Curtain Styles Explained: S-Fold, French Pleat, Eyelet and More

The main curtain styles at a glance

Fullness is the finished curtain width divided by the track width. A fullness of 2 means 4 metres of finished curtain for a 2-metre track. The figures below are typical; a workroom may vary them for the fabric and the look.

S-fold (ripple fold) curtains

S-fold curtains hang in a continuous run of soft, identical waves, the same from the room and from the window. The effect comes from the track rather than the sewing: the curtain is attached to carriers on an S-fold track, and a spacing cord or tape holds every carrier at the same distance, so each fold forms at exactly the same size. Ripple fold and wave are other names for the same idea.

• Pros: a clean, modern look; very even folds; a neat, compact stack when open; and excellent with motorised tracks.
• Cons: it needs an S-fold track and carriers, so an ordinary track or pole will not do, and it looks less formal than pleats.
• Fabric: soft, fluid fabrics make the best waves: sheers, medium-weight dimouts and polyester velvets. Very stiff coated blackouts can form uneven waves; choose a softer blackout or line a dimout with blackout instead. See sheer and dimout fabrics.

In Malaysian condominiums, S-fold on a ceiling-mounted double track, a sheer behind and a dimout or blackout in front, is a popular set-up. For fullness, tracks and fabric choice in depth, see S-Fold Curtains: Fullness, Tracks and the Best Fabrics.

French pleat and other pinch pleats

A pinch pleat is any heading where the fabric is gathered into pleats at regular intervals and stitched at the base, with a stiffening tape called buckram behind the heading so the pleats stand up. The number of folds gives the name:

• French pleat (triple pinch pleat). Three folds per pleat. The fullest and most formal heading, with deep, structured folds down the whole drop.
• Double pleat. Two folds per pleat. A little lighter and uses slightly less fabric.
• Single pinch pleat and goblet pleat. Less common; the goblet pleat is shaped like a cup and is mostly used for curtains that stay closed.

Pinch pleats hold their shape best in fabrics with some body: jacquards, velvets, dimouts and blackouts. They hang from a curtain track or from rings on a pole, and they work on motorised tracks too. For pleat types, hanging and fabric quantities in depth, see French Pleat Curtains. See What Is Jacquard Fabric? and What Is Velvet Fabric? for how those fabrics behave in pleats.

Eyelet curtains

Eyelet curtains have metal or plastic rings set into a stiffened heading, and the pole runs straight through them. The rings make the curtain fall into deep, regular folds and slide easily by hand.

• Always use an even number of eyelets per curtain, so both edges turn back towards the wall.
• Eyelets hang from a pole only. They cannot go on a ceiling track or most motorised systems.
• Because the curtain sits below the pole, light shows above it. For a dark bedroom, choose a track-mounted style instead.
• Medium-weight fabrics work best. Very light sheers can look thin between the rings; very heavy fabrics can drag on the pole. See Eyelet Curtains for poles, rings and measuring.

Pencil pleat, tab top and rod pocket

Pencil pleat curtains are gathered by pulling cords in a heading tape, which makes tight, even gathers like a row of pencils. They are quick to make and suit soft, light fabrics. Tab top and rod pocket curtains are threaded straight onto a pole. They look relaxed and cost little to make, but they do not slide easily, so they suit curtains that are rarely drawn.

Types of curtain hooks and which heading uses which

See Types of Curtain Hooks for hook materials, how many you need and common hanging problems.

How much fabric do you need?

Multiply the track width by the fullness to get the finished curtain width, then work out how many widths of fabric that takes. Extra-wide curtain fabrics change the sum completely, because they can be turned sideways (railroaded) so the fabric's width becomes the curtain's drop.

Worked example: a 2.4 m track, a 2.6 m drop and S-fold at 2 times fullness, so 4.8 m of finished curtain.

• With an extra-wide fabric (300 cm or more), railroaded: the drop plus hems, about 2.9 m, fits within the fabric's width. You need roughly 4.8 m plus about 0.3 m for side hems and overlaps: about 5.1 m in one piece, with no joins. Sheers such as CALLIE (325 cm) and dimouts such as COMO (320 cm) are made for this.
• With a narrow fabric (about 145 cm), not railroaded: 4.8 m of finished width needs four widths joined. Each width is the drop plus about 0.3 m for hems: 4 × 2.9 m, or about 11.6 m, plus extra for matching the pattern repeat.

These are approximations. Hem, heading and overlap allowances vary by workroom, so confirm the final quantity with your curtain maker before ordering.

Which style for which room

Once the style is chosen, the curtain still has to be made up well. Alchemy Sewing, part of the Jotex Group, sews French pleat, ripple fold and eyelet curtains for dealers, and JOTEX Sunshades supplies curtain tracks and motors.

Frequently asked questions