Home Decorating Curtains, Drapery and Types of Curtain Heading for Window Treatments
Types of Curtain Headings
Curtain Headings
A curtain heading is the gathering or pleating at the top of the curtain.
This is achieved by sewing a heading tape to the top of the fabric.
The tape has cords that are threaded along the tape and when pulled, they draw up the fabric to its specific style.
It has pockets, which receive the hooks to attach it to the track.
Depending on the type of tape there are options for positioning the curtain top above below or equal to the track via the placement of hooks into the pockets.
The design of the heading tape will determine the style of the pleating/gathering and dictates the fullness of the curtain.
Gathering tapes requires 1 ½ -2 times the track width, pencil or box pleats require 2 ½ times the track width to create the correct effect.
Pencil Pleat Tape
These are the most common form of pleats and heading tape used.
The tape forms crisp even upright parallel pleats (like a row of pencils).
It requires 2 ¼ - 2 ½ times curtain fullness.
It has two rows of suspension pockets and can be used with track or pole fixtures.
Smocked
This tape has two rows of pencil pleating which creates a smocked effect.
Double Pleats
Two pleats of fabric tacked at the base of the pleat at regular intervals across the curtain. |
 French Pleat, Triple Pleat, Pinch Pleat |
French Pleat, Triple Pleat, Pinch Pleat |
French Pleat, Triple Pleat, Pinch Pleat
Regular spaced triple pleats generally formed by a tape that pulls throught the cords to create the pleats.
The pleats are pinched close together at the bottom so that they fan out towards the top.
They require a specific pleater curtain hook to hold the pleats in place and attach the curtain to the track.
They are often sewn at the base of the pleat on the face if the fabric to hold the pleat in place.
Fabric requirements are 2 ¼ - 2 ½ times the width of the window opening. |
