Why do pleated curtains lean forward at the top?
Pleated curtains lean forward at the top because a stiff pleat heading sits above soft fabric, with the hook at the back and nothing counterbalancing it at the front. Most of the time the cause is a bent hook, and most of the time an installer can fix it at the window.
Pleated headings use a stiff tape to hold the pleat shape. The curtain below it is soft and drapey. The hook sits at the back, so there's very little holding the top edge upright at the front, and the top section can tilt forward rather than hanging vertical.
The three usual causes
- Bent hooks. Curtain weight or rough handling during installation bends the hook, which pushes the heading forward and makes the top look like it's falling. This is the most common one.
- Soft face fabric against a stiff heading. A particularly drapey fabric can crease at the top because there's no counterbalance at the front.
- Track profile interference. If the track or the carrier sits further forward or is thicker than expected, it pushes the heading outward.
All three are installation and compatibility issues rather than manufacturing ones, and they're the kind of thing an installer can usually sort out at the window. If your pleats lean, ask your retailer to have a look.
Adjustment pleats at the ends
Separately: pleat spacing is set at an even pitch, usually around 100mm. To finish the curtain neatly and distribute the remaining fabric, the last five or so pleats at each end may be spaced slightly differently. Those are adjustment pleats and they're a normal part of pleated construction.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.
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