How to measure: Multifunctional Tape Curtains

Curtains with multifunctional heading tape are our most flexible hanging style. The tape sewn along the top has rows of pockets and loops, so the same curtain can hang three different ways – and can change style later without being replaced. Measuring is simple, but the point you measure from depends on how you will hang them, so start there.

First, choose how you will hang them:

On a track, with hooks – hooks slide into the track gliders; the curtain glides smoothly and covers the track. The classic choice for curtains you open and close every day.
On a rod, with rings and hooks – hooks clip into the small eyes of the curtain rings. The rod and rings stay visible; the curtain moves easily along the rod.
Directly on the rod – the tape slides straight onto the rod, like a rod pocket, for a softly gathered curtain that mostly stays in place.

How to measure the Length:

Measure from your hanging point down to where you want the curtain to end:

Track – measure from the top of the track. The curtain will cover the track completely.
Rings and hooks – measure from the bottom of the ring, where the hook clips in. The curtain hangs just below the rod, leaving the rod and rings visible.
Directly on the rod – measure from the top of the rod, exactly as for our rod pocket curtains.

A small safety margin is built in: the tape has several rows of hook pockets, so once the curtain is up you can raise or lower it by a few centimetres simply by moving the hooks to another row.

Then decide how you would like the curtain to finish:

Just touching the floor – use your measurement as it is.
A relaxed puddle – add 10–15 cm (4–6").
Sill length – subtract 1 cm (½") so the hem clears the sill.
Below the sill – add 10–15 cm (4–6") below the sill.

Floors are rarely perfectly even, so measure in two or three places and use the longest measurement.

Example: You will hang the curtain on a track. From the top of the track to the floor is 244 cm. Choose the 138 × 244 cm panel.

Planning to machine-wash your curtains?

Our linen is pre-softened to keep shrinkage to a minimum, but as with all natural fabrics, a slight change in length can happen after the first wash. If you plan to wash your curtains, add 4–5% to your length and choose the next size up.

Example: 244 cm + 4–5% ≈ 254–256 cm. Choose the 138 × 254 cm panel.

Between two sizes? Choose the longer one – a curtain that is too short cannot be fixed, and the tape's pocket rows make a slightly longer curtain easy to adjust. You can also request a custom length through the form on the product page.

Haven't installed your rod or track yet?

Decide where it will go before you measure – its position determines the length of your curtain.

Our recommendations:

Mount the rod or track 10–15 cm (4–6") above the window frame, or even higher towards the ceiling. This makes the window feel taller and the room more spacious.
Let it extend 15–25 cm (6–10") beyond the frame on each side, so the open curtains can rest on the wall beside the glass and let in maximum light.
Fitting a track to the ceiling? Then simply measure from the ceiling down to your desired end point.

Check your hardware:

Hooks – standard curtain hooks fit the tape's pockets. You can add a set of hooks to your order on the product page.
Rings – choose rings with a small eye at the bottom for the hooks to clip into. You will find both in our rods & hardware collection.
Hanging directly on the rod – the tape's loops are narrower than a sewn rod pocket, so this option suits slim and standard rods. For a chunky decorative pole, rings and hooks are the better choice. The finials must be removable so the curtain can slide on.

Choosing the right Width:

Whichever way they hang, the fabric is gathered along the rod or track, and generous fabric is what creates the soft, full folds linen is loved for. We recommend a curtain width of about 1.5 times the length of your rod (measured between the finials) or track – the same for all our curtains, sheer, midweight and heavyweight alike.

Our standard panel is 138 cm (54") wide. As a single curtain it suits rods and tracks up to about 90 cm (35"); as a pair, up to about 180 cm (71").

Example: Your track is 160 cm long. 160 × 1.5 = 240 cm, so a pair of standard 138 cm panels (276 cm in total) gives you beautiful, even gathers.

Need a different width? Just contact us.

Every curtain is made to order in our studio, so we can sew your panels to any width – wider for a large window, or a pair that meets in the middle with exactly the right fullness. Send us the length of your rod or track, and whether you would like one curtain or a pair, to team@forestlandlinen.com and we will work out the width for you.

One thing worth knowing: our linen is woven 138 cm (54") wide, so a panel wider than that is made by joining fabric widths with a vertical seam – the way wide curtains have always been made. Once the curtain is gathered, the seam settles into a fold and is barely noticeable.

Example: Your rod is 220 cm long. 220 × 1.5 = 330 cm of curtain in total. For a pair that closes in the middle, that is two panels of 165 cm each. Each panel is wider than the fabric, so it will have one vertical seam tucked into the gathers – simply write to us and we will make them.

Our Recommendation:

If in doubt, go a little wider rather than narrower – a little extra linen always looks better than too little. Too little fabric leaves the curtain hanging flat, while a little more simply gives softer, fuller gathers.

Good to know:

If you open and close your curtains every day, this is the style we recommend: hooks glide along a track, and rings run freely along a rod – far more easily than a gathered rod pocket. And because the tape offers all three hanging options, the same curtains can move with you: from a track in one home to a rod in the next, without a single alteration. If your curtains will mostly stay in place and you love a softly bunched top, take a look at our rod pocket curtains too.

Your measuring checklist:

Hanging method chosen – track, rings, or directly on the rod.
Rod or track installed, or its position decided.
Length measured from the right point (top of track / bottom of ring / top of rod) in 2–3 places – use the longest.
Finishing style chosen (touching the floor, puddle, sill).
Washing allowance added if you plan to machine-wash (+4–5%).
Rod or track length measured, × 1.5 = your curtain width (standard 138 cm panel, or contact us for a custom width).
Hardware checked – hooks and rings if needed, removable finials if sliding onto the rod.

Still unsure? Send us your measurements at team@forestlandlinen.com and we will help you choose.