Stage Curtain Details

The top is always reinforced with heavy jute or nylon webbing and may be equipped with:

	Grommets and Tie Lines (for dead-hung curtains), usually spaced 12” on center.
	Snap Hooks, attached with nylon straps and two rivets, used for most traveler curtains. (Note: we prefer snap-hooks over CCF2 or S-hooks. The riveted strap tends to hold up better over time, especially for heavy or lined curtains.) The images below show the snap hooks with hidden straps. At I. Weiss we automatically fabricate curtains at 20' high or less with nylon straps hidden behind the pleats, riveted only through the webbing for a cleaner look on the face of the curtain. At 20' high and above the nylon strap will sandwich the pleats and be riveted through them with the nylon strap exposed on the face and back of the curtain for added strength.
	Hidden Snap Hooks, attached with nylon strap and two rivets, but the top of the hook is flush with the top of the curtain and not visible from the front for a cleaner look.
	Hidden Tie Lines, webbing is double grommeted before it is sewn to the curtain. The tie line is pulled through the double grommets and stitched in place to keep it neatly in place. Both, the lines and pipe batten will be hidden from view.

Side edges usually have a 2" hem.

The leading edge of a bi-parting traveler curtain, especially a main curtain, usually has a full width or a half width of face fabric turned back. This is called a "faceback" and it prevents the audience from seeing the backside of the curtain when in motion or during paging.

Sometimes a paging handle is sewn to the faceback to facilitate opera type bows.

A flying proscenium curtain may also be guided by cable along the sides. This type of finish requires side guides spaced evenly along the outside edge.

Faceback with Paging Handle	Side Guides attached to Hem

4" Hem - for borders
6" Hem - for full height curtains

Some full height curtains and backdrops require additional weights to make them fall as plumb as possible and keep them from moving (because of a draft or otherwise).

A - Weighted Bottom Hem:

You will frequently find a chain specified to add weight to the bottom hem of a curtain with fullness. We prefer using tape weights as they are quieter and never bunch up.

The tape weights are sewn to the top seam of the bottom hem clear of the bottom edge. This will also cause less wear and tear on the bottom edge of the curtain.

B - Pipe Pocket:

A pipe pocket is basically a bottom hem with which remains open at both ends. It is lined with nylon for additional strength and durability and for ease of sliding the bottom pipe.

C - Skirt with Pipe Pocket Behind:

This nylon pocket can also be attached to the back of the drop. The pipe remains several inches above the ground with a soft "skirt" in the front. This is advantageous where the floor is not level.

Decorative curtains, such as proscenium curtains and some masking curtains usually have pleats to provide additional fullness and a rich theatrical look. The standard type of pleat is the box pleat. Other options are knife pleats or shirred pleats which provide a different flow.

The amount of fullness is equal to the percentage of additional fabric width that is pleated down to the actual width of the curtain.

50% Fullness - the minimum and most popular for most school stages that are not used for professional type performances, or smaller theaters.

100% Fullness - provides a beautifully rich curtain and is standard for professional theater venues with full height curtains of 30’ and above.

Since each pleat usually has a hook (or tie line) in its center, the number of pleats will affect the number of carriers needed for any curtain that hangs from track. On a standard traveler track carriers are usually provided 12" on center. All curtains are therefore pleated 12" on center.

Note: In general, a greater number of smaller pleats will provide a richer looking curtain than fewer and larger pleats. In other words, a curtain with 100% fullness and 4-1/2" pleats on 9" centers will appear richer than the same 100% full curtain with 6" pleats on 12" centers. This type of pleating needs to be specified, and the number of track carriers needs to be coordinated to match the curtain. No matter what spacing or pleat size, fabric seams will always be hidden behind a pleat for the cleanest possible appearance.

Shirred Pleats

With the shirred curtain, the fabric is gathered tightly together in the desired fullness (usually at least 100%). This method creates very small pleats and provides a more natural flow. This finish is especially suitable for lighter weight materials such as sheers or silks.

Lining increases a curtain’s sound and light absorbency and protects the backside. It is an optional finish and used mostly for proscenium curtains. The lining is sewn flat for flying curtains and pleated with the same fullness as the face for traveler curtains. It should be fully sewn into the same top webbing.

Because of the different weave and consistency of the lining in comparison to the face fabric, lining and face fabric may shrink and expand at a different rate (if site conditions should cause any shrinkage). We sew the lining into the bottom hem of the face fabric with a few inches of extra material called a shrinkage tuck. This allows the lining to shrink without pulling the face fabric upwards.