Pinch Pleat Curtains for the Bedroom.

I haven't always liked the look of pinch pleats. In fact in our last house I really wanted to have exposed rods with tab curtains (and I did). But after looking through some old decorating books and again at the fabulous Retro Renovation website I decided that pinch pleats were the only way to go. Luckily I had kept the double rods that came with the house (original pinch pleats were donated to goodwill), so I was able to put them back up. It was a good thing I kept them since our windows are really long and it's almost impossible to find rods without going custom.

My Mom and I looked up pinch pleats on the internet and we weren't able to find the instructions I needed (though I'm sure they are out there I'm just impatient). But then she remembered that I had some of grandma Harriet's sewing books in her basement (also an excuse for me to get some of my stuff out of her house). And of course I found great instructions in Better Homes and Gardens Sewing Book. Originally published in 1961 this book is a great guide for sewing and pattern making. I love the tag line too : Custom sewing made easy, Money-saving sewing ideas. So practical! In chapter 18 Sewing for Home I found the instructions I needed. I bought the pleater tape I needed at Fabricland and found the pleating hooks discounted at Walmart. I bought all the inventory since Walmart was closing it's sewing department down (which I view as some sort of sign that people are become less practical but that's a different rant). The fabric I got at the Lethbridge Sewing Center. The ladies at the sewing center are so helpful and nice, and they helped me determine how much fabric I would need to be able to match up the repeating motif. I chose to use a fabric called Lotus from the Amy Butler line. Behind the valance I hung ready made drapes from Ikea.

This is view of our bed with the window above. The bedspread and headboard are both from Ikea

Here is a close up view of the valance.

I decided to hang white curtains behind the valance after seein a similar style on Mad Men in Anna Draper's house in California. I really liked the sets that depicted her house, I think it was in Bakersfield? I could be wrong. Next up I will be making a set of pinch pleats for the kitchen and also a valance for the Living Room.