What is a Wave Fold or S Fold curtain?
A Wave Fold or S Fold curtain hangs in one even wave along a track instead of in sewn pleats. A tape in the heading and spaced runners (gliders) in the track hold the wave. Many retailers use both names for the same look. At Speedy Blinds they are two headings: Wave Fold on hooks, S Fold on pendants.
Seen from above, the top of the curtain snakes in front of and behind the track in a regular S. There are no pleats stitched into the fabric. The shape comes from two things working together: a heading tape sewn across the top of the curtain, and runners, also called gliders, that are held at a set spacing inside the track so they can only spread so far apart.
What it looks like
The wave runs the full height of the curtain, and the folds stay even when the curtain is drawn. Open, it stacks back into a neat column. The look is simple and modern. It suits sheers and soft fabrics that drape well, and it is often used on a ceiling fixed track where the fabric runs from ceiling to floor.
Wave Fold, S Fold, ripple fold: the names
The trade uses these names loosely. Many retailers use Wave Fold and S Fold for the same look. Some makers use the two names for two different ways of building it. At Speedy Blinds, Wave Fold is the heading that hangs on hooks and S Fold is the heading that hangs on pendants. From the room the wave is much the same.
What it needs
- A track made for it. The wave relies on runners (gliders) held at a set spacing, so an ordinary rod with loose rings will not hold it.
- Room in front of and behind the track. The wave has depth, so the track has to sit far enough off the wall, the window and any handles.
- A fabric that drapes. A stiff fabric can fight the curve and spring back.
- Enough fabric. The fullness is set by the heading tape and the runner spacing together.
Your curtain retailer can show you a hung sample in the fabric you like, tell you which heading and track they would use, and measure and quote your windows. Speedy Blinds makes for retailers only.
Other ways people ask this
What is an S Fold curtain?
The same style of curtain: a continuous wave on a track with no sewn pleats.
Is S Fold the same as Wave Fold?
They give the same look. At Speedy Blinds they are two headings, Wave Fold on hooks and S Fold on pendants, and other makers use the names differently. Our page on the difference between the two has the detail.
What is a ripple fold curtain?
Another name used for the same wave look.
Do Wave Fold curtains need a special track?
Yes. The runners (gliders) are held at a set spacing to form the wave.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.
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