How to Hang Your Curtains: The Pinch Pleat Guide
A pinch pleat curtain describes a family of curtain headings that include double pleat, triple pleat, euro pleat, goblet or cartridge. Hanging pinch pleat curtains might seem fiddly at first, but with the right technique it’s actually straightforward and the result is a beautifully tailored pair of made to measure curtains. Our helpful guide will make sure your pinch pleat curtains are hanging just right in no time.
How to Hang Your Pinch Pleat Curtains
Pinch pleat curtains give you a degree of flexibility in height as the hooks can be moved up and down the heading tape. If you place the curtain hooks near the top of the curtain heading, the bottom of your curtains will sit closer to the floor, or have slightly more pooling. If you place the hooks towards the bottom of the heading tape, your curtains will be shorter.
1. Lay the curtain flat, pleat side up. Place your curtain face down on a smooth surface so you can see the back of the pleats clearly. This lets you insert/move your hooks precisely.
2. Insert the hooks into the pleats. Slide the sharp point of a hook under the stitches at the back of the pleat until it’s hidden. The hook should sit level with the top edge of the curtain. If the hook’s point is visible, it might pull fabric or be misaligned.
3. Initial hook placement and length test. Start by inserting a few hooks (for example, in the middle area) and hang the curtain temporarily on the pole or track. Check you’re happy with the length - - - if it looks good, continue. If you need to adjust the length, simply move the hooks up or down the heading tape until you’re happy.
4. Hook every pleat. Once you’re happy with the length, insert a hook into the back of every pleat. On one curtain panel, add one hook to the inside edge and one to the outside edge. On the other curtain panel, add one hook to the outer edge, but leave the inner edge free from hooks so the curtains can overlap in the middle. This will help with blackout and the overall look of the curtains.
5. Hang the curtains. Thread each hook into the curtain ring (on a pole setup) or hook them into the gliders (for track systems). Gently draw the curtain closed, ensure an even fall, and adjust as needed.
Top tip: If using curtain rings, remember to put one ring on the outside edge of the bracket. This helps hide the bracket and keeps the curtain in place.
Pinch Pleat Curtain Heading FAQ's
How do I hang curtains with a triple pleat heading or a goblet pleat heading? These curtain headings are hung the same way as a double pleat curtain. Goblet pleats may need a bit more care when inserting hooks to keep the shape clean.
Can I hang pinch pleat curtains on a track instead of a pole? Absolutely. You can follow the same steps for hanging a pinch pleat curtain on a pole, but the curtain hooks will sit in track gliders rather than curtain pole rings.
Which row of hook pockets should I use on the pinch pleat heading? Many pinch pleat curtains have multiple hook rows. The top pocket gives a fuller, slightly longer drape; the bottom pocket gives a shorter fall. You can choose where to insert the hooks on the pinch pleat heading depending on how you want your curtains to sit. You may want to choose the bottom row of pockets on the pinch pleat heading to help cover the track or curtain pole slightly. Please note, this may affect how easy the curtains are to open and close.
