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Page 36 Get your Pleats Right!
Pleats seem to be the hot new trend for fashion this year from voluminous sleeved blouses to micro pleating on pretty tops. But for us at Lotus Interiors pleating always means curtains, beautiful fabrics and perfectly dressed windows!
Choosing the right pleat type for your curtain is dependent on elements such as the fabric type, pattern size, lining type and the room style. So this month I thought I would share our favourite pleats with you and perhaps introduce you to some new styles and the whys and wherefores of how to get the best from your fabric by using the right pleat.
Triple pleated to pattern
Traditional, but still the best! When pleats are grouped together, either in 2s or 3s this is known as pinch pleating. French pleats are groups of 3 and give a beautiful structured drape to a curtain making them easy to maintain and dress. However this pleat can look traditional in
its finish and at Lotus we tend to reserve the French pleat for feminine bedrooms with beautiful floral drapes!
By far our most popular pleat is a group of 2 which maintains the beautiful structured drape but with a more modern feel. In our (albeit humble!) opinion this is the best finish for a curtain as it suits practically all fabric types and patterns and as our speciality is pleating to pattern, this gives us the most flexible solution to give a perfect finish.
Wave upon wave We are all very used to eyelet or grommet headed curtains; the most common heading now for ready mades. However unless this heading is done well it can give a cheap looking finish to a curtain with the plastic eyelets no match for a quality hand pressed metal finish.
But with large prints being today’s on trend fabric style there is no beating this finish to show off colour and pattern and so we now recommend a pleat known as Perfect Wave as a good alternative, and this is now out selling eyelet finish curtains in our studio. The Perfect Wave gives the same undulation but uses a tape heading and a specialised track to give an even finish to the curtain avoiding the use of eyelets. The result is a modern minimalist look which works particularly well at larger windows avoiding too much fabric and a theatrical finish. We have successfully used this heading on the lightest of voiles to heavy chenilles and all to great effect, the only downside is not being able to pleat to the pattern of the fabric but if the pattern is large, or the fabric plain then this is no issue.
Eyelet finish voiles Pooling pencil pleats
Simple Styling Perhaps the best known pleat is pencil pleating; a simple but effective tape based heading that forms multiple narrow pleats and a random drape. This heading can look elegant when used on plain fabrics and with an extra wide tape (e.g. 16cm) where the pleats are hand finished to give perfect symmetry. Or a narrower tape can be used on a simple linen to give a relaxed feel and an uneven finish. This heading works particularly well if the idea is to pool the curtain on the floor as the unstructured drape works well in accentuating the puddle.
There are many other pleat types but as fashion changes so does client taste and these three now count for 90% of the curtains we make, with double pinch pleats far out weighing the other two.
So if you are thinking of changing your curtains think carefully about what style is going to suit your room and your fabric, and if you have any doubts or need any inspiration give as a call, we’d be happy to help!
Lotus Interiors, Ctra. Moraira 14-16, Benitachell. Call 96 649 3232.
Female Focus
Tammi
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