Rule if thumb is twice the yardage as window width...if it comes out a few inches short or a few long....not to worry, it'll all even out in the pleats. Top with a 4 inch piece of stiffener...sew to the top of the fabric, sew side hems, and turn the stiffener over and make a line of stitching 1/8 inch from the top and another same distance from the bottom. Now measure and figure out how much width you need....for the return and for an over lap. All extra fabric will be fullness inside of the pleats. Now decide how many pleats you want.....shouldn't have more than 6 inches fullness in each pleat....5 inches is better. divide the number of pleat into the area you have to fit the pleats into.... Now measure from the return and make a pleat and pin it well, measure to the next pleat, pin the pleat etc. Before you sew, hold up to the window to be sure that when closed the fabric is taut with no sags and that it will cover the window with return and overlap. Adjust pleats if needed and stitch down the pleats. Good luck...before you start look at someone's pleated draperies to see how they are made. Linda C

I believe the pleats on the back are flattened out - an inverted box pleat, not pinch pleat. Check the following link: Here is a link that might be useful: Inverted pleat drapery

Yes, 5 pleats is standard for a 48-54" width of fabric. A width of fabric would pleat to aprx 21", this 21" would have 6 spaces aprx 3.5", and the pleats will use 30" divided by 5 and have aprx 6" of fabric in each pleat. Are you planning for a center overlap? If you have only 6 widths of fabric your spaces will be larger, and less will be in your pleats. I would probably use 3.5 widths for each panel for 2 1/2 times fullness, for a center draw. I am also considering making drapes for my 3 sunroom windows which are also 133'!! Keep us posted on your progress. Hopes this helps, Michelle

Tannatonk - Whoa, I didn't see that with the review, thanks! Ok, I'm confused. Franksmom said "the width measurement given would be the width for a pair, at the narrowest point" Val said,"125" would be the width per panel at the base" Is it per panel or per pair? I'll talk with a salesperson this week and see what they say. My JCP is as about as helpful as Lowes so I'm not convinced they'll be much help. :) Ramble alert.. I really need to figure out how far back I want to start. I know I said 10" but I feel bad because I have the metal cat bed in the corner and they ALWAYS sleep there. They seem to love it even more since I covered the foam piece with the extra red pillow sham that matches my coverlet. Anyhow, I'd like to keep that there and currently I have a small table and Christmas tree in that spot. The cat bed is in front of the window, which looks stupid, but I can deal with it for a few weeks. Closet door gets in the way so I can't pull whatever item is there out too far. Not the best angle but you can kind of see the cat bed, closet door and the side of the curtains. - The bedskirt is back on now. My LR curtain brackets starts at 8" from the trim so I'm going to at least want it out that far and that will interfer with their little bed too so I guess I'll have to find another spot for it. Not sure where because I'm out of corners and don't want to use it elsewhere in the house. Other quick update, I know I talked about a bench for in front of the window and then I'd move the chair from the other corner out of the room but after looking and measuring, I think I might feel it's too crowded in front of the window.