How to make triple pinch (french) pleat curtains using IKEA hardware
You will need:
RIKTIG Curtain Hook $2.99
SYRLIG Curtain ring with clip and hook $3.99
*RIKTIG gathering tape $2.99
*If your curtains do not already have gathering tape attached as ours did, you will also need to purchase the gathering tape and sew it on to your curtains.
1. First step is to turn the curtain hook “upside down” with the hook part oriented at the bottom, instead of the top, and open up the curtain hook a little bit.
2. Next, take the leftmost prong and insert it into the first opening in the gathering tape.
3. Then, insert prong into the 8th slot to the right.
4. Repeat for the next two prongs. You are finished inserting the first hook!
5. The next hook goes in at the other end. Insert the right most prong into the first available opening on the right. Repeat steps 3-4, but go to the left instead of the right.
6. After you have both ends with hooks inserted, fold the curtain in half to find the middle, or the midpoint.
7. Keeping your hand pinched on the mid point, count 4 to the left and right from the mid point; these are your openings for the two middle prongs.
8. Then insert the left prong 8 spaces to the left, and the right prong 8 spaces to the right.
9. Then, fold from the edge, to the mid point, to the next edge. This is kind of confusing, but, basically you’re looking for a secondary midpoint; the midpoint between the edge of the curtain, and the midpoint between the edges. 10. Repeat steps 7 and 8 from each of these secondary midpoints. Now you are ready to connect your curtain rings!
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Remember that we turned the curtain hook upside down, so we aren’t exactly using it the way it was intended; if we use the hook the way it comes, our curtain ring will be parallel to the curtain and, more critically, to the curtain rod.
No need to worry! There is an easy fix. Just twist one part of the hook 90°. I used needle nose pliers, but I’m betting that someone with strong fingers (or teeth?!) could do this without tools.
Connect the hooks to the rings, and there you go! Ready to hang up on the rod!
[…] Use curtain hooks (properly). At some point on my journey, I started using curtain hooks with clips but I didn’t clip them on the right spot (as demonstrated in the middle photo). Moreover, I didn’t even know about proper curtain hooks. Think about it… how often do you see curtains from the back?! Even on blogs, and how-tos, they don’t talk about curtain hooks like this very often. I’m sure my mom knows about them, but this knowledge never got passed onto myself. This was a game-changer for me! I figured out how to use them! Check out my tutorial about how to make triple pleated curtains using IKEA’s curtain hooks here. […]
[…] Use curtain hooks (properly). At some point on my journey, I started using curtain hooks with clips but I didn’t clip them on the right spot (as demonstrated in the middle photo). Moreover, I didn’t even know about proper curtain hooks. Think about it… how often do you see curtains from the back?! Even on blogs, and how-tos, they don’t talk about curtain hooks like this very often. I’m sure my mom knows about them, but this knowledge never got passed onto myself. This was a game-changer for me! I figured out how to use them! Check out my tutorial about how to make triple pleated curtains using IKEA’s curtain hooks here. […]
I love the way you think and a good french pleat! This opens my mind to a world of pleating possibilities!
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Hi! Love this look. Do you think it would work without rings though? We are using the kvartal ikea system with the small glider hooks. Thank you!
I think it would work fine!