Draperies and Top Treatments - Panel drapes on Traverse Rods

I have very elegant flowing liquid gold drapes (84 x 55 per panel) that I want to hang on my traverse rods so I can open and close them easily. How can you hang these on traverse rods? I have read that you can sew hooks along the pocket. What size hooks? Where can I buy them? How far apart do I sew them. Do I need to stiffen the fabric along the pocket? I appreciate any suggestions you have for hanging these on traverse rods.

I am stumped.

Thanks.

Hi and welcome to the forum! :wave:
The panels need to be pleated, i.e. pinch pleats, in order for them to work correctly on traverse rods. Drapery pins are inserted into the pleats at the back and Drapery hooks are used to form the pleats on pleater tape that is sewn to the top.
They will not work on flat panels or rodpocket panels.
You can buy them in places like Joann's Fabrics or Hancock Fabrics. You can often find them wherever they sell drapery hardware, too.

Thank you for the quick response. Can you recommend some good documentation on how to do this step-by-step?

Thanks again.

I don't advise making pinch pleats out of a readymade panel. You would have to take it totally apart and you would probably not have enough fabric to work with. A panel that size would pleat down to about 18". How wide is your window?
Your best bet is to start from scratch and buy enough fabric to make them properly. This would also be easier than ripping apart.
I would recommend one of the Singer home sewing books. Step-by-step with lots of pics. You can probably find them at your local library.
I personally don't use the pleater tape, but you may want to use it if you decide to remake your existing panels because this may be easiest. You would be able to buy the tape at one of the fabric stores I mentioned, along with the hooks needed. They also have instructional pamphlets there for this.