this image - maybe it just works b/c the scarf valance matches the shades, but I noticed the top of the shade lines up the the top of the drapes. DH is going to kill me (after putting holes in the woodwork to inside mount the romans!) but should we mount the romans above the windows? Only thing is, they're not wide enough - bought the (stock) size that fit inside the jambs! Since I have 2 shades on the large window, does it matter anyway? Just leave them as is? http://www.robertsdraperycenter.com/images/drapery_rd04.jpg Thanks again. This one has inside mount shade, they put the rod on the trim so that the top of the drapes lined up with the shade. Think I should try that (maybe not putting the rod on the trim - depends on how big a ring I use - could return these for bigger rings so drapes hang lower - trim is 2.5")? http://www.budgetblinds.com/_images/draperies-panels-main.jpg http://www.levolor.com/images/gallery/full/62.jpg Here they're hung higher - does it just work b/c of the strong wall color (which I guess I have too)? http://www.levolor.com/images/gallery/full/88.jpg http://www.levolor.com/images/gallery/full/275.jpg http://www.levolor.com/images/gallery/full/281.jpg These are hung (with some room b/t the ring and top of drape) so that the drape top lines up with the top of the trim, even though the shades are inside mount - could that work too? http://www.levolor.com/images/gallery/full/229.jpg Of course these don't line up with anything, and the center bracket shows (which would be my case too if I didn't use a valance). http://www.levolor.com/images/gallery/full/255.jpg Oh, the more I look at images the more confused I get but I'm convinced that my inside-mount romans, thin rods, and unlined unpleated drapes are bad choices! Please help!

Holly, those are very pretty! I emailed them about my size and they answered with something that did not pertain to me. So, now I'm having 2nd thoughts. Okay, hereâÂÂs where IâÂÂm at. IâÂÂm getting sick of looking so think IâÂÂm going for the Country Curtains pleated sheers. What I had in my head was pleated very sheer sheers in a natural fiber of some sort. The problems I ran across is many of the natural fiber curtains were not sheer enough or they didnâÂÂt have a pleat or they were well beyond my price range. I did find some I liked that were a rod pocket, some of which could have been hung with my curtain ring clips but ultimately I worried that they may not hang nicely. So, I guess a compromise will be a blend fabric, part natural fiber part man made. I knew I didnâÂÂt want a full poly. I do have a full poly in the living area that has an almost linen texture that I do like but those will almost never be closed and are more for decoration. The bedroom sheers will most always be closed so I wanted a nicer quality. I havenâÂÂt pushed the buy button on the Country Curtains sheer pleated yet because I do not want white. I now want ivory. The Country Curtains come in white and natural. Natural is hard to determine. Is it closer to an ivory or does it have sort of a beige-y look? I know I can order a swatch but was wondering if anyone here has the natural and if you like them. I have ivory drapes. Are Country Curtain sheer naturals close to an ivory? Or, are they a beige brown-y off white? Or, sort of a cream? It is hard to tell in the picture.