Common Window Treatment Styles

Rod Pockets
Rod pocket refers to the channel at the top of the curtain though which a curtain rod can be threaded. This style is best for sheer curtains or curtains that will not be opened and closed often. When choosing material, allow about 3 inches at top and bottom for hems.

Tie-Top

These simple lined cafe curtains with grosgrain ribbon ties were made by a college student moving into the dorms. Later when she moved into an apartment, she turned the cafe’s into a single balloon valance by folding the hem up, pinning it in place with straight pins and stuffing the pocket with newspaper.  Years later when she had a family, she turned the cafe curtains into simple valances – one cafe panel for each window.

Button Tab Curtains
Add whimsy to regular tab top curtains by adding buttons. This is a fun idea for a kids' room.

Pinch Pleat
Pinch pleat curtains are one of the most common types of drapery. Curtain panels are pinched in small increments (like every inch in three inches) to create pleats.

Below is an example of pinch pleat curtains with ring clips attached.

Scarf Swag

Ivory sheer scarf draped over iron drapery rods to create a casual swag and jabot.  Gathers are held together (and to the drapery rod) using white twist ties.

Tailored Box Valance
Tailored, lined box valance stapled to a 1x4 board (24-inch drop). The second picture below shows how the valance is attached to a board and then using small L-brackets the treatment is attached to the wall. 

Clips
The easiest way to hang curtains, the top of the curtain is hung onto a pole or wire using a set of clips. The clip attaches to the fabric and has a loop that hangs from the rod or wire. There are several styles of clips and rods available. You can clip anything from cut fabric to a large dining napkin to a pretty tea towel for café curtains—they look great in the kitchen window above the sink, or as a valance anywhere. If you use raw fabric, allow about 3 inches at top and bottom for hems.

Grommets & Eyelets
Grommets and eyelets are a modern and sometimes funky way to hang curtains. You can hang grommets and eyelets from a traditional curtain rod or use rope, ribbon or wire. Simply thread through holes in the top hem. It’s a great look for a boy’s room or a casual family room. You can buy an grommet or eyelets kit from a fabric or discount store.

Fold-over Valance
A Fold-over valance can be used to dress up a window with blinds or simple sheer curtains. To make a fold-over, you can use anything from an old duvet cover to a flat sheet or tablecloth—anything with finished edges—for this quick- fix treatment.

1. Lay out the fabric lengthwise then fold it in thirds, folding each end a few inches over the exact middle. (SEE FIGURES A & B)

FIGURE A

2. Grasp the fabric along the sides on the middle fold (with the overlapping ends in your hand) and fold it over your curtain rod. The folded ends should be even, creating a balloon valance look on each side of the rod.

FIGURE B	FIGURE C

3. Use coordinating ribbons, rope, or fabric strips, etc., to create ties. Measure the width of your valance and divide into thirds. For example, a 36-inch valance would be divided in to 12-inch segments— measure in 12 inches from the left and 12 inches from the right, wrap your strips around the valance, pleating it slightly, and tie them. (SEE FIGURE C)

4. The finished valance should look like similar to the one above and will add a touch of class to a plain window, sheers or blinds.

Curtain/Drapery Glossary

Panel: Section of curtain. Most curtains will have two panels that meet in the middle of the window when closed.

Rod: The long rod or stick used to hang drapery.

Finales: The caps that go at the end of the rods.

Tension Rod: Type of curtain rod that using springs and creates tension to stay up. Tension rods are usually placed between window moldings.

Sheers: Curtains made from translucent fabric; add a little privacy and softening to windows, but no light control; often hung under heavier draperies.

Tie Backs: Strips of fabric, rope, or other materials used to tie curtains back from windows to let in light; usually attach to hardware (hooks, etc.) in wall.

Cafe Curtains: Curtains that screen the lower part of a window for privacy; rods are usually placed halfway down the window inside the recess.

Valance: A short curtain attached to the top of a window; sometimes used with panel curtains, often used to dress up blinds or sheers.

