Double Pinch Pleat Curtains & Window Drapes: A Complete Guide

 

‘Chic couture with old-fashioned charisma’ - is that your window decor goal? Well! You’ve stopped at the right place. With their tailored beauty and functional efficiency, double pinch pleat drapes are a fitting match for a wide range of decor styles. From maximalist dressy interiors to pared-back contemporary homes, double pinch pleats share bonhomie with polar opposite aesthetic settings.

Well appreciated for their sumptuousness, uniform gather and tailored finesse, double pinch pleats add bespoke grandeur to your home. Unlike many other curtain heading styles that are factory-made, the pinch pleat family is revered for being the sweet fruit of human labour and sterling craftsmanship. No surprise, clients who love to dress their homes with carefully curated, handcrafted decor find their interests fully met in this style of drapery.

If double pinch pleat curtains resonate with your style of interior design, you’ll enjoy a good read here. We’re about to lay down everything you need to know before you shop for custom curtains in the double pinch style from us.

What are Double Pinch Pleat Curtains?

 

 

Double pinch pleat curtains are characterised by pleated headers wherein each ‘pinch’ is created by making two folds of the fabric and securing to the bottom of the buckram so that the pleats assume a V-shape. The pinches are sewn at equal gaps across the length of the header, ensuring a sumptuous fullness and an architectural appeal to the drapery.

Where triple pinch pleats’ three-fold pleats make a more ornate header fitting for traditional, formal spaces, double pinch pleats’ toned-down elegance makes it suitable for both traditional and transitional homes - and with the right fabric - in contemporary homes as well.

What are the Reasons to Choose Double Pinch Pleat Curtains?

 

 

 

Double pinch pleat curtains have everything it takes to set the tone for tailored bespoke grandeur. In just the perfect measure, they offer form and function rolled into one masterfully crafted drapery. Let’s break down that lofty claim into details as we list why so many of our clients are ardent fans of double pinch pleat drapery:

EMBELLISHED AND TAILORED LOOK:  Double pinch pleat curtains offer rich elegance with equally spaced and beautifully adorned pleats. Since the pleats are stitched and secured in place, double pinch pleat drapes offer a uniform gather and graceful fall even when they are being operated open or closed. The perfection, uniformity and fullness of these drapes are what makes them irresistible for formal decor, but their relatively pared-back looks make them apt for semi-formal decor too.

HANDCRAFTED BEAUTY: Double pinch pleat drapes are created with immense skill, human labour and mastery over an age-old craft. That places this style of drapery far above the ubiquitous set of curtains rolled out by a machine. There is no better way to achieve an elevated designer look for your home than double pinch pleat curtains or any style that falls in the broad category of pinch pleat drapery!

EASE OF FUNCTIONALITY: Since double pinch pleat drapes hang on rings/hooks, they glide easily on the pole/track making for a fuss-free movement when you open and shut the drapes. So you can trust them without second thoughts for windows where you anticipate frequent operation.

LIGHT CONTROL: Some curtain headers feature fabric loops or grommets through which light pushes its way in. But double pinch pleats are one of those styles that offer no possibilities for light leaks from the header in their construction. In addition, clients typically choose thicker fabrics and lining with this style, making for a highly insulative window dressing. Therefore, many clients seek out double pinch pleat curtains for bedrooms and windows facing south and west to keep light out effectively.

VERSATILITY: When buying new curtains for your home, double pinch pleat curtains give no headaches as they can be hung on tracks as well as poles. You don’t have to invest again for suitable hardware. Besides, you can have complete leverage over the choice to show or conceal the hardware as you can choose the level at which the curtains should hang.

GREAT CHOICE FOR PLAIN CURTAINS: If solid-coloured drapes are on your agenda, pinched pleats are a great way to add visual interest to the drapery that might otherwise be too quiet and plain. The raised contours and the ornamental pleats offer elegant embellishment to an otherwise uneventful drapery.

What are the Factors to be Considered When Shopping for Double Pinch Pleat Curtains?

