How to Make Pencil Pleat Curtains with Shirring Tape

By Clara
Beginner
2 hours

Pencil pleats are thin, even pleats used in drapery headings, valances, and bed skirts. Using shirring tape makes creating these pleats simple. You can control how tight or loose you want the pleats.

Like the fabric used in this project? Drapery fabric isn’t just for decor. You can use it in fashion too, like this circle skirt Jen made with the same fabric as these pencil pleat curtains.

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How to Make Pencil Pleat Curtains with Shirring Tape

Materials

Video

Instructions

Step 1: Sew the shirring tape to the heading

I have already sewn the sides and hem of this curtain panel so we can focus on the heading. See our other curtain videos for instructions on getting to this point.

For lined curtains, check out How To Sew Lined Back Tab Curtains, and for unlined instructions, look at How To Make Rod Pocket Curtains.

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Sew the sides and hem of the curtain panel

To start the heading, fold down the top edge about an inch and iron. Also tuck under the corners.

Pencil Pleat Curtains - fold down the top edge about an inch and iron

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Tuck under the corners

Take the shirring tape and pull out the strings at one end so you can knot the ends together. This 3″ shirring tape also comes in a 4″ version with 4 strings.

Cut off the extra tape so you leave about ½” beyond the strings.

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Pull out the strings at one end of the shirring tape

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Knot the ends together

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Cut off the extra tape

How far from the top you place the tape depends on how you want them to hang in relation to your hardware. Insert a drapery hook into one of the pockets. This tape has 3 options, but you’ll usually want the top one.

Then hook on the eyelet curtain ring, if that’s what you’re using. I’m going to position the tape so that the curtain comes to the very bottom of the ring. That’s ½” from the top.

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Insert drapery hook to determine tape placement

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Position tape so the curtain comes to bottom of the ring

Fold under the end of the tape with the knot under the tape. Pin across the width of the panel. Cut off the tape on the other end leaving enough to fold under.

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Fold under the end of the tape

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Place tape on heading

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Pin across width of panel

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Cut off extra tape

Sew around the top, bottom and sides of the tape. Make sure not to sew over the loose strings at the end.

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Sew around top, bottom and sides of tape

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Don't sew over loose strings at the end

Step 2: Gather the pleats

Pull the strings to gather the pleats. Pull until you get to your desired finished width for the panel.

For pencil pleat curtains, you want to multiply the width you want the finished panel to be by about 2.5. It can be more or less depending on how full you want the curtains. I want this panel to be 20 inches wide.

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Pull the strings to start gathering the pleats

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Gather the pleats

Pencil Pleat Curtains - Pull until you get to your desired finished width

If you’re making two drapery panels, the ends with the extra string should go on the outer edges of the panels, so reverse which ends of the shirring tape are on the left and right sides for the second panel.

In case you want to change the width later, don’t cut the strings, but rather bundle up the extra. Knot the strings, and then twist them. Fold them in half so they twist themselves together, then bundle it up and tuck it between the first and second pleats.