Living areas
Light to mid-weight fabrics can give the heading a gentle drape in everyday living spaces. Choose the weave and colour for the light you want to soften.
Pencil Pleat Curtains
A softer kind of structure
Pencil Pleat Curtains
Narrow, gathered folds with an easy, relaxed feel. Pencil pleat curtains bring texture to the heading without the formality of larger sewn pleats, making them a versatile choice for living rooms and bedrooms.
The heading, explained
What is a pencil pleat?
A pencil pleat is a closely gathered curtain heading with a row of narrow, upright folds. The name comes from their pencil-like shape. Heading tape gathers the fabric across the top, creating a continuous texture rather than separate groups of sewn pleats.
Pencil pleats suit rooms where you want the fabric to feel soft and familiar. In a coastal home, a light neutral cloth can keep the treatment relaxed. In a bedroom, a lined fabric can give the same heading more body. The finished effect depends on the fabric as much as the fold.
Make it your own
Find the right fit for your room
Bedrooms
Consider a lined or blockout fabric when privacy and light control matter. Coverage around the window and the fit of the hardware help determine the finished result.
Coastal rooms
A textured neutral or linen-look fabric can work with a relaxed coastal palette. We check how the cloth gathers so the heading does not become too bulky.
Fabric & hardware
How pencil pleat curtains hang
Pencil pleat curtains can use hooks with a suitable track, or hooks and rings on a curtain rod. The heading tape and hook position affect where the top of the curtain sits in relation to the hardware, so the drop is measured for the chosen installation.
Light to mid-weight fabrics are a useful starting point. Very thick cloth or a substantial lining can add bulk to a closely gathered heading. We look at the finished weight, stack and ease of movement before recommending the fabric and support.
Compare the finish
Pencil pleat vs pinch pleat
Pencil pleat has a continuous line of small gathered folds and a softer, less formal top. Pinch pleat groups the fabric into spaced, sewn pleats for a more defined heading. Both can be installed on a suitable rod or track.
Choose pencil pleat when the gathered texture is part of the appeal. Compare pinch pleat if you want the groups of folds to remain clearly defined across the window.
Compare pinch pleat curtains ↗A little more detail
Pencil pleat curtain questions
How do pencil pleat curtains hang?
The heading is gathered with tape and attached using suitable curtain hooks. Hooks connect to track gliders or rod rings. The hook position and hardware are chosen together so the curtain hangs at the intended height.
Can pencil pleat curtains go on a track or rod?
Yes. They can work with either, using the appropriate hooks, gliders or rings. The fittings must suit the fabric weight and the finished curtain.
Do pencil pleats suit sheer fabrics?
They can. A soft sheer can gather into a relaxed heading, provided its weave and transparency suit the tape and construction. Compare a sample with S-fold if you prefer a more evenly repeated wave.
Are pencil pleats suitable for bedrooms?
Yes. The heading can be paired with an appropriate lining or blockout fabric for bedroom light control. We plan coverage, clearances and gaps as part of the installation.
Made to measure in Sydney
See the fabric.
Compare the heading.
Book a free in-home measure and quote to discuss your windows, fabric, heading and hardware. Or visit one of our showrooms to compare the options in person.
Book a free measure & quote ↗Keep exploring