What is a curtain hook, and how do curtain hooks attach?
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A curtain hook is the small fitting in a curtain's heading that hangs the curtain from a runner (glider) in the track, or from a ring on a rod. At Speedy Blinds, Wave Fold uses hooks fitted into the heading and S Fold uses pendants. There is one hook or pendant for each runner.
A curtain does not hang from the track itself. It hangs from runners (gliders) that slide along the track, and the hook is the link between the two. The hook sits in the heading at the top of the curtain. Its other end hangs from a runner, or from a ring if the curtain is on a rod.
How do curtain hooks attach?
On a made to order curtain, the hooks or pendants are fitted into the heading when the curtain is made. The installer then hangs the curtain from the runners, makes sure no hook is bent, and dresses the folds so they fall evenly. On a pleated curtain, a bent hook can push the heading forward and make the top lean. How the curtain connects depends on its heading.
- Wave Fold: hooks fitted into the heading connect to runners in a track made for the wave.
- S Fold: pendants in the heading connect to compatible runners. Hanging and removing the curtain works differently to a hook system.
- Pleated headings, including Pencil Pleat and pinch pleat: a hook sits at the back of the heading and hangs from a runner or a ring.
- Eyelet and tab top curtains: no hooks at all. The heading threads straight onto a pole.
Many retailers use Wave Fold and S Fold for the same wave look. At Speedy Blinds they are two headings, one on hooks and one on pendants.
How many curtain hooks does a curtain need?
A curtain needs one hook or pendant for each runner, so the count follows the track. The count comes from the width of the track, the runner spacing and the heading style. Our public Curtain Calculator rounds the count for Wave Fold and S Fold up to an even number, counts pleated curtains in whole hooks, and works out a curtain made in more than one piece one piece at a time.
The spacing is set by the maker. On Wave Fold and S Fold, the tape in the curtain and the runners in the track are made to match, so ask your retailer for the figures that suit your curtain. A wider tape spacing gives deeper folds and uses more fabric, and a wider runner spacing means fewer runners over the same length of track.
Do curtains come with hooks?
Hooks or pendants are normally fitted into the heading as part of making the curtain, but ask your retailer to confirm they are on your order. A track holds runners made to suit it, and the hooks belong to the curtain. If you supply your own fabric, ask your retailer whether the tape and hooks are included.
Ask your retailer which hook or pendant suits the heading and track you have chosen, whether the hooks are on the order, and who to ask for a replacement if one is lost or damaged. For a heavy curtain, ask what the hooks, runners and track are rated to carry.
Other ways people ask this
How far apart should curtain hooks be?
It depends on the heading and the track, and the maker sets it. On Wave Fold and S Fold, the tape in the curtain and the runners in the track set it together. Your retailer can tell you the figure for your curtain.
Which curtain hooks suit heavy curtains?
A heavy curtain loads every hook, runner and bracket more. The installer has to make sure the fixings and fittings are rated to carry the full weight, so ask your retailer what they would use.
How do curtain hooks work with rings?
On a rod, each hook hangs from a ring that slides along the rod. On a track, the runner (glider) does the job of the ring.
How do you put hooks into pinch pleat curtains?
On a made to order pinch pleat curtain the hooks are fitted when the curtain is made, one at the back of each pleat, and each hangs from a runner or a ring. The installer checks the hooks are straight, because a bent hook can push the top of the curtain forward.
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This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.