Final week, I posted maybe the longest and most thorough tutorial I’ve ever posted on my weblog. That two-part tutorial on how one can make lined, pinch-pleated curtains, had a complete of 107 photographs in two posts. For those who missed it, you’ll be able to see these posts right here:
Click on beneath to view Half 1 and Half 2 of the lined, pinch-pleated curtain tutorial.
I did get some questions that I needed to reply, plus I need to add somewhat extra data that I hope might be useful.
A Clarification
First, I need to make clear that the tutorial is just for making single-width (clearly), stationary, ornamental curtain panels. I just about by no means use my curtain panels to really cowl a window for privateness or to dam out mild. That’s why my home windows are virtually at all times dressed with each curtain panels (so as to add softness, coloration, sample, and so forth.) and woven shades (for privateness and to really block out mild).
For instance, the curtains in our sitting room will not be vast sufficient to cowl all three home windows. Their solely job is to hold there and look fairly by including coloration, texture, and visible peak to that wall. If we wish privateness or mild management in there, I shut the shades.
If you wish to make operable pinch-pleated curtains, that’s a complete completely different factor. First, you need to determine what number of widths of cloth to make use of for every panel (the overall width of the curtains is usually 2.5 to three occasions the width of the window(s)), after which you need to do some precise, actual math to determine what number of pleats to make use of, and the way a lot material can be utilized by the pleats as a way to have sufficient width left to really cowl the window when the curtains are closed. I imply, it’s not a mission to be tackled by the faint of coronary heart. ?
Now I’ll say that even when you’re panels might be stationary and ornamental, it’s a lot better to stitch a double-width panel in case your window (or span of home windows) is absolutely vast. For those who want that to your window, I’ve this previous tutorial for stitching double-width lined material panels.
In an ideal world, the curtains for our sitting room home windows (pictured above) ought to have been double-width panels. However I actually needed to make use of that material, which I had bought for one more mission, and I solely had sufficient to do single-width panels. It’s tremendous, but it surely makes it very apparent that they’re solely ornamental. That’s only a matter of private desire. Some individuals don’t thoughts that. But when I have been to do these over once more, and really buy material particularly for these home windows, I’d be sure I used two widths of cloth for both sides.
Why I Desire Blackout Lining
I had somebody ask me why I take advantage of blackout lining when there’s no direct daylight coming in via the again doorways of my studio. These doorways are lined by the carport, so direct daylight by no means reaches these doorways. After all, you should utilize no matter sort of lining you like in your draperies. I bought within the behavior of utilizing blackout lining on my draperies years in the past for 2 completely different causes.
First, I really like the load that it provides to the curtain panels. As a result of blackout lining is thicker and heavier than each different sort of lining (at the least those I’m conversant in), it provides a weightiness to the panels that I feel may be very good. The substantial weight and really feel of a pane lined with blackout lining makes them really feel extra luxurious to me. Plus, I’ve by no means even as soon as had to make use of material weights on any panels I’ve made utilizing blackout lining.
However the principle purpose blackout lining is my go-to lining is as a result of I don’t like even the slightest little bit of daylight coming via my material panels, particularly once I’ve used a colourful patterned material. Any mild that comes via the panels can probably distort the colours, and that bothers me tremendously.
I discover this in our lounge the place I’ve the pink, unlined curtains. As a result of I broke my very own rule in that room and used a stretchy attire material (I couldn’t assist myself as a result of the colour and weight of the material was good), I wasn’t in a position to make the material work with lining. So that they’re unlined, and anytime mild shines via them (and it doesn’t need to be direct daylight), they appear like a unique shade of pink.
You may see that on this picture beneath. These two curtain panes within the nook appear like two completely different colours, and it’s not simply the world getting direct daylight on the panel on the left that appears completely different. There’s additionally a strip of the far proper panel that may be a completely different coloration though that by no means will get direct daylight because it’s beneath the entrance porch.
It’s a private desire, however I don’t like that. Some day sooner or later, I plan to seek out some precise decorator material on this pink (even when I’ve to have it printed myself at Spoonflower) in order that I could make new pink curtains for this room, and I can really line them in order that they’re at all times a constant coloration irrespective of how sunny it’s outdoors.
I discovered this lesson the onerous approach when Matt and I purchased our first home in Albany, Oregon, quickly after we bought married. It was my first alternative to brighten a complete home all on my own, and I discovered a fairly (to me on the time) plaid material that had all types of colours in it — purple, yellow, inexperienced, blue. I liked that material, and made some unlined curtains for one of many bedrooms. And as quickly as I hung these curtains, the sunshine coming via that material made them look orange. The entire element of the small plaid design was misplaced, and so they simply seemed orange. I used to be so disillusioned, however I discovered a helpful lesson that day. So once I later discovered about blackout lining, I knew that will be my go-to lining for that very purpose.
A Clarification On Blind Hems
As I used to be writing the tutorial, I knew that if one half was going to be complicated, it could be the half in regards to the blind hem sew. And positive sufficient, I bought a number of questions on that step.
In order I made the second panel (which I completed final evening!), I took some extra photos of this step for additional clarification. I’ll add these to the unique submit, however for many who have been confused, that is the element I used to be lacking in Half 1 of the tutorial displaying how one can do the blind hem.
After turning up, pinning, and ironing within the double four-inch hem within the backside of the face material, it appears like this…
With a purpose to sew the blind hem sew, you merely flip the double folded material again beneath the panel like this…
In order that when it’s mendacity flat, all you see is about 1/4-inch of the highest fold of the hem protruding as a result of the remainder is folded again beneath the panel.
After which you’ll be able to take that to your machine and stitch utilizing the bind hem sew setting. It’ll do about 4 stitches on that high fold of the hem, after which about as soon as each 5 stitches, it’ll attain over to the left and put a single sew via all the layers, after which it’ll return to the correct 4 one other 4 or 5 stitches.
Anyway, I hope that clarifies that step. I’ll get these photographs added to Half 1 of the tutorial later immediately in order that this step might be simpler to know.
My Ideas For Material Choice
For those who’ve by no means made lined draperies earlier than, I strongly counsel that you just select your material very fastidiously. For those who attempt to leap proper into making lined draperies utilizing a difficult material, you’ll in all probability need to hand over, and also you’ll be cursing me for convincing you that making lined curtains actually isn’t all that troublesome. ?
My suggestion is to make use of a material that can very simply lie flat in your work floor, received’t crawl each time you contact it or when it’s sewn, has a little bit of thickness to it (however not an excessive amount of!!), and may simply be “pressed” along with your fingers. This could be 100% cotton materials, cotton/linen blends, and the like. The material I used for the panels in my studio is from Spoonflower, and it’s their linen cotton canvas. I feel this can be a good material for a newbie. And at all times, ALWAYS use an precise decorator material.
So what materials must you keep away from? Keep away from any materials which might be skinny and crawly, like skinny polyesters, rayon, silk, skinny linen, and so forth. Any material that has a stretch to it must be rued out utterly. Additionally keep away from something too thick, like velvet and most materials supposed for upholstery. Belief me, you do not need your first time making pleats to be on a material that’s too thick. Additionally, irrespective of how tempting it’s, DO NOT use an attire material to make curtains. Simply don’t. (Do as I say and never as I do. ? ) I’ll say it once more. At all times ensure you’re utilizing an precise decorator material to your curtains. And don’t wash the material first. You’ll break it.
I feel that’s it for now, but when I consider another useful data, I’ll add it to this submit. And naturally, in case you have any extra questions, simply let me know!
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and embellish the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You may be taught extra about me right here.
