Hi,
I am making a muslin mockup for some pinch pleat draperies. The draperies are meant to be simple pleated draperies, lined with a thick interfacing and white lining. The draperies are meant to hang slide on rings and puddle a little on the floor. The problem is, I bought standard pinch pleat tape in a standard width of 3 1/2″ or so, and now that I look at the muslin, the pleats look too small in relation to the rest of the drapery. Do they make 6″ width pleater tapes? Or are the designers stacking 2 3 1/2″ tapes? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Michele
Replies
i think the narrower is standard, but your idea of seaming (overlap rather than R sides together) would work fine if it pleases you more.
I use this tape all the time. This is what I do. With R side together I sew my dec. fabric and lining together with my serger, at the top seam. I use my serger so that I have an accurate edge that I can use to to sew the tape to. At the top, along the seam edge, on the right side of the lining, I sew the pleat tape. I really like this tape because it has a colored line along the top and bottom edge for sewing. At the top edge I only sew through the lining, because on such long stretches of fabric weird things happen, and fabric won't lay right, it's best to have only one top stitch through the dec. fabric. Then I iron it all down, having on the top seam the thickness of the seam allowance be my guide. That way I have a small amount of my dec fabric show above the tape on the back side of the drape. (really I just think it looks cool :o)!) Then I pin down the bottom edge of the tape and sew through all three layers of fabric, the dec. fabric, the lining, and the tape. The only thing left to do are the sides and bottom hem. I suggest making a definite left and right drape. Because, depending on the width of your dec. fabric, the slots in the tape will not be the same from left to right sides. Its best to make mirror images instead of duplicates! Also this tape is VERY versatile. If you use the first prong in your hook, skip one or two slots, and the middle two prongs, and use only the last prong you can have a totally different look. Just play around with the placement until your content! I have pictures of this project!
Hi Twila, That is beautiful fabric! I'm at my work computer now, but when I get home, I'll reread your directions with the draperies in hand and see where I diverged. Do you have a picture of the finished drapery on the wall?Thanks again,
Myca
No sorry these drapes have NOT been hung yet. but here are some similar drapes. I hope my directions are not to convoluted...:o)
I liked the pictures of your draperies, and the instructions you posted for using the pleating tape. Also, your photo on your profile. Did you also make the beautiful white gown?
Thank you! Yes I made the dress. That is actually a set of civil war era underpinnings... Hee hee! I posted pictures of myself in my UNDERWEAR. My mother would be so ashamed! lol! thank you for the compliments. I hope the advise was helpful.
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