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When Sewing Curtains - 10 Very Important
Considerations
1. Drapability - Cloth that is to be used in making a
curtain should have what fabric professionals call "having a good hand".
What is meant by this is that when you hold the fabric it should flow in
easy folds from your hand. The fabric should already seem like it would form
soft open pleats. You do not want a material that kinks or shows wrinkles or
perhaps seems a little stiff even before it is made into a lace curtain or a
french pleated drapery. If you have already noticed these problems I can
assure you they will not be better after completion of the curtain.
2. Pattern Repeat - Do not forget to add enough
material to your estimated needs in order to accommodate the pattern repeat.
If you are sewing two or more panels together or are making a pair of panels
the pattern should match going horizontally across just like you would do
when installing wallpaper.
3. Flaws - A very important consideration especially
when you are doing window coverings. With light showing through from the
outside any flaw will be magnified. There are several types of flaws to look
for. There can be a miss-woven portion of fabric, a misprint of a design or a
stain or discoloration. Before you purchase the fabric look over the
material preferably with a light behind it. This is called "candling" in the
trade.
4. Preshrunk - If you intend to wash your draperies be
sure to check this before purchase. A lot of curtain and drapery fabrics
must be dry cleaned.
5. Stability - There is a tendency of some materials to
be stretchy when hung vertically. Obviously this will effect the finished
length of the curtain. The best way to check would be to grasp the top and
bottom of a piece of fabric and pull. If it changes length in any
appreciable amount do not use it no matter how good it looks. This is not
true with a fabric that has give horizontally because it does not matter if
there is stretchiness horizontally.
6. Correct Length - This should be very obvious. Just
do not forget adding bottom, side and top hems, top ruffle if any and an
adjustment for pattern repeat to your finished length in order to come up
with the final yardage needed.
7. Railroading - The term railroading is used if you
want to turn the fabric sideways when sewing the curtain. This is generally
not done because fabric is not as stable and usually becomes stretchy used
in this way. The exception to that is in the rare instance you are using
102-118 inch fabric which is woven on purpose to be used sideways and is
unstable the other way.
8. Direction - Be sure to use all widths in the same
direction as they came off the roll. Even if you have a solid color cloth it
can take on a different look if one piece is going up and one is going down.
9. Back/Front - With some fabrics such as a lace or
sheer material the back and front are very similar. First you should figure
out which looks the best and then make sure that every piece is used with
the same side up. This can be very easily overlooked.
10. Double Hem - This is a very important if seemingly
simple suggestion. A double hem is created when you fold up twice the size
of the hem and fold down the upper half behind the other. It is not
recommended to do a single hem and just fold over enough to sew. With light
from outside showing through a single hem the cut end will show.
We hope that one or more of these simple suggestions
will help make your project one to be proud of. Best of luck with your
project.
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It
is important to consider many different factors when sewing a window
covering whether it is a lace curtain valance and tier or a full french
pleat drapery. Before you start your project you may want to review some of
the items that will influence the outcome. It can make the difference
between a thing of beauty and, what may be a very mediocre project if the
right decisions are not made. You may want to consider the following
suggestions. Some of them may seem very basic but never the less can be
easily overlooked when making a purchase.