Most were "medium-sized" curtains, or rather, curtains for medium-sized windows, but one curtain was a door curtain -
The fabric for that, and its matching window curtains, came from an end-of-roll sale at a local upholsterer, total cost £10 - the curtains used every inch, and have false hems. Cost of lining, ruffling tape, hooks - £38. Time taken - 10 hours (includes conversion of Ikea loop-top pair). Job satisfaction - 5/10.
My tips for curtain making -
- clear as much space as you can, and sweep the floor
- pick up threads as you go ... or the curtains will ...
- set up the ironing board next to your machine, and use it to support the fabric
- measure twice before cutting (ie, measure both edges)
- measure the windows yourself if at all possible
- pin up hems and put curtains on the rail to check the length before machining them
- check that lining hems don't droop below the curtain hem
- preferably use a steam iron that doesn't leak
and - if in doubt, buy an extra metre of ruffling tape. I'm half a metre short, and must go back for more.
2 comments:
Well done for putting in the ten hours to get them done - probably my least favourite sewing job too - so hard to 'manage' all the fabric, isn't it? Hope that you are pleased with them when you hang them!
I know what a job this can be. I learned how to make custom draperies at a shop I worked at for 6 months. Yes, a big space does help a lot! I once made draperies and sheers for an entire house by myself - I will never do that again! I do make my own for my house and I have an 8' x 8' table I use for making my quilts which comes in handy for drapes. The last drapes I made were for my daughter-in-law. Someone gave me some drapes and took them apart, put in new lining, and custom fit them for her living room.
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