Header: The amount of fabric above a rod pocket.  When making a window treatment that requires a rod pocket, you have the option of also having a header – this refers to the fabric above the pocket.  Since the treatment is gathered on a rod, it creates a ruffle.  You can opt not to have a header, or it can be 1” or larger.  This is usually a double thickness of fabric, and it’s important to not make the header too large or the ruffle will not stand up on its own.

Hem: When making panels make your hem double thickness.  If you turn it up 3”, turn it up a second time – for a total of 6”.  The double hem also helps provide weight to the treatment and allows the fabric to hang better.  This is the case not only the bottom of your panels, but also for the sides of your panels as well – the sides should be done using a double 1” hem on both sides. 

It’s important to note that not all treatments have this kind of hem… for instance, rod pocket or pinch pleated panels and rod pocket valances have side and bottom hems, but a swag or roman shade wouldn’t.   Some treatments, have place the drapery fabric and the lining, right sides together, sew a 1/2” seam around the sides and bottom of the treatment and then turn it right side out – ironing the seams for a crisp look. 

Drop: The lengths of the treatment the rod to the hem or bottom of the treatment.  This length obviously depends on the kind of treatment you make.  A Swag and Jabot has a very different drop than a set of pinch pleated panels.  Much of this will be determined by the size of the window and the measurements you made before purchasing your fabric.  But as a rule of thumb for treatments that only cover the top portion of the window, like valances, they should have a drop of approximately 18.”

> Read additional terms from Rental Decorating

Another great website for making curtains:
>Alternative-Windows.co.uk

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Achieving a
Custom Look
Tips for making your Window Treatments look custom made – aka better than store bought

Measuring your window:
You are doomed from the beginning if you don’t measure the window accurately.  You need to determine where the curtain rod will go – it looks best if the hardware is installed 3-4” above and 2-3” out from window molding.  This makes the window look larger, and grander allowing the window and the treatment to work together, instead of compete against each other.  The amount you decide to move the window treatment hardware up and away from the window needs to be figured into your window measurements, otherwise the treatment could be too short, or to narrow for the space.  Sometimes rods are hung purposely inside the trim to show off any specialty molding. (SEE BOX PLEAT VALANCE PROJECT)

Need help measuring your windows?
> Alternative Window's has an excellent diagram to help you accurately measure for curtains.

Also, fabric stores that carry drapery fabrics usually have diagrams and worksheets you can fill out before purchasing your fabric to insure you’ve measured everything and will help you purchase enough fabric.

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Selecting Fabric

Don’t skimp on fabric. Some store-bought curtains can look skimpy because they don't use enough fabric to achieve the amount of fullness you would desire. To give your window treatment a truly custom and tailored look, make your curtains two to three times the width of the window.

Can't find fabric wide enough to be 2-3 times the width of the window?
You can actually seam panels together to create the desired width. The secret is to hide the seam in a pleat, pinch or gather.

Pay attention to patterns
Most printed fabrics have what is referred to as a design repeat.  The repeat refers to the distance between the beginning and ending of the printed design.  This is true of a plaid, floral, novelty print, etc.  Some fabric repeats are very small – 1 inch and others are very large 15 inch or larger.  It all depends on the design.  When making any kind of window treatments, roman shades, valance, panels, it’s important to keep the design in the same spot.  If using a large scale floral for a roman shade, you want to center the main floral design on the shade. When making a set of panels for a window, or multiple windows, it’s important that your treatment starts at the same point on the fabric for each panel.  This usually requires purchasing extra fabric.  If you ignore the design repeat when making your window treatments, you won’t be able to ignore it once they are hung – it’s really an obvious mistake.

Choose quality lining
Lining window treatments is essential.  It’s not a question of whether or not to line your window treatment; it’s a question of what kind of lining to use.  Your local fabric shop should carry a variety of different weights and finishes of lining. Some linings are very light weight, and others are heavy and help to block out sunlight and drafts (both cold and hot).  Consult a sales clerk at the fabric shop about what lining options are available.

