Drapery Series #3: Accommodating Drapery Hardware

When purchasing side panels or drapery in our shop, you will need to be sure you have the appropriate hardware for installation. Drapery rods and drapery rings are not included with purchase, but the drapery pins that are needed to hook to drapery rings do come already installed on the panels. Pin setting is 1/4" to accommodate rings.

There are many different types of drapery rods available on the market. Regardless of the rod you choose, you will need to be sure the rod you purchase is wider than your window. We recommend a rod that extends at least 3" beyond the window casing on each side.

For side panels that are stationary, the rod length measurement is not as important as it is if the panels should be functional. You just need to be sure the panel width you order is enough to cover the rod from its end point on the wall to its stationary point at the window.

For functional side panels and drapery, you will need to be sure the length of the rod you purchase still allows for the panels to cover the window when fully closed. A drapery rod that is too long or one that extends too far beyond the window casing may not allow for the panels to close fully. Read more about how to measure for functional drapes here.

Side Panels

One-width

One width panels are sewn with 5 pleats and have 7 drapery pins installed: one pin for each of the pleats, and then one pin each for the overlap (leading edge) and return (edge at the end of the rod).

The number of rings you will need depends on the hardware you are using and if you will hook the return edge to the wall with an eye hook or will hook it to a drapery ring. If you are using a French or bent return rod, we recommend using a drapery ring for the return edge. For straight rods, hooking the return edge to an eye hook anchored to the wall blocks more light that might come through the window. However, hooking the return edge to an additional drapery pin allows for the panels to cover more of the width of the window.

If using an eye hook for the return edge, you will need 6 drapery rings per panel. If using a drapery ring for each pin, you will need 7 drapery rings per panel.

One width panels have a stack back measurement of ~8". This means when fully open and compressed to the side of the rod, they measure ~8" wide. Consider this when determining the length of your rod. If your drapery rod extends >8" beyond the window, the window casing and the wall will be visible when the drapes are fully open.

For stationary panels, the length of your rod can certainly extend >8" beyond the window especially if trying to give the appearance of a wider window. You just want to be sure to station the panels on the rod to hide the wall adjacent to the window as well as the window casing.

Two-width

Two width panels are sewn with 10 pleats and have 12 drapery pins installed: one pin for each of the pleats, and then one pin each for the overlap (leading edge) and return (edge at the end of the rod).

The number of rings you will need depends on the hardware you are using and if you will hook the return edge to the wall with an eye hook or will hook it to a drapery ring. If you are using a French or bent return rod, we recommend using a drapery ring for the return edge. For straight rods, hooking the return edge to an eye hook anchored to the wall blocks more light that might come through the window. Hooking the return edge to an additional drapery pin allows for the panels to have more window coverage.

If using an eye hook for the return edge, you will need 11 drapery rings per panel. If using a drapery ring for each pin, you will need 12 drapery rings per panel.

Two width panels have a stack back measurement of ~13". This means when fully open and compressed to the side of the rod, they measure ~13" wide. Consider this when determining the length of your rod. If your drapery rod extends >13" beyond the window, the window casing and the wall will be visible when the drapes are fully open.

For stationary panels, the length of your rod can certainly extend >13" beyond the window especially if trying to give the appearance of a wider window. You just want to be sure to station the panels on the rod to hide the wall adjacent to the window as well as the window casing.

Drapery

The number of pleats and drapery pins will depend on the width you are ordering. See our chart below for an approximation. This chart assumes a 3-finger pleat, so for other styles, count may vary.

When ordering rings for pleated draperies, add one ring to the chart above to account for the leading edge or two rings to the chart above if hooking the return pin to a loose ring instead of the wall.

Want to know about fabric selection? Check out Drapery Series #4.