Marigold Jacquard Polyester Pencil Pleat Curtains - Leaf Green

These pencil pleat curtains carry Marigold, an 1875 William Morris design of ruffling foliage and sunburst flower heads. The pattern is woven into a jacquard rather than printed onto it, so the leaves and blooms are formed in the cloth itself, in a deep green picked out against a paler ground. The curtains are made from 100% polyester and come as a lined pair, with a 5-inch pencil pleat header sewn across the top. They are sold in five drop-and-width combinations, running from 117 x 137cm up to 228 x 228cm, so there is a size for a modest window and one for a set of full-height doors.

A busy botanical of this kind suits a room that can hold pattern: a sitting room, a study or a bedroom where the walls are plain or panelled and the curtains are meant to be looked at. The photographs show them hung against a leaf-trail wallpaper, but they read just as well against a solid wall, and the green sits comfortably with warm woods, cream upholstery and natural flooring. Buy the width against your track or pole rather than your window, since a pencil pleat needs gathering to hang properly.

The header is a 5-inch pencil pleat, which draws the fabric into even vertical folds once the tapes are pulled and takes standard curtain hooks. The pair is fully lined, which gives the folds more body and a little more privacy in the evening. Being polyester, the fabric holds its shape and resists creasing, which is why the maker asks for a cool iron rather than a hot one. These are dry clean only, so factor that into the running cost. Marigold is a Morris pattern with a long history, and the jacquard weave here gives it a good deal of texture up close.

Are these curtains sold as a pair?

Yes. One order is a pair of lined curtains, so you receive both panels for the window rather than a single curtain.

How do I choose the right width?

Measure your track or pole rather than the window, because a pencil pleat needs extra fabric to gather into folds. The widths run from 117cm up to 228cm per pair.

Can I machine wash them?

No. These are dry clean only, so plan to have them cleaned professionally rather than putting them through a domestic wash.

Will they crease easily?

Being polyester, the fabric resists creasing and holds its shape well. Where a press is needed, use a cool iron rather than a hot setting.

What is a pencil pleat header?

It is a taped top that pulls the fabric into slim, even vertical folds. Here it measures five inches deep and takes standard curtain hooks.

Is the pattern printed or woven?

It is a jacquard, meaning the Marigold design is woven into the cloth. That gives it real texture and a slight sheen you can see up close.