Can someone who knows about curtain measuring help me on this?

[ladybirdsarelovely33]

I really want to save money and go down the ready made route if possible. However I am not sure if it's going to be possible.
It's for patio doors. The length along the pole at the top is 264cm and the drop is 210cm. I don't mind getting curtains shortened.
The largest standard size I am seeing on websites like Dunelms is 228cm w x 228 cm drop. Will that fit my space? do not understand all this

curtains

These are the ones.

I think they are not wide enough. Too long too but you can turn them up. Could you have two pairs?

I had a Saturday job in BHS custom made curtain dept 30 years ago, and I can remember how to measure curtains, but I can’t remember what I did yesterday!

You need a breadth and a half, so for each curtain, you’re looking for just under 200 cm. So if the Dunelm size is per curtain, that’s fine.

I think you just two sets together - at least that's what I've always done (with IKEA curtains albeit so cheap as chips). But it depends on the lining - I suspect it's fixed and sewn down so you'd end up with a strip with no lining.

Generally you need one and a half to two times the width of the window for each curtain, so you should be fine with this. They may be a little long, but personally I like mine on the floor dragging a bit! It is easy to take them up by hand anyway if you need to. The alternative is to move the curtain rail up by about 18 cm. Ok if you are handy at DIY. They will look fine either way.

The drop is the length from the curtain rail to the floor. The width quoted is the width of each curtain before they are gathered.

Hope that helps.

Ok great. So I think we will order and carefully try them out and then return them if they don't fit.

How about curtains direct?

Autumn can you post a link please? I googled them but there were so many different websites.

I agree, you'll be fine for width. You normally want between 1.5 and 2 x curtain compared to your window width for a good gather.

"to Dunelm's ready-made curtains are sold in pairs. The size given refers to each individual curtain, so if you buy a pair of curtains measuring 117cm x 137cm (46" x 54") you will receive two curtains each with the same measurement of width 117cm x length 137cm (width 46" x length 54")."

According to John Lewis website
"One pair of 228cm width curtains will fit curtain pole size 228-304cm"

Turning them up isn't too bad if the material doesn't fray easily - but don't try to turn them up from the bottom.
Measure the drop that you want, so if the top of the curtain is four inches above where you need it to be, you need to shorten by four inches for example.
Unpick the header tape and save it. Turn the top of the curtain down by the correct amount and re-sew the header tape on.

Yeah they'll fit (I used to run a curtain department in Dunelm) you've effectively got 460cm of fabric covering your pole.

If they're eyelet when measuring to take them up, don't go by the top Of The pole, measure from the top of the curtain.

If pencil pleat go from the top of the curtain depending on which of the three rows you're going from, I.e top/middle/bottom row where you're going to hang your hooks.

mine thank you for that tip! Was just about to shorten some of mine and that makes so much more sense for ease!!

Mine good idea but that won't work for these curtains which have eyelets.

They will be fine the width quoted is each curtain, so you gave 228 x 2 of fabric.

If they are pencil pleat do not pull the strings unless you are definitely keeping them as you won't be able to return

Mine What's not good about turning them up from the bottom? Also does that only apply to pleated tops? We can chose between those or eyelet curtains.

If you shorten them from the bottom you have to redo the hem and fix the lining back in with mitred corners. It's just a row of straight sewing if you shorten them from the top.

That applies to pencil pleat, non-eyelet curtains.

Ooh, I'm in demand - a first on MN! 😄
It's because it's much easier to do. I'm a total coward when it comes to curtains.
I have made a christening gown, bonnet and knickers but baulk at turning up curtains from the bottom.....
Yes, eyelet curtains will probably mean doing it from the bottom, so see pp advice for that. From a personal point of view, I like the 'clean' look of pinch pleat or gathered pleat curtains and currently have the two end walls of my sitting room completely covered by curtains when they're shut because I like the look.

I hope you got sorted ! I had a similar problem with patio doors and we ended up getting perfect fit blinds instead - delighted with them - but a curtain would definitely be cosy for the colder nights!