Talk to me about eyelet curtains...

[QueenoftheNights]

I'm looking for ready made curtains after years of having made to measure (J lewis- but so £££.) I've seen quite a few I like on Next website but they are all eyelet and I have pine poles.

Ok I could change the poles. But did I read here that eyelet are inferior curtains- ie cheap as they use less fabric? My decor is quite traditional - think J Lewis Croft style- and I guess eyelet with the metal eyes may look out of place anyway.

[AjasLipstick]

They do look cheap. I have them...only because I can't afford better ones. If I had the money, I'd have proper curtains made.

Eyelets look studenty.

[overmydeadbody]

Eyelet curtains are horrible and cheap looking.

Proper curtains are much nicer and you can make them yourself if you have a sewing machine?

[SnugglySnerd]

We have them in one of the bedrooms. I find that the pole sticks out further from the window than a track and as a result you get a gap round the edges that lets the light through. Probably wouldn't bother me in a different room but it's annoying in a bedroom.

[overmydeadbody]

Sorry just saw you want ready made. Look online, there are lots available that will be cheaper than made to measure. Even From join Lewis.

[crumpet]

Eyelet are awful.

Have you tried Dunelm Mill? Need to look carefully but they do have some good options.

[QueenoftheNights]

Thanks all.

I have looked at JL online for ready mades, and Next and Blind2Go who do curtains. I've been to Dunelm and seen a 'possible' but they have so much it's mind boggling. Sods law that the prints I like are only in eyelets in a lot of places
.
I used to make my own but TBH I've got 2 full length windows and one shorter drop and don't have time to faff on making them now.

[Thegirlisnotright]

If not eyelet curtains then what heading would you have?

[Mrsramsayscat]

Pencil pleat .

[ThanksItHasPockets]

From MTM to eyelets is a heck of a jump. I think you’ll notice a huge difference. One the reasons eyelets are cheaper (and look cheaper) is because they don’t use as much fabric, so you lose the cosy fullness of pencil-pleat curtains.

[cloudtree]

We have just decorated our dining room and I have bought ready made eyelet curtains for the same reasons as you ie like the fabric and they only do eyelet.

Eyelet curtains are a more modern style and personally I'm not a fan of the look.To get the extra fullness though simply buy curtains that are wider than you need (in our snug I have four curtains hanging on one pole - it looks full and luxurious)

Solutions for the tops as follows:

1. cut off the top and turn them into normal curtains with a tape. Unfortunately for me this leaves the curtains too short (I like them to touch the ground and ideally drape a little). So this solution didn't work for me
   

1. Do the above (cut off top) and add a contrasting fabric to the bottom.
   

1. Buy extra fabric (or an extra pack of the smallest size of the curtains) and make a pelmet. This is what I am doing.
   

There are various solutions for the eyelets if you look on pinterest.

[Bellabutterfly2016]

You can buy readymade curtains that aren't eyelet ones.
Laura Ashley sell them and they've got a good offer on atm, 30% off!!

[cloudtree]

You can buy readymade curtains that aren't eyelet ones.

You can of course buy ready made curtains that are not eyelet but sometimes you find the perfect fabric but the header is eyelet.