 

 

If you find double pinch pleat drapery to be just the right combination of all the good things you seek for your window decor, have a look also at the factors to consider when shopping for them. Follow these thumb rules and tips to style them correctly and make the most of them:

GOOD FIT FOR SEVERAL DECOR STYLES:  Although a member of the classical pinch pleat family, double pinch pleats gel well with various decor styles. With the right fabric and accessories, they can blend with both traditional and modern tastes.

In homes that lean more towards the traditional style, you can plan double pinch pleats with fabrics featuring traditional motifs and classical palettes. Add hardware that will wear a graceful patina and embellishments that show off handcrafted artistry to complete the look. A tassel curtain trim on the lead edges, for example, can add a nostalgic enchantment to the drapery.

In more modern interiors, the decor is more mellow and the details are quite subtle. So, the fabrics may be plain neutrals or modern prints in muted hues. They can be paired with sleek black hardware and minimum to no embellishments. Here, the double pinch pleats offer depth and personality to the space and let their pleats do most of the talking while other elements play a supporting role.

You can mould this drapery to relay your personal design style, no matter what it is - Boho, Scandi, Japandi, farmhouse, country or modern organic. 

RELAY THE FORMAL/INFORMAL CHARACTER: Double pinch pleat drapes go with both formal and semi-formal decor. The key to creating the desired feel lies in the details of the drapery. So, select the drapery fabric, hardware and accessories in keeping with how formal the room is.

In a more dressed-up setting, prefer statement drapery fabrics like velvet and silk, show-worthy poles and finials and related embellishments to match the high-end formal appeal of the room. 

In less elaborate or more informal setups, go for heavy cotton curtains, linen drapes or other fabrics that relay the themes and colours of your decor style without the element of extravagance. Similarly, select hardware and accessories that are pared-back and relatively more casual in appeal.

PRECISE MEASUREMENTS: A rod pocket or eyelet top curtain is essentially a flat curtain panel that is ‘gathered’ on the pole to form pleats. Such styles of panels can be spread on the pole to achieve varying levels of coverage. Therefore, high precision in specifying panel width is typically not needed. 

However, in the case of pinch pleat drapery, the pleats are ‘fixed’. Therefore, their final width is fixed. With double pinch pleats, you can expect sumptuous fullness that is evenly distributed, but since the pleats are stitched to the header, the panel cannot be spread out beyond the final width. If the width specified in the order does not equal the length of the pole, the drapery will leave the window partially uncovered. 

So, it’s important to measure the pole accurately and specify the final length and width of your drapes with accuracy.  We recommend following the step-by-step guide we offer below to ensure your drapes are stitched with ample fullness and coverage. 

STACKING ROOM: Since double pinch pleat curtains are stitched with sumptuous fullness, they need more stacking room than some of the other pleat styles. Hence, we advise clients to extend the pole/track sufficiently on both sides of the window to accommodate the drapery stackback when curtains are drawn to the sides. 

 

SHOP NOW: CUSTOM SILK CURTAINS FROM THE WHITE WINDOW

What are the Hardware Options for Double Pinch Pleat Curtains?

 

 

Double pinch pleat drapes are a versatile style of drapery that is compatible with both tracks and poles. Accordingly, you may need to invest in appropriate hardware accessories such as drapery pins and eyelet rings for poles and drapery hooks for tracks.

How are Double Pinch Pleat Curtains Measured?

 

 

 

Despite the elaborate form of pleating that double pinch pleat drapes offer, the math behind placing their orders is simple. Here’s how you go about it:

 

HOW TO MEASURE LENGTH

 

 

If you're mounting your double pinch pleat drapery from a decorative pole with rings, and would like the show-worthy hardware to be visible, start measuring length from just below the curtain ring, up to the desired end point.

If mounting from a track, most clients prefer to hide the hardware. In this case, we recommend measuring length from the top of the track to the desired endpoint. 

While you may choose your drapery to stop at the window sill, or a recommended length of 10-15cm below the window sill, for ornate styles like double pinch pleats, we recommend going for floor-length or puddled drapes that match the opulence of the style. 

Ultimately, the curtain fall length comes down to the taste of each client. While pinch pleats are best donned in long lengths, one may choose other endpoints based on the space available, or personal preferences. 

