How To French Pleat Curtains: A DIY Guide

Do you love the look of french pleat curtains but don’t want to spend a fortune on custom-made ones? Do you want to give your windows a makeover with a chic and elegant style that can transform any room? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this post is for you.

I’m going to show you how to french pleat curtains yourself with a simple and easy DIY method that anyone can do. You don’t need any sewing skills or fancy equipment, just some fabric, pleater tape, and hooks. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to create beautiful french pleat curtains that will make your home look like a magazine cover. Ready to get started? Let’s go!

How do you french pleat curtains?

You can french pleat curtains by using pleater tape, which is a tape that has pockets for hooks that create the pleats automatically. Pleater tape can be found in most fabric stores or online. You can also use regular curtain hooks or rings to hang your french pleat curtains on a rod.

Here’s how to do it:

• Get the right tools. You’ll need fabric, scissors, measuring tape, pins, needle and thread or a sewing machine, iron and ironing board, pleater tape, curtain hooks or rings, and a curtain rod.
• Measure the width and length of your window and decide how big you want your curtains to be. You can either match the width of your window or make it slightly wider for more fullness. You can also choose how long you want your curtains to be – typically between the floor and the window sill or slightly above or below them.
• Cut your fabric according to your measurements, leaving some extra fabric for hemming – about 1 inch (2.5 cm) for each side and 4 inches (10 cm) for the bottom.
• Fold and press the edges of your fabric with an iron on low heat to create a hem. Pin the hem in place with pins.
• Sew the hem with needle and thread or a sewing machine using a straight stitch. Remove the pins as you sew.
• Cut a piece of pleater tape that is slightly shorter than the width of your curtain. You can either use regular pleater tape or deep pleater tape, depending on how deep you want your pleats to be. Regular pleater tape creates 2-inch (5 cm) deep pleats, while deep pleater tape creates 4-inch (10 cm) deep pleats.
• Place the pleater tape along the top edge of your curtain, on the wrong side of the fabric. Make sure the pockets for the hooks are facing down and the ends of the tape are aligned with the sides of the curtain. Pin the tape in place with pins.
• Sew the tape to the curtain with needle and thread or a sewing machine using a straight stitch along both edges of the tape. Remove the pins as you sew.
• Insert one hook into each pocket of the tape by sliding it through the opening at the back of the pocket. Make sure the hook is facing up and outwards.
• Hang your curtain on a rod by hooking the hooks onto the rod or onto rings that are attached to the rod. Adjust the curtain as needed.

FAQs

How do you make french pleats by hand?

To make french pleats by hand, you can follow these steps:

• Measure and mark the width and spacing of your pleats on the top edge of your curtain with a pencil and a ruler. A typical french pleat consists of three folds of fabric that are 4 inches (10 cm) wide each and spaced 4 inches (10 cm) apart from each other.
• Fold and press each marked section of fabric with an iron on low heat to create three folds for each pleat.
• Pinch together each set of three folds at the top edge of your curtain to create one pleat. Secure each pleat with pins or basting stitches.
• Sew each pleat with needle and thread or a sewing machine using a straight stitch across the top edge of your curtain.
• Hang your curtain on a rod by inserting hooks into the back of each pleat and hooking them onto the rod or onto rings that are attached to the rod.

How many hooks do you need for french pleat curtains?

The number of hooks you need for french pleat curtains depends on the width of your curtain and the spacing of your pleats. A general rule of thumb is to use one hook for every 4 inches (10 cm) of curtain width. For example, if your curtain is 60 inches (152 cm) wide, you would need 15 hooks.

How do you measure for french pleat curtains?

To measure for french pleat curtains, you need to measure the width and length of your window and decide how big you want your curtains to be. You can either match the width of your window or make it slightly wider for more fullness. You can also choose how long you want your curtains to be – typically between the floor and the window sill or slightly above or below them. You also need to account for the extra fabric that will be used for the pleats. A typical french pleat consists of three folds of fabric that are 4 inches (10 cm) wide each and spaced 4 inches (10 cm) apart from each other. To calculate the amount of fabric you need for the pleats, multiply the number of pleats by 12 inches (30 cm). For example, if you want 10 pleats, you would need 120 inches (305 cm) of fabric for the pleats. Add this amount to the width of your window to get the total width of your fabric. Add some extra fabric for hemming – about 1 inch (2.5 cm) for each side and 4 inches (10 cm) for the bottom.

Wrap Up

Congratulations! You’ve just learned how to french pleat curtains with pleater tape. You’ve also learned how to make french pleats by hand, how many hooks you need for french pleat curtains, and how to measure for french pleat curtains. You’ve just saved yourself a lot of money and time by making your own curtains instead of buying them.

You’ve also added a touch of elegance and sophistication to your home with this classic and timeless style. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful. If you did, please share it with your friends and family who might also want to learn how to french pleat curtains. And if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. I’d love to hear from you.

Dale

Dale is the colorful mind behind HuetifulHomes.com, where he shows you how to create a home that is as fun and fabulous as you are. He has a passion for color and a knack for DIY, with years of interior design experience he shares his tips and tricks on how to create a home that reflects your personality and style. He believes that color is the key to happiness, and he wants to help you make your home more Huetiful.