The phrase is derived from the curtain's header, which when drawn back resembles a row of closely spaced pencils. Although there is no reason why pencil pleat curtains cannot go well with homes furnished in a more contemporary style, they do function especially well in classic-styled homes. One of the two most common types of curtains available today, along with eyelet curtains, is the pencil pleat style. The other is eyelet curtains. A pole or a track can be used to hang curtains with a pencil pleat design, and these parts can be made of metal, plastic, or even wood.