 

HOW TO MEASURE WIDTH

 

 

As mentioned earlier, double pinch pleat curtains have ‘fixed pleats’ that are stitched in and cannot be adjusted, therefore, specifying panel widths accurately is quite important. And depending on the kind of hardware you have in place or plan to purchase, the end widths of your panels may vary slightly.

The three key hardware options are: curtain tracks, standard drapery poles, and French return drapery poles. Let's go over steps to measure drapery panel widths taking into account each of these hardware options:

CURTAIN TRACKS/ STANDARD DRAPERY POLES: Start by measuring the length of your track or pole (finial to finial). Then based on whether you're planning to mount a pair of curtains or one single panel to drape the track/pole, follow the sizing guidance below:

• For a single panel of double pinch pleat drapery, add 10cm to the measured length of your pole/track to reach the final width of your drapery panel. This extra 10cm is to ensure a safe margin for full coverage of the pole. For a 100cm pole/track, for example, we advise final panel width of 110cm for a single drapery panel. 

• If ordering a pair of curtains for the same curtain track/pole, add 20cm to the length of pole/track. Then halve this total measurement to reach the final width of each drapery panel. The extra width of 20cm ensures sufficient panel width for curtains to sufficiently overlap when drawn together, thereby preventing any light leaks in the middle.

To explain with an example, if your curtain track/pole measures 100cm, add 20cm to this measure, reaching 120cm. Based on guidance above, the final width of each of your drapery panels should be (100+20) ÷ 2 = 60cm each.  

FRENCH RETURN DRAPERY POLES: Also known as wraparound curtain poles, French return drapery poles feature curved or angled ends. Drapery mounted on this style of poles seals the gap between the wall and the pole, thereby eliminating light leaks from the edges.

For French return poles, the panel measurements need to factor in extra width to cover the returns, which typically are 10cm on each side.

Start by measuring the pole end to end, including the returns on both ends. Then, follow the sizing guidance offered above for tracks/standard poles, taking into account whether you're mounting a single panel or a pair to cover your pole. 

Bonus Tip: In case you have drapery tracks/poles without returns, but would like to enjoy the clean designer look and light-blocking benefits offered by the French return drapery poles, we highly recommend the hook and eye hack. 

While we hope that with the above instructions, you will be able to measure up your required drapery width with ease, in case there’s a hiccup along the tape, be assured you'll find us just an email away to assist you!

How to Hang Double Pinch Pleat Curtains & Drapes?

 

 

Pinch pleat curtains can be hung on both tracks and poles using drapery pins. However, while tracks are more popularly used for modern pinch pleat styles like the euro-pinch pleat, we recommend show-worthy poles for double pinch pleats. 

Regardless of the hardware you use, below is our step-by-step guide to hang double pinch pleat curtains: 

STEP 1: On the backside of your pinch pleat curtains, you’ll find a 10 cm heading tape sewn at the top. Our tape features three different pin insertion points, offering three ‘levels’ to insert drapery pins. This provides the flexibility of being able to choose the exact height you’d like your drapes to sit. Choose the level that you’d like to use for the best possible height/look for your drapery, while factoring in if you’d like your track/pole to be visible or hidden. 

STEP 2: Start inserting drapery pins along the entire length of the tape, aiming for one drapery pin behind every ‘pinch’, by simply pushing the pointy end of the pin through the tape. Ensure that the pins are inserted securely and evenly spaced across the width of the curtain.

STEP 3: Once all the drapery pins are inserted in the heading tape, hook the curved end of the pin into the eyelet of the drapery ring, clip, or track carrier. Ensure that each pin is firmly secured in the hardware to prevent any slipping or sagging of the curtains. And that’s it!

In Closing

 

 

Easily one of the most beautiful as well as functional window treatments, double pinch pleat drapes offer stately elegance without going overboard with embellishment. The classical touch is prominent but so is the versatility to blend with transitional and streamlined aesthetics. With their impressive visual appeal and functionality, double pinch pleat curtains offer everything that window decor should ideally comprise. So, if you’ve found your favourite drapery heading style now, head on to the creative part of selecting the fabric and designing it. Browse the extensive catalogue of The White Window and find your favourite double pinch pleat drapery online today!