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Iota and other curtain makers - may I pick your brains

28 replies

sunnywong · 29/01/2007 05:09

Hello

I have just been quoted a staggerinng amount of money for two pairs of curtains and I reckon with ds2 now at Kindy twice a week I may actually get time to make my own. I do understand the basic principals and have made curtains before but the results were far from perfect.

Can anyone talk me through the steps or point me to a good website?

Much obliged

OP posts:
eidsvold · 29/01/2007 06:37

ms wong - you can buy curtains that need no hemming and no top stitching - you just cut them to fit width wise and if you want to can hem the size.

For dds room - I made some imply rod pocket curtains - nothing too fancy..... just measured the length I wanted them ( to floor) and the width of window. ( usually go for twice the width - so you have a little gather)

I needed 5 metres of the fabric to do a hem at the bottom the the pocket at the top for the rod to go through.

Then - cut in half - 2 1/2 metres each. As each side at the selvedge - just turned that over and hemmed it.

Then measured how much I would need for the pocket and a little fabric at top - stitched channel for rod to go through.

Hung them up on the rod and pinned where hem needed to be - trimmed and hemmed.

I then made some tie backs to pull them back to let the light and breeze in - but oyu can buy some metal ones that you just slip the fabric behind that look fab.

Always get my fabric at spotlight. I got fab blockout fabric for dds room.

locations in wa here

spotlight website

spotlight also have service to make all sorts - curtains, blinds etc.

THey also have helpful brochures on how to make various things.

Do good prices on ready made curtains too.

eidsvold · 29/01/2007 06:39

you can also get the tape that helps you gather the fabric so it sits on the hook thingys ( not technical I know.) Again similar principle to rod pocket only sew tape on top hem, gather to fit. THink you use 2 1/2 times width or up to 3 times width of window if you want a lot of gather.

oops that should have read - hem the sides in 1st sentence.

FioFio · 29/01/2007 07:33

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eidsvold · 29/01/2007 07:38

as Fio said...

FioFio · 29/01/2007 07:42

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eidsvold · 29/01/2007 07:44

no they have those - the rods come with little clips - yup - even easier - see sunny!!

eidsvold · 29/01/2007 07:44

spotlight is the place - I'm telling you - if there is one near you!!

sunnywong · 29/01/2007 08:36

thanks for all that eids
and fio you are a cheeky Fer but i love you

they ARE just squares of fabric aren't they? So why did someone just quote me 1800 bucks to do 2 220x120 cm windows? I have been bamboozled. I've done it before. You two can talk me through it can't you?

I shall away to Spotlight - I even have a VIP card [puffed up with pride emoticon]

OP posts:
sunnywong · 29/01/2007 12:10

you may be thrilled to know Spotlight have and ENTIRE topic about it on their discussions board. Huzzah!

OP posts:
sunnywong · 29/01/2007 12:28

come on then ... join in

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NbgsYellowFeathers · 29/01/2007 12:40

Ahh found you again.

I wanted to be cheeky and ask if anyone could make me some mahooosive curtains

dizzyday07 · 29/01/2007 13:26

NgbsYellowFeathers - I could make them for you - can be contacted on: [email protected]

NbgsYellowFeathers · 29/01/2007 13:30

cool

NbgsYellowFeathers · 29/01/2007 13:42

have emailed you

Dior · 29/01/2007 19:02

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eidsvold · 29/01/2007 23:09

sunny - you will probably get ready mades for cheaper than that - 1800 bucks - blimey. I think the curtains for the dds room cost me 50 bucks for the fabric and I whipped them up in an afternoon. They are a stonewashy pink colour blackout curtains to go with the pink walls - tie backs are pink and white.

sunnywong · 29/01/2007 23:26

yes it's the cutting and measuring that worries me..however.

I may well put a call out to you then Dior if I stuff up.

I presume some people must be paying that money for curtains or the shops wouldn't quote those prices.

OP posts:
eidsvold · 30/01/2007 01:18

sunny - just got my regular spotlight email newsletter - big sale starting Thurs!! Will see if I can link it for you.

try this

eidsvold · 30/01/2007 01:22

page 9 of the catalogue has some curtains on sale.

here

Albert · 30/01/2007 01:25

I'm having the same problem here in Brazil, curtains cost extortionate sums of money which I don't have. And the ready made ones are yuck. I have worked out that it is cheaper to buy a sewing machine and fabric and make them myself. I knew I did o'level sewing for some reason

sunnywong · 30/01/2007 05:36

hello Albert - how are things? I haven't seen you around for ages

Spotlight don't do drops of less than 220cm so not good but I am going to make them at the weekend

OP posts:
Dior · 30/01/2007 19:11

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Oati · 30/01/2007 19:16

ha ha, just seen this, I wouldn't profess to be an expert by any means.

bset to pick Dior's brains if she's doing a course

Dior · 30/01/2007 19:19

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Dior · 31/01/2007 22:47

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