Boring curtain question! One answer will do.

[beatie]

Can someone remind me how to buy curtains? I need to buy the type of curtains that gather at the top. Do you measure the window, half that measurement and multiply it by 1.5, or do you do 2 X the width for gathered curtains?

Does that make sense? Anyone?

Oh come on! Someone humour me and at least guess.

If you are buying ready-made curtains don't you just have to measure the window and then buy curtains to fit that measurement? Phone the curtain shop if you're not sure.

Bang on otto.

readymade as detailed below - if you're making them and buying fabric it's 2x width of window or 3x for nets

the stuff I know

If they are custom made curtains you need to measure

the length from your pole or rail to where you want the curtains to finish

the width of the recess OR the pole (the curtian maker will work it out if you just have the recess width)

Then they will work it out for you depending on whether you want 1.2x, 2x, 2.5x etc fullness - which may depend on the type of curtain you have chosen (e.g. pencil pleat you usually go for 2x).

Pretty sure Otto is right ... it's only if you're making them yourself that you have to do the halving and multiplying.

Buying ready-made. DH and I thought you matched the width of the window/pole to the measurement on the packet. However, the last time we bought curtains, the curtains didn't meet in the middle and when we complained that the width of the curtain was 7cm less than the measurement on the packet, the manager snootily told us that's not how you buy curtains. He said either 1.5 times the width or 2 x the width and I can't remember which.

Now you've all confused me!

Sorry that didn't make sense. The Manager said that the discrepancy between the measurement on the packet and the actual curtain shouldn't have been a problem because you buy them 1.5 X or 2 X the width anyway! It was news to us.