Curtain making - width question, how much to allow?

[scruffymomma]

hello

Have found gorgeous fabric for curtains in baby's room but I'm not sure about measurements (having never made curtains before)

I'm hoping that you seasoned pros will tell me that I can get away with 1 width of fabric per curtain so here goes:

Window is 180cm wide allowing for a bit extra on each side but not allowing for hemming.

Fabric is 154cm wide.

It's also not cheap: £20/m + lining so if you think I could get away with 1 width, it would be saving some much needed cash.

If I DO have to use more than one width per curtain, do I sort this out before I start with the rest of the process?

many thanks

isn't it normally something like 2.5 or 3 times the actual width of the window?

2.5 times, 3 for fuller.
I've done 3.5 in the excruciating 80's..

I usually do 2 if expensive fabric and 3 if I can afford to splash out.

I would call your window 200 to allow for the sides. You could use three lengths and cut and join... but this is complicated if you've never made curtains before as it takes a steady hand and eye to line up the pattern. Also, you need to work out how often the pattern repeats, so you can buy enough to allow for matching

Even if you use four lengths, you are still going to have to join them, so don't forget that pattern repeat when buying.

Sorry.. that all sounds way too complicated... but I do know what I'm talking about.

hi, i used only 1 width for dd's room cos i don't like teh huge bunches of curtain look and there are shutters anyway. they look lovely imo! are the curtains just going to cover the window? if so i really think you will get away with 1 width.

get a book out of the library on curtain making as there are a few wee tricks that are important for making curtains look like curtains andnot just hanging cloth.

sorry just read a bit more closely. I think you could get away with 2 widths (called drops) - just, but only if you are doing cafe-style - I ones without curtain heading, just tabs or rings..

What do you think, themoon66? That would make it 1.5 times the width of the window.

For the second drop of each curtain., if the fabric is patterned, you need to allow another pattern repeat (distance before the pattern starts again)

If you can't be arsed pattern matching and joining and only want to use one strip of fabric for each curtain, then make tab tops as they do not have to be so full. That's what I'd do I think. You can make the tab tops pretty with additional bows or big buttons or whatever matches your fabric.

My friend and I make curtains for people occasionally and we did some lovely chidrens ones with a little stuffed animal velcroed onto the bit where the tab met the curtain, to cover the seam. They looked like Noah's ark... a row of animals walking across the tops of the curtains

Definitely tab tops, or eyelets threaded directly onto a pole - then you can get away with 2 drops.

Or - my usual solution when I can't afford loads of a really nice fabric - a roman blind - that way you literally need a piece the size of the window (although, having just re-read the OP, that would still be 2 drops in your case)

I like the Noah's Ark curtains idea, BTW!

oh I'm loving the sound of the tab tops with the little animals on top and it makes life easier!

many thanks for the suggestion, I hadn't realised the top of the curtain would make a difference.

Finally, anything I should know about lining? Was planning to follow instructions for bag lining from t'internet.

Can you tell I'm new to this!'
many thanks

If it was me (and I make curtains frequently) I'd just use 1 width for each curtain. There will be more than enough fabric to cover the window and even with a normal heading tape you'll still get some gather.