Help with Amount of Curtain Material pls

[LIZS]

Was about to order half price fabric from Laura Ashley for bedroom wIndow which is 180cm wide drop 140 ish. Material is 137cm wide. Thought I would order 4m to allow any extra for tie backs, pattern match or trim. However just checked the size of the current ones which are 240cm wide each, so would I need to allow double to match that width? At this rate it might be cheaper to get them made up!

[olderthanyouthink]

Curtains are usually 2-3 times the width of the window.

It's probably not cheaper to get them made of equivalent fabric, but might be cheaper to buy premade.

[buzzlightyearsdinosaur]

Is there a pattern repeat on the fabric? you need to check and take that into account otherwise your curtains may not match. Without pattern match and for normal pencil heading topped curtains I would order 4m80 (so pretty much 5 meters).

Then you need to take into account the cost of lining (if you want them lined) and tape for the top...

[buzzlightyearsdinosaur]

...each curtain would need to be 1 1/2 widths so you would need to be happy cutting your fabric into x3 bits that are 1m60cm (1m60 to take into account a nice hem etc) long, then taking 1 of those pieces and cutting it in half lengthwise. Each cut half would then need to be sewn to each of the 1 of the uncut lengths...if there is a pattern on the fabric you'd need to match that so that you can't really see where it is attached.

[LIZS]

Thanks. There is also currently a pelmet 30 cm deep. Pattern is a broad horizontal stripe (Leander) so should be easy to match but not sure of the repeat. I thought I'd turn the fabric 90o for the pelmet. LA website seems especially rubbishy on this. When you say 1.5 widths , do you mean of fabric or curtain width?

[buzzlightyearsdinosaur]

Each curtain 1 1/2 widths.

A pelmet you say...is this something that you wanted to re-create or go for a more modern look and go without?

The pelmet would need a few more meters, how deep is it and how long is the pelmet track?

[buzzlightyearsdinosaur]

It doesn't say what the repeat is...I would be inclined to make the pelmet the same depth as 3 stripes with the darkest stripe running along the bottom of the pelmet, a bit more work but I think it would look better than little vertical stripes...it's a good price though, could you afford to well over order and have some fabric left for cushions etc?

[LIZS]

Thank you. So that would make each curtain just over 2m wide? Would double width be too much? If I ordered 6m that would give some allowance for matching and other bits. Might lose the pelmet. The track is separate and it is fussy. We Inherited this with the house 10 years ago!

[buzzlightyearsdinosaur]

Double or more is good otherwise it looks a bit sparse.

I googled your fabric and saw some on e-bay, that picture of it makes me think that it has quite a large pattern repeat this picture here , at a guess 50cm? so 6m would probably what you would need anyway. If you could afford another metre or 2 then so much the better...alternatively call them and check what the repeat is before you order.

My idea of making the pelmet from the first three stripes would now only work if you had absolutely massive windows!! so ditching the pelmet would be a good idea (I was surprised to see them still available on the LA website, they were the sort of thing we used to make when I first started making curtains in the 90's).

Also now is a good time to check that your track is long enough and come a good way either side of your windows, if you need to get a new track or pole remember to re-do your maths. A lot of the pelmet tracks used to come as a whole unit, pelmet and curtain track together, so it might be worth a look to check that too.

[LIZS]

Thank you for your help. After all that there isn't enough available for me to order! have ordered swatches so at least will have a better idea of repeat in future.

[buzzlightyearsdinosaur]

oh no, such a good price too! at least you have your measurements set now though.

I often carry the measurements/fabric requirements for various projects around with me so that if I see a bargain out and about I am ready and can snap it up!

[LIZS]

Just ordered it (not that LA had advised me it was back in stock ) as 50% off again.