Strawberry Thief Velvet Pencil Pleat Curtains - Biscuit

These are pencil pleat curtains in a soft biscuit velvet, sold as a pair, with an embroidered leading edge carrying the Strawberry Thief design. That pattern is one of the archive's most recognisable, first drawn in 1883 and inspired by the thrushes William Morris found stealing fruit in his kitchen garden. Here it is worked in embroidery rather than print, so the birds, flowers and foliage sit slightly raised against the velvet ground. The embroidered band runs down the inner edge of each curtain, which means the detail frames the window when the pair is closed rather than being lost in the folds.

They suit a sitting room or bedroom where you want the window to carry some of the weight of the scheme. The biscuit ground is a warm, greyed neutral that settles against panelling, painted walls and natural wood, and the amber and slate tones in the embroidery give you colours to pick up elsewhere in cushions or a throw. A 5 inch pencil pleat header gathers the fabric into even, upright folds and works on a track or a pole, so you have some freedom in how you hang them. Because they come as a pair, buy the width that suits your window with a little gather to spare rather than measuring to the exact opening.

The fabric is a matt velvet in 100% polyester, fully lined, which gives the curtains body and helps them hang in clean columns to the floor. Polyester velvet holds its pile well and resists creasing, and being fully lined adds a little weight and protects the face fabric from the light. Care is dry clean and cool iron only, so keep them for a professional clean rather than the machine. The Strawberry Thief embroidery also appears on matching cushions and throws, if you want to carry the design further into the room.

Where does the embroidered pattern sit on the curtains?

The Strawberry Thief embroidery runs down the leading edge of each curtain, so it frames the window along the inner edges when the pair is drawn closed.

How do I clean these velvet curtains?

The care instruction is dry clean and cool iron only, so take them to a professional cleaner rather than putting them through a washing machine at home.

Are these curtains sold singly or as a pair?

They are sold as a pair, so one purchase gives you two curtains to dress both sides of the window.

What header do they have and how do they hang?

They have a 5 inch pencil pleat header, which gathers the fabric into even upright folds and works on either a curtain track or a pole.

What sizes are available?

They run from 117 by 137cm up to 228 by 228cm per pair, so measure your window width and drop before choosing the size that suits.

What is the fabric like?

The face fabric is a matt velvet in 100% polyester and the curtains are fully lined, which gives them body and helps them hang in clean folds.