Sunday, July 10, 2011

Hanging Drapes For A Professional Look

Everytime I show the LR or the FR, I get several questions and emails on how I get the drapes to hang so smoothly and all of the pleats to be in line.  Well, I am definitely not a professional, I did make all of my drapes, but I do think that hanging them properly makes all the difference.








All of my drapes are lined which gives them some weight, and I do use fabric with a bit of weight too.  Both of these things help the drapes hold the pleats, but the same idea works well for unlined also.


The placement and number of rings is a major factor.  Too many or too little and they won't hang properly.  I've made all the drapes out of 56" wide fabric and using 7 rings is perfect for this width. 


 The two end clips are placed in from the side of the panel so the side returns back to the wall and window and there are no gaps.  The rest of the panel is divided so that you place the remaining 5 clips evenly across the panel.  Then I pull the space between the clips forward to form the pleats.


 I don't puddle any of my drapes, I just hem them to barely skim the floor.



Next is what I call finger pleating.  I follow the fold of the panel that is pulled forward on the rod down to the hem and use two fingers to gently fold them into pleats.  This doesn't create any sharp edges, it just allows the fabric to naturally follow the line from the top to the bottom.  Just take the index and middle finger and place the fold between them and run up and down the fabric.


That's it.  They still have a casual feel, but the pleats are all in line with casual folds that hang in a nice flow up and down the window.


Hope that answers the questions.  This is just my own method.  Let me know your secrets.

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37 comments:

  1. Hey Marty...I made something like these for my daughter's house. I had a heck of a time installing the rods. The curtain panels were actually the easy part! I don't have my rings exactly right according to this post...I need to adjust the next time I visit. Thanks for sharing all your little tips!

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  2. Oh, I just love your drapes, Marty! They look so professional. I like the way they hang. I never much cared for "the puddled look." Always thought it looked a tad messy.
    Brenda

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  3. YOu may not be a professional, but your drapes look so very nice!! I love the look of your family room!! It is very, very nice..you have quite a good eye!!

    Suzanne

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  4. Very well done Marty! They sure look professional!

    Pam

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  5. Marty-- Glad to hear someone else is not a puddler. They seem to hang better just skimming the floor. Thanks for sharing your ideas. Sally

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  6. Hi Marty....Beautiful drapes...

    You must be a super talented lady..I can't sew, and I sure can't make drapes....
    Our home has three sets of french doors with no curtains...I only have one room that has valances...the rest of the windows or open or covered with wooden blinds...

    Love your drapes...

    shug

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  7. Thanks for the help, I'm working on new drapes for our lake house bedroom, and this was a LOT of help. Sandi

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  9. I have my rings right but was missing the finger pleats!! Thanks! Oh, I'm a skimmer too :-)

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  10. Yes, ma'am, you're good. Your draperies are all so beautiful and very professional looking! I admire your sewing skills and thy do hang beautifully.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  11. Every pair of drapes you have look like were done by a pro and then hung by professionals with lots of help and steam equipment.. You have done superior to even those folks so please take a bow - you sure deserve to...

    xoxoxo
    Sonny

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  12. I love it all..I looked through a lot of the sites and good thing I came across to your site. I got so many wonderful ideas for my own home..Thank You..

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  13. Marty, great ideas for hanging draperies. My mom owned and operated a drapery shop with older my sister. I had the pleasure of working in the shop for awhile(I don't like to sew.) and learning how to sew, and hang draperies. The one only thing I could add to your advice is drapery weights sewed in at the bottom of the drapes. This keeps the pleats hanging straight and looking professionally made. Thanks for the ideas on draperies. Decor. Lady

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  14. I prefer the drapes that just reach the floor also. That being said, I can barely hang curtains, I certainly can't imagine making them as well. Your always look very professional.
    AT

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  15. You do such a fabulous job with your draperies. I don't have enough patience to make mine look so beautiful!

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  16. Hi Marty,
    You are so tallented, I admire your work. Since I love to sew myself.

    Your draperies are just beautiful! They have a very custom look with the lining you use.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Laurie

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  17. Marty, everything you do looks professional! And you always have the most wonderful secrets! I am loving your solution for cleaning mirrors, too! Hope you have a great week!...hugs...Debbie

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  18. Marty, your drapes are beautiful. Thanks for sharing the tips.

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  19. I love this post! This is so helpful, will have to try these tips when I hang my next curtains.

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  20. They do look wonderful, Marty! Casual yet neat and I like mine to skim the floor as well. I love seeing them because your fabric choices go so well together. I do my ends like you and then I take the remaining rings and start in the middle, then work my way out to the sides. That helps me get an even clipping of the rings on the fabric. This post has reminded me that I need to pick up some rings for my drapes that I'll be fixing. Thanks! : ) They are currently tab tops, but I'll be removing those.

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  21. Hi Marty, thanks so much for this post. As soon as my mother returns from her holiday I now know what to do to hang her drapes and make them look nice and crisp. I had not thought of the rings with the clips, but I really love the look.

    Paula

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  22. Great. I need to buy some drapes for our living room later this year and now I know what to do. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. I've always loved your beautiful drapes and how they hang perfectly! Thank so much for sharing your tips ... I may have to apply the fabulous "Marty" technique to my own !!

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  24. I "sew" admoire that you can make your own drapes:):):) They look beautiful and VERY professional!!! XO, Pinky

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  25. Hj lovely lady.
    I love your drapes this was a Great Idea sweet and professional looking.
    XXOO Diane

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  26. You are so clever, and your draperies do hang beautifully. laurie

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  27. When I had my drapes made the seamstress offered a great tip for "training" the panels. She did the finger pleating like you mentioned and then loosely tied a strip of plastic wrap around the panels at a few areas. She told me to leave the plastic wrap in place for "as long as I could stand it"-I left it for two days-and the pleats stayed in place. Easy and low tech but it worked!

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  28. Marty, This is a wonderful tutorial.In the fall I am starting to redecorate 5 bedroom with lots of windows! So your wise advice is much appreciated! I'm bookmaking this post!
    Your rooms are just lovely and so beautifully put together! They are so you!
    xo Yvonne

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  29. Just beautiful and exactly what I needed to read today. Working on my kitchen curtains!

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  30. This post is going to come in very handy for me, Marty. Some time in the coming weeks (months?) I will be taking some old pinch-pleated curtains and reworking them to use in the living room in my new house. I plan to cut the pleated part off the top and then use this type of curtain rod & rings for a more updated look. Since I've never used the rings before, I'll definitely be referring back to your tips on placement of the rings to get the curtains to hang well. Thank you so much!

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  31. Wow! This is very helpful! I just hung some new curtains using these same type of ring/clips and I did it way wrong. I will be adjusting them tonight. I noticed that the end clips were placed a couple of inched from the edge of the curtain (mine were clipped at the very edges). Thank You!

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  36. great post.thank you for the idea you've shared.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and comment. You make my day. Hugs, Marty

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