How to open curtains

I guess this is a curtains and drapes 101 question, but I don’t have a clue. I have drapes on a traverse rod and they are ancient, dirty, and have to go. I did not take very good care of them I’m ashamed to say.

But I saw some curtains that are very nice and I think they have what is called a “pencil” hem or something like that. I guess that’s where you push in the curtain rod at the top. They would be hanging over a window with a 48-inch vertical dimension.

My question is: how do you go about opening and closing those. Is that a case where you buy one of those handles to push/pull the curtains open/closed and keep it by the window? I don’t have a clue.

 

The top of the curtain is called a heading and the bottom is a hem. They're called Rodpocket (a pocket to put the rod thru) .
They would not be my choice of heading if you're opening and closing. You'd just have to grab the curtain and push and pull, and they won't stay in place. I have tips for keeping them at a certain spot if they're stationary (not opening and closing), but there is none otherwise.
I hope you're getting a new rod too. They won't work on a traverse.
Not sure I know of the handles you speak of.

 

Hi Shadeladie-

Thanks for your response.

OK – Rodpocket. I do think I’ve heard of that before. These would be on a bathroom window. I never really open the drapes there but I guess maybe I would want to open and close whatever I do get. What’s on there now is pinch pleat drapes with hooks onto the traverse rod. But I think I see what you are saying. Those Rodpocket drapes (or I guess they are really curtains) would not be a good choice for something you wanted to open and close frequently.

But maybe I could just leave them closed. The bathroom window is 70 yards from the side of my neighbors’ house, and no windows at all face my bathroom. Just thinking that maybe in the daytime I could leave the curtain/drapes open. But not a requirement.

I remember closing drapes (I guess in a hotel maybe) which had handles on them somehow and you slid the drapes open on the rod (I guess it was a rod) using the handles. When I do google, I find stuff like below. Maybe that’s what I was thinking of. But it looks like that would have nothing to do with Rodpocket window coverings.

Thanks for your help.

Curtain Wand Curtain Pull Clear Curtain Wand Drapery Wand - Etsy

 

Oh okay, wands. You would need curtains on rings to use that. You can open and close rodpockets. They just won't stay open as far as you might want.
Personally, I prefer shades or blinds in a bathroom. Would be easier to open and close. Just mentioning another option.

 

OK. I think I know what you mean about the rings. I do remember seeing that. I never thought about blinds or shades. I think those would be a good option. I'm going to look into all those options with more attention to blinds and shades. If I remember correctly there are some really nice shades and blinds out there. Never thought of that.

This looking into window treatments is more complicated than it first looks, at least to my elderly brain anyway - lol!

Thanks for your help. Gave me some good ideas.