Follow the formula below to determine how much fabric and lining you will need to make triple pinch pleat drapes with our triple pinch pleat tape. There are a few steps here... just take it one step at a time and fill in the blanks and you'll end up with the exact amount of fabric you'll need for each drapery panel.
The pleating tape uses 5 1/2" of tape to create the pleats and there is 3.2" between each pleat (space).
Space size = 3.2"
Pleat size = 5.5"
What is the finished width of your drapery panel (after pleating)? ______ (FW)
What is the finished length of your drapery panel ________ (FL)
Now you need to determine the # of spaces and pleats you will need.
# of spaces = FW / Space size
Example
Finished width of drapery panel will be 36.
# of spaces = 36/3.2" = 11.25
Round this number up to the next whole number
12 spaces (13 pleats)
Cut Fabric Length (CFL) = FL + 16
Example
Finished length of drapery panel will be 72.
CFL = 72 + 16 = 88
Note: The 16 is for a 4 double bottom hem and 8 to allow for enough fabric at the top edge to achieve the desired effect when its time to sew the pleating tape.
Fabric width = __________ (typically 54)
Horizontal pattern repeat = __________
Vertical pattern repeat = ___________
New Fabric Width (NFW) = Fabric width Horizontal repeat
Example
The width of the fabric is 54 and it has a floral pattern that repeats horizontally every 6.
NFW = 54 6 = 48
If you have a solid fabric, then the horizontal repeat would be 0.
SP = Space size + Pleat size
O = amount of fabric you want on your leading edge before the pleat begins _________ (usually about 2" or 3")
R = amount of fabric you want on your outer edge before the pleat begins _________ (usually about 2" or 3")
Cut Fabric Width (CFW) = ( # of spaces x SP) + Pleat size + O + R + 6 (side seams)
A = CFW/NFW
A is the number of fabric widths you will need to reach the required pieced width of fabric.
Example
O = 3
R = 2.5
# of spaces = 12
Pleat size = 5.5
Space size = 3.2
SP = 5.5 + 3.2 = 8.8
NFW= 48
CFW = (12 x 8.8 ) + 5.5 + 3 + 2.5 + 6" = 105.6 + 5.5 + 3 + 2.5 + 6= 122.60
This means when you have all of your fabric widths pieced together it should measure 122.6" wide.
A = 122.60/48 = 2.55 fabric widths
You will need to piece together 2 and 1/2 fabric widths to reach 122.6"
B = A x (CFL + Vertical pattern repeat)
Fabric yards needed = B/36
Example
A = 2.55
CFL = 88
The fabric has a floral pattern that repeats every 6 vertically.
B = 2.55 x (88 + 6) = 239.70
Fabric yards needed = 239.70/36 = 6.66 yards
And round up. It is always best to have too much fabric instead of not enough.
The example says 6.66 yards, so you should buy at least 7 yards. You can make pillows with the left over fabric. Purchase the same amount of lining.
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