Always use a metal tape measure.  Before hanging a pair of curtains, accurately measure the length of your track or pole add about 10cms to that length and then half it this will be the finished width of each curtain.  Put your tape measure on the floor or other flat surface and gather your curtain up to the new  width.  Curtains “spring back” when drawn up on tape headings and if you don’t add a few centimetres to the finished width they will be too narrow and you will have to start all over again.  Make sure you have enough curtain hooks to put one in about every 8cms appart otherwise the curtains will sag between folds and will look a mess.  Finally arrange the folds neatly and put your tieback on the curtain.

Curtain draw rods are a must if you have silk or similar delicate fabrics, the rods simply clip onto one of the curtains hooks on the lead edge (centre) of your curtain – Allowing you to push the curtains open and pull closed.  Just one point here, they are made of metal with plastic ends so be careful you don’t knock or worse still crack your window when fitting them. 

Corded curtain tracks – Useful for the same reason as above but the main thing to consider is the weight of the curtains on the track.  If not fitted properly, pulling the cords can quite literally pull the track off the wall.  One of my customers fitted their own pole despite my offer to send the curtain fitter in, this was just a short pole about 1m long.  I am hanging the single curtain and arranging the folds, the next thing a metal curtain pole hits me on the head and lands on the floor followed by the curtain which I had spent 10 minutes titivating.  Always check the information on the track or pole for the suggested weight  the track will support.  If in doubt always go for a track or pole classed as heavyweight use.