Pencil Pleat Curtains

What are pencil pleat curtains?

Pencil pleat curtains have neat gathered pleats, formed by a tape sewn along the top. They're versatile and traditional, and they work on both tracks and poles.

Where they work well

We'd often suggest pencil pleat curtains for bedrooms, bay windows and traditional rooms. It's worth knowing that the heading (the way the top of the curtain is gathered) changes how the curtain stacks when it's open and how formal the room feels.

Things to consider

• Hardware: the heading needs to match the track or pole. Pencil pleat works with either, and you can read more on curtain tracks & poles.
• Fabric weight: heavier fabrics give deeper folds, while lighter fabrics look softer. We'll help you see the difference before you decide.
• Stack-back: when they're open, curtains gather at the sides of the window. We'll plan the track width so the glass stays clear and you keep your daylight.

Why choose pencil pleat curtains?

Pencil pleat is one of the most adaptable headings we make. The tape along the top is drawn up to form the pleats, which gives a soft, gathered finish that suits both traditional and more relaxed rooms. Because it works with tracks and poles alike, it's often the easiest choice if you'd like to keep your existing hardware, or where a track has to follow the curve of a bay window.

Fabrics and linings for pencil pleat curtains

Pencil pleats work with a wide range of fabric weights, from lighter cottons and linens to thicker weaves. We'd usually suggest comparing a few options from Decora's The Fabric Box and Nuvo collections, as a gathered heading shows off texture and pattern a little differently from a tailored pleat. For bedrooms, a blackout lining is the usual choice; a thermal lining adds an extra layer in colder rooms, and a standard lining helps the curtains hang well everywhere else. You can read more about blackout curtains.

Measuring and care for pencil pleat curtains

We measure the width of the track or pole, the drop, and the space at each side for the curtains to stack back when they're open. For bay windows we'll measure each section of the bay so the curtains meet neatly — see bay window curtains for more on this.

Looking after them is straightforward. A light vacuum with a soft brush keeps dust down, and drawing them from the leading edge rather than tugging the fabric helps the heading keep its shape. Always check the care label before cleaning, as lined curtains often need dry cleaning rather than washing.

Measuring and fitting

We measure and fit your curtains and hardware ourselves — book a free home appointment, or compare the different headings on our curtains page.