Everything about Curtains

Everything about Curtains

Curtain Headings, Pelmets, Valances, Swags & Tails...

We recommend that all valances, pelmets and drapes are fitted to a ‘pelmet board’ or ‘top board’ and that the track is fitted to the underside of the board. Valance rails, especially plastic ones, are not strong enough to take the weight of much more than an unlined frill. Metal ones with velcro fix can be used for small valances but not pelmets or swag & tail treatments.

Pencil pleat tape

Tape is available in 1”, 3" & 6" versions. Tape can have a  velcro compatible loop section instead of the hook pockets.  A smaller size of tape, set down from the top of the valance gives a soft pie-crust frill, creating a very pretty look. (see animated image right)

Pinch Pleat, sometimes called Triple Pleat or French Heading

A classic heading, always smart; curtains fall in even folds, showing the pattern to its best advantage.

Add buttons or tufts for an eye-catching accent. The pleats can be made up to 10" deep and the general rule is the longer the curtains the deeper the pleats. 

Make the centre pleat in a contrast fabric, add a button & 

tassel, maybe contrast line as well - Show stopper !

Goblet Head
It can be made without buckram for a softer appearance and looks good with quite a large button at the base in contrast or smartly understated in self-colour.

Curtains look best hanging under a pole

 Contrast Lined Cut-Away Goblets
These are a variation where the inside of the goblet is lined in a contrast fabric and the front of the goblet is cut away to show the lining. The contrast button at the base finishes the effect.  Looks good as a curtain and is an excellent way on introducing colour to a valance in a room which doesn't have much height.

Spaced Shaped Double Bell
This valance is designed to be used with a dominant motif or pattern, the wide flat section showing off the pattern and the double pleated bell giving fullness.Contrast lining for the bell and a co-ordinating rope are shown here, but a frill at the base would change the look completely!












Swags & Tails
These in many variations but essentially two forms. Single swags, overlapped, or butted with a tail at either end to balance, or trapeze cut, where the swags are joined while flat and pleated up afterwards also with a tail at either end. Various small tails, jabots and tassels, rosettes & twiddly bits are used to decorate the joins.

Dropped Swag & Tail

An alternative is to use a dropped swag, either, as here against a fabric covered style 1 ply pelmet, or over a pole, several swags will give a `wrapped' effect.

Tails can be even or asymetric.

Ply Pelmets & Lambrequins
We make our hard pelmets on a ply base. Buckram can be used but we find that it curls and buckle with age.

With the current taste for a rather tailored look, we find ply is a better base. There are many designs for the shape of this type of pelmet, when choosing, consider how the fabric will fit into the shape as well as which shape will suit the window

It is a good idea to make a paper pattern and hang it ( blu-tack!) in the window, just to check how the sizes look; it is very common to make valances & pelmets too shallow!

A lambrequin is a pelmet that extends three quarters of the way down the side of the window  and gives a very smart tailored look which is used in conjunction with a blind. Particularly useful where there is no room for curtains but `just a blind' would look bleak and unfinished.  There are some new painted wood overpelmets especially for blinds - just gives them a finish if they are fitted outside the recess