How to produce a Pulled Sheer Curtain



Sheers are generally positioned across a window under the drapes at a filmy wander of fabric which filters light, disguises a less-than-ideal view and “finishes” a formal window therapy. However, you can use sheers as drapes in a space where light and privacy control are not issues. Sheers that pull across the window, and rear once you need to open it, complement romantic and light decor and maintain the window from looking too bare. Sheer pleating tape helps stiffen delicate fabric and prevent wear or tearing as you open and close your drapes.

Cut the sheer material for your drapes. Leave 1/2 inch extra at the bottom for a double-fold hem and 1/2 inch on top for a hem and enough extra to fold above once at the height of the pleating tape. The doubled shirt reinforces the fragile cloth and gives it a little more body to shape the pleats.

Lay translucent pleating tape across the doubled curtain header, and find the first set of pleat channels. Mark it with a pin — and then check that the channel gaps for the hooks are confronting you and pointing down. Mark the apartment space beside the initial pleat channels with another pin and then stretch the tape across the curtain, indicating the apartment space and also the first pleat channels at the opposite end.

Pin the pleating tape to the curtain, starting and end with a flat space. Don’t ever set the pleat channels at the edge of a curtain, since you don’t need the pleats there — your own drapes will not shut flat. Snip the excess ends of the pleat tape enough to pull the collecting threads a few inches at the end of the tape. Knot the threads together, smoothing the curtain header apartment again.

Trim the excess pleat tape at both ends, leaving the collecting threads free. Fold the tape ends beneath; sew the tape to the cloth, along the bottom and top of the tape, using thread which matches the curtain cloth.

Draw the collecting threads tight to create the pleats from the curtain — the tape makes regular pleats, perfectly spaced along the header of the sheer curtain. Tie off the collecting threads close to the faces of the curtain, and trim the loose ends. Insert the drapery hooks from the pleat channels and then hang the drapes on the pull rod.