Sewing Custom Draperies: Pleating Tips and Techniques with Susan Woodcock

[@noreensiomos233]

Thank you for so generously sharing your knowledge! I learned so much from this video.

[@nancyburns3268]

Thank you so....much for your expertise! You have helped me to gain my sewing confidence back and I'm now ready to tackle my very large front room drape project. I'm using the Euro Pinch Pleat application and I'm feeling confident thanks to you!!

[@WorkroomTech]

So glad this video gave you confidence! Thank you, Susan

[@celestemode9832]

Your videos are incredible. My new addiction 😉 ! Thank You so much. Sincerely, Celeste

[@lorettasm8944]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your pleating method. I follow the same rules for pleats and spaces. I like to figure an odd number of pleats for full widths, and an even number when adding half widths. I dislike using quarter widths because the placement of the seam is always harder to incorporate. I haven’t pleated at the machine, per your Mom’s method, but I’m going to give it a try. 😃

[@katienicolau459]

Really useful information! Explanation was so simple! Thank you so so much!

[@katienicolau459]

Great information! Great explanation! Very interesting and useful! Thanks.

[@florenceharrington4762]

I know this was published a long time ago, but this is an excellent video. Thanks for sharing.

[@WorkroomTech]

Thank you, Florence!

[@WorkroomTech]

Hello Diane, You want the drapery to finish slightly larger than the rod width when pleated. This will give you ease so you don't have to stretch the panel. It also reduces "spring back".

[@tracymanke8489]

Thank you for taking the time to create this presentation that I will have to watch repeatedly to figure out my 4 panels spanning three windows with a 124 in rod....I'm in math prison right now....waaaa. But thank you so much for sharing this information and your time.

[@WorkroomTech]

Tracy, I am there with ya! Math has always been challenging for me yet I chose a career filled with measurements and equations. :) My advice to you is to create a pleating template on strips of paper or buckram so you can work it out visually. Mark the seams on the template based on the widths of your material sewn together. I hope you tackle the challenge! That's a huge drapery project. Good luck.

[@adriennesandiford6582]

Sharon, thank you for your video, it is very good. I was also stumped like Jess Meagan below at the calculations for a 50 inch traverse rod. I cannot figure out where you got 66 inches for one finished panel. If you do see this, could you please reply? Thanks.

[@Jana-nl6gt]

always love your classes thank syou so much!!!! I have one question; Im doing drapes 80 inch wide split, meet in the middle...with buffalo check beautiful french blue; so what pleat do you think would look best for this style/

[@WorkroomTech]

The most popular style right now is a Euro pleat. I think that would look great with a buffalo check!

[@Jana-nl6gt]

@@WorkroomTech thank you!!!!

[@stephaniefox8639]

Thanks for this video. I am a quilter trying to make draperies for my home for the first time. When adjusting the width of the pleat to get a good position of the seam, how much difference is noticeable? I am planning for euro pleats and my math says one pleat would be 4.25” and the next 5”. I’m thinking thinking that will be too noticeable? Thanks for any help!

[@WorkroomTech]

Hello Stephanie, Fold up two pleats and look at them from across the room. Can you tell a difference? If you have not finished your side hems, you could cut away off one side to change the amount added to the pleats. Sometimes it's helpful to plan your pleats and spaces first and then you can plan the finished panel size.

[@dianehorne3005]

Hey Susan, great webinar. I do have a question about calculating "ease" in a 1-way draw drapery. Would this entail removing 1" per panel width from the overall length of the panel? In my case, the w2w fabric is 156"; so would I calculate pleats based on 153"?

[@WorkroomTech]

When calculating "ease" you want the finished width after pleating to be larger than the rod width so that it's not as stretched across the rod.

[@Catsfancy]

Thank you so much for this video, it’s been so helpful for a novice like me! I do have one question, probably a stupid question, do you have a video explaining how to actually attach the curtains to the rings after you’ve finished the panels?

[@susiegalen5120]

Hi Susan, Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. This is a great video with a lot of detailed information. I am planning some draperies with patterned fabric that I want to pleat to the pattern and it's a large pattern that has me befuddled! How would you handle a 27 1/2" overall repeat (with a 13 3/4" intermediate repeat)? The only thing I've been able to come up with is oversized pleats, which seems wrong. But I don't want the drapes to look bad when they are opened! What would you (or your mom) do?! My windows are fairly big, and I will be using center draw traverse rods. The smaller window will have a 108" rod, so one panel will have 2.5 widths of 54" fabric. Thanks!

[@WorkroomTech]

Hello Susie, Not all fabrics need to be pleated to pattern. It's difficult for me to offer advice without seeing the fabric. Bold geometrics and stripe designs look great with a plan like that, but overall florals or toile might be fine pleated with average spacing. If you are making stationary, side-panels then oversized pleats or spaces might look great! But for functional panels, it might be cumbersome. I wish I could help you hands-on! Good luck with your project. Best Wishes, Susan

[@susiegalen5120]

Thanks Susan. I was hoping for a magic formula! Yes, I wish I could work hands-on with you, as well. It is a large damask, so it may be okay not pleated to pattern. I will work on my plain linen blend panels first and think about it. I agree that the large pleats would be odd. Merry Christmas! Susie

[@solangejames7942]

Using a decorative rod what would the spacing be for the leading edge and the opposite end. Would all the spaces be equal or do you start the end with a standard measurment

[@WorkroomTech]

Solange James Hello, for the leading edge, you can adjust the size of that space. I usually make it 3.5 to 4 inches to match up with the other spaces, but I know others who make it less than that. For the return end you will make it to match the projection of your hardware. This can be similar to the leading edge, or quite large if it is going over another layer like sheers. I hope this helps. Thank you for viewing my video!

[@Snail_Nailz]

I'm confused: at 33:08 when your calculating 2.5x fullness it shows the finished panel width to be 124" but using your previous statement of 54" wide fabric...wouldn't 2.5x be 135" finished panel size?

[@Snail_Nailz]

thank you for this video BTW- it's extremely helpful...just trying to understand the match since we're working with a 8' decorative rod so I'm trying to use the formula's to fit our windows.

[@juliefox9155]

You're forgetting to subtract for your side hems, I think.

[@nubchyphyrokh8647]

❤ Hello, I also make curtains in Cambodia.