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Making Plaited Tie-backs  

Change the look of your room by making your own rich looking plaited tie-backs. 

Tiebacks have to two advantages: 

1. They let in extra light through windows and doors during the day  
2. They look beautiful   

Plaited tie-backs in particular give a rich finishing touch to your curtains and your room as a whole. 

There are different ways you can choose to make plaited tie-backs: 

• the same fabric as the curtains   
• a contrasting color to your curtains  
• a color matching the pattern in the curtain  
• three different colors     

Measuring tie-backs 

Determine the length of the plaited tie-backs by using a tape-measure to tie back the curtains to the required length. The reading on the tape-measure will give you the finished length. Allow some extra fabric as you lose a little from length when plaiting. 

Fabric requirements 

• When using three different colours you will need about 20-25 cm from each colour to make 2 tubes in each colour  
• When using a plain colour – enough for 6 tubes (about 75 cm)  
• Lining – enough for 6 tubes (about 75 cm)  
• Four plastic or metal rings  
• Wadding or filling optional.   

Sewing the plaited tie-backs 

• Cut 6 strips (width approximately 10 cm each) of the fabric and the lining. (And wadding if extra thickness is required). 
• Tack the lining onto the wrong side of each strip of fabric.  
• With right sides together, fold each strip in half lengthwise and stitch along the long edge, then turn by pulling one end through.  
• Position the seam in the centre on the inside of each tube, fold both ends over and stitch to secure.  
• Put the 3 tubes on top of one another and slipstitch the ends together and plait. Again put the ends of the 3 tubes on top of one another and slipstitch together again to complete.  
• Sew the rings onto each end of the tieback.   

Enjoy your finished plaited tie-backs and the eye-catching window treatment feature they make.