To think I should be able to return these made to measure curtains

[doodlydooo]

I ordered some made to measure curtains from Dunelm. They arrived today and I've just put them up and noticed there's a huge vertical seam running from top to bottom of one of the curtain panels. it looks like they've sewn two bits of material together to make up the width of the curtain as opposed to it being one large continuous fabric. They are a plain beige pair in quite a thick fabric and so the seam sticks out like a sore thumb.

Am I right in thinking this is not how curtains are normally? They cost £675 (for my garden patio windows) and so I was expecting something faultless. Feeling really sad and worried as they said made to measure means you can't return them. I am going to try and get them to either refund me or make a replacement.

Dunelm tell you on the website how wide the fabric is and therefore one would assume a seam somewhere in that width.
Are they actually well made? Mine were not and was offered a full refund. Have a look at the bottom and side seams- mine were very poor. At the point, you could potentially reduce the width of them (as they never need to be quite as full as the website suggests) and potentially avoid the seam?

They really should have told you when you ordered so you were aware.

When I ordered made to measure curtains from John Lewis they really tried to put me off ordering due to the seam. But I advised that they would rarely be drawn so it didn't concern me. When I put them up I made sure the seam was in a backwards pleat so you can't notice it.

OP - the website says that a join is to be expected if your width is over a certain size.

Please note: If your measured width is over 124cm your curtains will come with a fabric join to provide the full width required.

You can't return them for this, it's very clear.

They do - it's on the website.

I have had 4 pairs of curtains delivered from dunhelm in the past month. Mine all have seams which you can’t see when they are hung. My windows are 3m drop by 165cm wide.
I have found the quality to be very good, easily as good as some more expensive curtains I had made at a local place.
Have you tried hanging the curtains?

About the only curtain thattwont have a seam is a single narrow door curtian.

Fabric simply not produced wide enough to cover a patio door ( or half a patio door) without a seam.

The website does say that

Dont think you have a leg to stand on in taking them back

Sorry to jump on this thread but does anyone know what Dunelm policy is on faulty goods? I’ve been trying to return a faulty duvet cover and they won’t do it as it’s over 28 days. I’ve asked them to explain the consumer rights to me and they can’t 🙄

I've made loads of curtains for wide windows and usually need two widths to be joined for each panel. The seam should be matched and pressed so it's not too visible.
If it's only on one curtain or if it hasn't been neatly done then you could take them back.

If the seam is only on one curtain and not the other then yes, I would complain and ask them for a replacement curtain without the seam.
Be polite, but firm. If this is what they usually do, this should have been made clear to you when you placed the order.
At £600+ for one set of curtains, you have every right to expect them to be perfect.

It's totally normal for curtains to have seams but they should match on both panels in terms of position/width. If it's sticking out, you could try giving it a press. When you hang and set your curtains push it to the back and keep them tied that way for a few days and the fabric 'learns' to return to that position.

If it's on one curtain but not the other I'd complain. If it's on both, it's normal.

I'm not sure OP will get anywhere with a complaint when the website states very clearly that there will be a join in the fabric if it's above a certain size.

It's annoying that it's in one and not the other, though.

Thank you all for your responses. I put the order in in store with the curtain specialists and they didn't mention it once. These curtains would be drawn every night and they are so obvious even when the pleats are in.

’They’ suggests a seam on each, which would be normal. Is there a seam on
each curtain?

Unless they haven't aligned the fabric it really shouldn't be that noticeable.

Can you add photos?

Sorry yes, the seam is only in one of the curtains. I should have phrased it better. When they're up, it's just very noticeable.

@Scampuss took photos on my husband's phone, waiting for him to send them to me. We took them down last night otherwise would have taken some quick photos now.

I think it is a basic that Curtains should match. So if one has a seam a metre from the centre, the other should have. Otherwise they will look shit. The fact they've managed it on one curtain and not the other, shows they should have done better

As others have said, the width of the curtain fabric is limited, so most standard sized curtains will have a join.
I had lined roman blinds made for a 240cm window and was told there would be a join but that it would be virtually invisible, as the fabric would be pattern matched.
Rather than put a single join randomly on the curtain I had a large panel in the middle and two small seamspanels on the sides.
It really is impossible to see the joins unless you look very closely and know where the joins are.
But the joins would have been a lot more noticeable on a plain fabric.
If the join is only on one curtain it is definitely a fault.

Curtain material is normally either 150cm or 136cm or occasionally 118cm wide. If the curtains are 240cm wide, they will have a seam down the middle. Completely normal and isn't a fault.

Look closely at the other curtain, it will have a seam too.

Does it look like the material doesn't match? Is that what is worrying you? Have they got the pile the wrong way round? That would be a fault, but seems unlikely.

The width of the window is 240cm.
I think it is because the fabric is plain and not patterned it looks very stark.

DH just sent photos and tbh in the photo it doesn't look as bad I don't think.

I would also expect made to measure curtains to match and from your description that is not the case.

Their website may state, over a certain width you can expect a seam but it does not state that this will be only for 1 curtain. I would go down that route, you expected matching curtains and they do not match because 1 has a seam and the other does not!

Here it is. I think if it wasn't being out open you wouldn't be able to see it perhaps. Will put them up again when DH gets home and see.

If they are wide curtains it is normal to join widths of fabric together. How visible is it , will it disappear into the folds once hung? If you have hung them it is unlikely they will refund.

That is certainly very visible, with puckering that shouldn't be there.

Check the pressing instructions, then press the seam from the reverse side, inside the lining, to try to make it smooth. If it won't go smooth and almost invisible, I'd return the curtain because it is puckered.

Having seen the photo I agree it is unsightly and there's also puckering along the seam which adds to it. I would definitely not be happy with that and be kicking up a stink to try for a refund.