A Guide to Curtain Headings: Eyelet Curtains, Pinch Pleat & Pencil Pleat Curtains

Making the decision to purchase made to measure curtains also means personalising your choice to suit your interior space; this can include picking exactly what type of curtain heading you’d like to frame your windows perfectly. From modern and sleek eyelet curtains, to sophisticated pencil pleats and traditional pinch pleats for classic homes, our guide explains the different types of curtains and which style of home they would best complement.

Eyelet curtains are undoubtedly a contemporary and modern choice, and are likely the style of curtains you’d come by most often. Known for their simplicity, the term ‘eyelet’ refers to the metal loops at the top of the fabric which allows them to easily slide onto curtain poles. Their large, even folds are easily formed and take your living room to the next level, with a touch of elegance that can’t be rivalled. Manufactured in the UK and hand-sewn, our eyelet curtains are double-folded and have a blind hem, meaning that you needn’t worry about a seamless finish – it is guaranteed.

Eyelet curtains are also very simple to hang and take down,  hence why they’ve arguably become the most popular style of curtain on the market. This style of curtain is usually found in new or modern homes, and is particularly handy for those who don’t wish for any hassle when taking measurements for curtains or hanging them.

Pencil pleat curtains have tightly packed folds that resemble a row of pencils – hence the heading’s name. Pencil pleats are renowned for their timeless and sophisticated feel, requiring more fabric than eyelet curtains due to the tight gather within the header.

Referred to as the most classic and traditional style, pinch pleat curtains contain gathers of fabric that are folded and then seamlessly sewn into place, creating a ‘pinching’ effect that drapes beautifully. Our pinch pleat curtains have a 6-inch tape and are adjustable in height with plastic hooks on the tape. They also contain metal hooks on each end to avoid ‘dog ears’ when sitting on tracks or poles.

Our pinch pleat curtains come in two forms – double pinch pleat and triple pinch pleat, requiring more fabric than any other type of made to measure curtains due to their fabulous pleats.

Curtain heading tape allows the curtain fabric to be gathered into folds or pleats, and also creates space to install hooks which can be attached to rings or tracks. Our curtains come with heading tape for ease of installation, however, the size of the heading tape varies on the type of heading.

When it comes to eyelet curtains at Voyage Maison, they don’t have a header tape but instead have a seamlessly double-folded top with 40mm eyelets.

Pencil pleat curtains have a 3-inch tape at the top, allowing for enough security when hanging your curtains, especially when dealing with heavier fabrics. The 3-inch heading tape has plastic hooks which are easy to loop onto curtain tracks/poles.

Pinch pleat curtains have a wider, 6-inch tape (double and triple pinch) due to the folds and gather on the heading. Similarly, they also contain plastic hooks for ease of hanging onto a curtain track/pole, with additional metal hooks on either end for a seamless appearance once installed.

Once you have your heart set on a curtain heading style and are ready to commit to the curtains of dreams that will elevate your interior. You can use our informative guides on How to Measure for Curtains that takes you through measuring for eyelet curtains, pencil pleat curtains and pinch pleat curtains. We’ve even curated a comprehensive guide on How to Hang Curtains which addresses each style of heading for your ease.