Have you considered using IKEA's track system? That would allow you to use your existing panel without alteration.

Traverse rods most certainly are still available. What store did you go to?

You can check Calico, or search on-line. Traverse rods are available.

Like so many other things you have to go online and that is not always an easy search to wade through so much stuff. You might possibly find them to be structured a bit differently than the old ones.

If you have not solved the problem by now:

Start by exploring Kirsch.com. You will find one way traverse rods and where to purchase them. If you want to update to a curtain rod and rings--look up 'C' bypass rings. Loews, Menards, and H.D. should all sell traverse rods. Are you near a J.C. Penneys? That store should still have a drapery dept. And don't forget Bed, Bath, Beyond. If all else fails contact an interior designer to purchase only the item you need.

what part of your rod went missing?

One of the end parts, the flange that attaches to the wall disappeared.

We gave up on it, since every long traverse rod stops working in rapid order, anyway.

We bought and installed a different kind of rod: one that uses rings. The C rings won't work with this rod: The center support is designed in such a way that rings with a C opening still won't get past.

So I will have to have drapes that open in the middle.

The old drapes are not wide enough to be able to split them, hem the cut sides, and have enough left on either side. Which is a shame, because though I've had them for years, they still go perfectly with the room, they are lined, but don't make the room too dark.

So I've started looking online for new drapes. Which is such a pain. I've spent hours on it, and can't find anything I like that works.

I feel for you. Not being able to go out and look for draperies and feel the fabric makes it so much harder. I love shopping online, but not for clothes, fabrics, rugs and any other thing I would want to see what it is made of.

Since you're still wrangling with this: have you considered a ceiling mounted track? Like hospitals have to separate beds?

For long rod spans, I have taken the finial off the curtain rod and slid iron pipe in to reinforce the rod. It make the rod heavy which also means you have to beef up the curtain rod holder and/or use longer screws but it works. A lot depends on the inside diameter of the curtain rod. You want the iron pipe to fit as tightly as possible to prevent kinks.

I opted iron pipe after I tried a wooden dowel. The wood is not as sturdy and if the drapes are heavy the wood will bend.

You need to get custom hardware. You can try Calico Corners or a local windows treatment specialty design shop but this won’t be inexpensive. Bypass rings can work quite well on an iron rod but good iron hardware can be pricey. I would go with a nice decorative traverse rod, also special order in that size And when properly installed should work for many years!

Hmmm, I just read your span is 84”( I though that was your length!) if you use a solid wood pole you shouldn’t need a center support. I have these very heavy drapes that are lined and interlined on a wood pole with heavy wood rings; no center support. They have been here for years! No sag. The rod was a custom order though.

lyn.., your curtain looks so much like the one that I have on my sliding doors. Mine are not pleated, though. But it is the same look and uses a very similar rod and clips.

I think that I have 3 widths of home dec fabric hanging in that one curtain.maybe 4. it is a full curtain, unlike some of the others in my house that use less fullness. . I just wanted to use all of the fabric and not have any left over, so it is full.

My rod extends way beyond one side of the opening and I can completely stack them to one side so that the entire door is uncovered.

Most times the curtain is open and stacked to the side where it is near a bracket and the weight of the whole curtain rests near the sturdy bracket. So, the amount of time that the weight is on the center part of the rod is lessened.

I know that some people cringe at the thought of washable curtains, but my fabric is beautiful, the lining is good quality and they are made using professional techniques. I used to have a home based drapery business, but is has been a lot of years since.

I simply won't have anything in my house that can't be washed.

This one does not get washed very often because it is so large, but the smaller ones in my house do get cleaned at least once a year. The larger one I will usually shake it out and spread it out in the warm summer sun for a few hours and rehang.

I love simple things!

Life is too short to make complications.

I had one client who wanted me to remake her pleated curtains into flat panels. She had them dry cleaned before I picked them up. When I went to unpick them there was still dirt and grime that had settled into them. It is just what happens to things that hang in the house like that. Dry cleaning such things has many problems. I prefer a real clean.