How to Make the Perfect Voile Curtains

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Juliette

How to Make the Perfect Voile Curtains

Match and join fabric widths by over locking or French seam
Make sure the top is level especially if patterned and sew in with buckram using a foot’s width allowance
Trim off any excess fabric
Lockstitch down sides double 1 inch (Blind hem if requested)
Turn the buckram down onto the wrong side of the fabric and sew the buckram down on the edges
Pin all the way along the bottom of the buckram to hold it in place for measuring
Measure curtains leaving enough fabric for hem which is double 2 inches
Cut off excess fabric
Measure and turn up the hem 4 inches then fold down 2 inches and either blind hem or lockstitch down
Thread in chain weight through hem and pin in both ends and sew onto hem lockstitch down both ends
For the heading use the same make up as lined curtains

How to make a pair of Pinch Pleat Curtains

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Juliette

How to make a pair of Pinch Pleat Curtains

Cut to the drop + 20cm cutting to the pattern repeat
Join widths pattern match where possible
Blind hem the face cloth with double 7cm hems
Join widths and lockstitch hem on to lining double 5cm hems
Place lining on top of the face cloth and measure 6 inches from the outer edge of the face inwards and trim off. This will give you your turnings either side of 1.5 inches.
Pin in the lining 1.5 inches up from the bottom of the blind hem on the face cloth
Over lock in the sides adding a weigh to the bottom hem. If there are any join you will need a weight there too
Making sure you have equal turnings either side lockstitch 5 inch buckram to the top using 3cm allowance of fabric
Turn the curtains through and poke out the corners at the top and press
Fold curtain in half and measure x by 2 – Gather size divide by the amount of pinches (usually 5 per width this will give you the size of your pinches. This should fall between 16 – 18cm)
To get the size of your spaces take gather size and divide by the amount of space you need and this will give you your space size. Please look at the formula below

Formula for working out pinches and spaces

Width of curtain Gather Amount of pinches Size of pinches

210 - 80 divide 7 = 18.6

Gather Spaces Size of Spaces

80 divide 8 = 10

Lockstitch in the pleats to the size of the buckram
Press sides and mitre the corners then slip stitch
Press curtains and joins
Pinch up the pleats either two pleats or three and hand sew in the pleats at the bottom
Measure down the pleat 4cm and put in pin hook
Cut off all ends
Examine curtains

Patterned Curtains

How to Successfully Pattern Match Roman Blinds

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Juliette

How to Successfully Pattern Match Roman Blinds

To pattern match your Roman Blind use the vertical pattern repeat. To work out the vertical pattern repeat measure from the top of the design in one spot down to the same spot on the design below.

Aston Pewter Roman Blind

All cut lengths have to start at the same point in the pattern so they match at the seam when the blind is joined. This means the cut length has to be a multiple of the pattern repeat. Once you have determined your pattern repeat you need to determine the cut length of your blind please see example below.

Plaza Silver Roman Blind

Finished length = 150cm divide by pattern repeat 69cm = 2.17cm

Round up to 3

3 is the number of repeats you will need

2 x 69cm – 207 = cut length

Why we think you should always fit Roman Blinds outside the recess

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Juliette

Roman Blinds Fitted Outside the Recess

There are many advantages to fitting a Roman Blind outside the recess these are:

It lets in more light in your room
Easier installation
Sizes are more flexible
From the outside the look of your Blind will be improved
Roman Blinds outside the recess make your window look well dressed
There is less of a chance your fabric will fade
Bounce back is not an issue

Roman Blinds Fitted Inside the Recess

Hard Blinds such as Roller Blinds, Venetian Blinds and Roller Blinds are designed to be fitted inside the recess as bounce back will not happen. Bounce back happens with normal use over a period of time depending on the nature of the fabric.

Alma Black Roman Blind

When fitting a Roman Blind inside the recess when measuring we recommend that you make your usual width allowance from the recess which is generally 1cm but do not take anything off the drop. This allows for the bounce back that occurs.

Alma Grey Roman Blind

How to make a Pair of Pencil Pleat Curtains

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Juliette

How to make a Pair of Pencil Pleat Curtains

Follow these easy steps to make a pair of Pencil Pleat Curtains.

Curtains

Cut to the drop + 20cm cutting to the pattern repeat
Join widths and pattern repeat where possible
Blind hem the face cloth double 7cm for hems
Join widths and lockstitch hem on linings double 5cm hems
Place lining on top of the face cloth and measure 6inches from the outer edge of the face fabric inwards and trim off. This will give you your turnings either side of 1.5 inches
Pin in the lining 1.5 inches up from the bottom of the blind hem on the face cloth
Over lock in the sides adding a weight to the bottom hem. If there is a join add a weight to the bottom of this
Hang on the measuring hoist. Enter in the drop + 5cm and cut off the remainder
Making sure you have equal turnings either side turn over 5cm as machining in 3 inch tape
Lockstitch down leading edge on tapes
Press sides and mitre the corners then slip stitch
Press curtains and joins
Put hooks in the middle pocket of the tape about 7 per width
Cut off all ends
Pull up curtains to gather size