To ask what is the ‘facing’ on curtains?!

[Phyllis321]

My new curtains need ironing before hanging. The label says ‘iron on facing only’. Is facing the plain lining or the side that faces the room?!

Sorry, ignore voting!

I think it means the side facing the room.

No it means the lining.

Now I would think facing is the lining. Its usually made of cotton while the actual curtain could be fabric that wont take to kindly to ironing

BTW damp curtains rarely need ironing when you hang them up

I would read it as the ‘front’ that faces the room, not the lining.

They’ve used it wrongly here facing in sewing is a partial lining such as on a collar of a top. But I would assume they mean the lining.

Like this:

Definitely the lining.

a piece of material sewn on the inside of a garment, especially at the neck and armholes, to strengthen it.

They mean the lining side. Badly expressed.

It means the lining. Lining on garmets is usually referred to as 'interfacing'. You might damage the curtains if you iron the front of them!

Thanks all!

Interfacing is a layer of material between the facing and the material. It is usually slightly stiffened. Can be used when sewing a collar or lapels so that they lie flat and don't curl over.

As others have said facing is a dressmaking/sewing term which usually refers to another piece of fabric used to give a double layer and more structure - round a neckline, for example.

They definitely mean to iron on the wrong side and over the lining and not on the front, but it's badly written.

I'd have been confused too, but would have ironed on the lining side first, on the logic that if it works then I won't damage the 'good' side, and if it doesn't work I can always try the other side after :-)

Just realised this reads as though I have ever ironed curtains in my whole life :-(

I'd hate to tarnish my MN slovenly housekeeper reputation.

Iron on lining side.