There are a number of different headings you can have on your curtains. Each give a different look and feel to the curtains and room. There is not a right or wrong curtain heading to choose but certain headings will work better in certain rooms or with particular designs of fabrics.

Here are some of the most commonly used curtain headings.

PENCIL PLEAT

Pencil pleat curtains are gathered evenly across the top of the curtain using a drawstring tape. This is probably the most simple and inexpensive heading. Pencil pleat heading is suitable for most styles of room. It is also very versatile and can be used on tracks or poles; under pelmets and valances or on their own. There are rows of pockets so that the hooks can be inserted at different levels, altering the hanging height of the curtain. On a standard 3” tape the top pocket would usually be used for poles, while the lower pockets will allow the curtain to be hung covering a curtain track. We can also supply a 1 inch, 2 inch or 6 inch pencil pleat heading on request. Pencil pleat curtains from The Millshop Online will come already pleated to your requested size, and metal curtain hooks will be in place ready for easy hanging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PINCH PLEAT

Pinch pleat curtains have clusters of structured pleats separated by flat sections, the hooks are then inserted at each pleat. Pinch pleats give a more formal look and the curtains tend to hang in more uniform folds. The pinch pleat heading can be made with triple pleats, or double pleats which work well if your fabric is too heavy for triple pleats. This heading isn’t suitable for curtain tracks, and is recommended for poles. It also requires more fabric, as a 2.5x fulness is recommended. We use a buckram stiffener for our pinch pleats, and metal pin hooks are inserted into each pleat for hanging. (Although we can supply plastic microflex hooks on request)

For a different twist on the pinch pleat heading, euro pleats are very similar but the pleats are pinched at the top rather than the bottom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EYELET

Eyelet or ‘ring top’ curtains give a more simple and modern look. Different sizes and colours of eyelets are available to fit any pole. An eyelet at least 1cm larger than your pole is needed for ease of movement. Eyelet curtains can only be used on a pole, and may not work if you have a bay window as the eyelets will not pass any supporting brackets at the corners of the bay.

Eyelets can work with slightly less than double fullness, although double fulness is recommended to give a nice ‘wave’ when the curtains are closed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAVE

Wave heading is designed to give the simple modern look of eyelet curtains, but without the need for a pole. This makes them ideal for a bay window or a situation where ceiling fixing is required. The wave effect is achieved by inserting the hooks at exactly the right distance apart and using a special track where the gliders are joined together with a cord to ensure even spacing. Be sure to choose a light or medium weight fabric as a heavy fabric may not fall into a neat wave the full length of the curtain.