Pleated Panels
Pleated panels are a classic style of drapery. There are several different styles.
Pinch Pleats.
The pinch pleat is a great addition to any traditional or elegantly-styled space since it offers a dramatic, yet timeless look. This type of drapery is called ‘pinched’ because the top of the drape is literally pinched together! The pinched pleats are spaced evenly apart and weighted at the bottom of the drapery. The permanently sewn-in pleats make for a smart finish, with elegant folds flowing from top to bottom. Pinch pleat curtains can be hung either with a curtain rod or on a track.
The pinch pleat is sometimes known as the French drapery pleat, and it is widely considered a classic, the little black dress of pleated draperies.
Pencil Pleats
Pencil pleats are one of the most versatile curtain headings, as they can even be used with sheer and blackout fabrics and on a variety of curtain tracks and rods. The pleats are deeper than those of pinch pleats.
Goblet Pleats
The goblet pleat resembles a three-finger pinch pleat, but the pleat forms a wineglass silhouette. The pleating is embellished with a stiffening card to form the goblet shape. There are a number of different variations on the goblet pleat—it can be open, closed, knotted, or tied, among other things.
Inverted Pleat
An inverted pleat is a common drapery header type that adds texture and depth to the textile. Because it turns the fullness of the curtain inward, it is the reverse of a box pleat.
Double Pleat
Double pleat curtains are also known as double pinch pleat curtains. They have a double fold at the top to create a double pleat. They are more contemporary than triple pleats and are a good choice for patterned fabrics as less of the pattern is gathered into the fold.
Triple Pinch Pleat
As the name indicates, triple pinch pleat curtains have groups of three pleats separated by flat sections of fabric, so the curtains are suspended by the pleats with fabric between. Triple pleat curtains require more fabric than other pleats, which gives a full and luxurious look.