The purpose of lining your curtains is twofold. First, lining provides weight to the treatment and allows it to hang properly.  Just like a lined pair of pants has a higher quality and more polished look to them than unlined pants, the same is true of a window treatment.  Second, the lining serves as a “slip” for the treatment.  It helps control the amount of light let in by the treatment, and helps keep the fabric design from getting washed out by the sunlight.

Lining a sheer?
It sounds like an oxymoron, but actually it can be done. If you find a sheer that you would like to use as panels, but don't want them to be see-through, try holding a thick lining behind it to see if you achieve the proper weight and look you're going for. This unconventional method will give you more options than the standard opaque drapery fabric that is used for panels.

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Hanging the Window Treatment

We’ve already discussed the importance of determining where on your wall to hang the window treatment.  Additionally we’ve strongly suggested moving the hardware up and away from the window frame giving the window treatment and the window breathing room. 

There are hundreds of hardware options out there for you to consider hanging your window treatment from.  Any kind of department store where drapery fabrics are sold sell hanging options – iron, wood, painted finishes, etc.  But you don’t have to feel limited by what’s available in the drapery aisle - copper piping, tree branches, upholstery tacks, shower curtain rods, PVC pipe – are just some of the nontraditional options out there. 

Not all window treatments hang on a rod, some are stapled to a 1x4 piece of lumber cut to the desired length (width of window + width of any window molding (both sides) + distance out from window (both sides) = length of 1x4).  This is usually true of treatments that have a tailored and in some cases more formal look than a treatment hanging on a rod. This is a popular way of mounting a Roman shade. Also, they have a flat design to them that can’t easily be achieved on a rod, for example, a box pleated valance and a formal pleated swag alone or with jabots, is usually stapled to a board and then hung using small L brackets.  To give the 1x4 a clean look, it is covered in scrap lining fabric, or white muslin, and extra drapery fabric is cut to cover the top of the board once the treatment is stapled to the covered board.  This “dust cover” is stapled over the raw edges of the treatment as give it a finished look.  This is especially important if the top of the treatment is visible from a staircase or from the second story of the house. 

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Alternative Ideas & Variations

Overalls
Use tops of overalls as the tabs. To make, cut the overall bib four inches from the top. Attach to curtain panel and press seams open with an iron.

Toy Rings
Instead of using traditional curtain clips to hang your grommet-style panels, use colorful toy rings to add youthful charm.

Shower Curtain Hooks
Instead of using traditional curtain clips to hang your grommet-style panels, use shower curtain hooks. They come in a variety of styles from elegant to fun and are an inexpensive way to add charm to window treatments.

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Easy Curtain Ideas

Scarves & Napkins: Clip scarves or cloth napkins with curtain clips to a rod for easy curtains.

Bedding: Turn a pillowcase into a curtain valance by tucking and pinning it on a curtain rod.

Sheets can also be cut and trimmed to be beautiful curtains that match bedding.

Shower Curtain: A lovely shower curtain can also be used as a curtain when properly hemmed to fit the windows.

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No-Sew Curtains

If you don’t have access to a sewing machine (or don’t have the time or space to dig yours out and set it up), there are curtains you can create that don't require any sewing. If you have unhemmed fabric, you can use fusible webbing or tape, which is applied with a hot iron and a cloth. It takes the place of a needle and thread and is available at most fabric or craft stores.

Hemming with Fusible Webbing
(Stictch Witchery, Bondaweb, etc.)
1. For the Sides: Turn in and press 1/2 inch at each side and then turn in another 1 inch and press. Place a strip of fusible web 1 inch wide under the fold and press into place using a hot iron according to manufacturer’s instructions.

2. For the bottom: Turn up and press 1 inch at lower edge and then turn up and press another 3 inches at lower edge. Place a strip of fusible web 3 inches wide under the fold and press into place using a hot iron.

3. For the top: Turn in and press 1/2 inch along top, then turn in another 1 inch and press. Place a strip of bonding web 1 inche wide under the top fold of the hem and press with a hot iron and a damp cloth

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More Than Just Windows

Curtain rods can be used to hang more than just curtains. Why not hang a child's quilt or wall hanging using clips and a simple curtain rod.