Interlined curtains - normal or am I just being overly fussy?

[DrapeyDreamer]

Hi - long-time lurker, first time poster! I've just had a pair of interlined curtains made, spent quite a lot of money on them (saved up a while) and I'm a little disappointed with how they've turned out. I like the fabric but the issue is with these 'bubbles' that seemed to have formed. The supplier did come round and steam the curtains, but they're not creases, so it hasn't made a difference. Is this normal on thick interlined curtains and am I just being overly fussy, or is this an issue with the manufacturing / curtain-making process where the interlining hasn't been done properly? The fabric is also plain rather than patterned, so probably more difficult to be forgiving.

I've attached some pictures to explain what I mean.

Any help would be really appreciated!

I'm not a professional, but I have made interlined curtains in the past and they didn't do that. A few thoughts...

How many days have they been hanging? I'd probably give them a few weeks to drop properly into place before panicking.

Are you 'training' them? (Loosely tying them in place when open to get the folds to fall correctly - Google it if not for tips!)

Do they have weights in the hem, and are the weights heavy enough for the curtains?

If the above doesn't work it might be worth getting a second option from a different seamstress/tailor. Absolute worst case scenario I'd guess either the weight of the fabric is wrong or they've been sewn incorrectly. Both can be fixed (replace interlining or simply re-sew)

Thays crappy, you're right. I wouldn't be happy at all.

But pp is right about letting them settle for a bit. But they won't settle if they've been sewn wrong!

Have you told them that you're not happy because they're not right? Is that why they came to steam them? What did they/you say after the steaming and they were still the same?

Be patient for a while longer and see if they settle down.

Urgh, interlined curtains can be so expensive, I'd also be disappointed OP.

How long since they were put up?

I've made curtains that hang better than that!
Speak to whoever made them and ask for them to be re-sown so they do not pucker at the seams. DO Not wait a couple of weeks- tell them straight away that you're not happy.

That doesn’t look right to me. Forgive my ignorance but is the interlining ironed on to the material? If so, I don’t see how you can get rid of the bubbles.

Ive only had, and made, lined curtains where they joint under the heading tape then fall free so no chance of bubbles.

Thank you all for your responses - that’s really helpful and given me some confidence to know that I'm not just being difficult (I'm not the best at standing up for myself!)

They have been up for nearly a month now and I did complain that they looked funny, which is why they sent someone round to steam them (they also said to leave a while and they drop properly but it doesn't seem to have done!)

What is the material? and what does it look like by itself? I think what I'm saying is, is it a function of the type of material or because the of the way the curtains have been made up. Mind you if the material wasn't suitable for curtains they should have told you anyway. They definitely don't look like they were professionally made. My homemade look much better than that.

Thanks for the tips @Mammillaria - I'll try Googling! There are weights in the hem, but not sure if they're heavy enough? They have been up about a month now though, so would have thought they'd have settled by now.

Thanks @Silverbirchtwo - the material is 100% cotton and it's a pretty standard curtain fabric (I think).

Is the interlining bonded to the curtain fabric? If so then they need taking down and looking at. If the interlining is loose inside the pocket of the curtain then they might just need a good steam plus possibly heavier weights.

I would say the same. Is that the issue OP?

I've never had bubbles like that with interlining. Have they used an iron-on interfacing instead? It does look as if something is puckering up the fabric from the back.

They should have dropped over a month. I'd be insisting they fixed them at this point.

Yes that’s what I suspect they’ve used. Not really traditional interlining in the way most of us think of it, more like a way of making the curtain fabric thicker. If it’s bonded/ironed on, that could cause puckering if not done carefully.

Not being fussy at all. I'd be fuming.

Another voice of agreement.
I think the interlining has been bonded to the face fabric and this has failed.
A remake rather than a steam

In fact I wonder if steaming could have made it worsen ?!

Interlining should feel like a very thin fleecy material that is just tacked on. Not glued on. I suspect they've used iron-on interfacing, which just makes the curtain material thicker, abit like how mens shirt collars feel. My homemade interlined and lined curtains look better and I've done a pretty rough job of it.

Thanks again all for responding - I really appreciate it. It's good to know that I am just not being unnecessarily fussy and that I do have a 'right' to go back to them. I'm not sure if the interlined has been ironed on - is a 'gap' when I feel / pinch from the front? I've attached a couple of pictures of what can be seen behind if that helps!

Thank you all again :)

Well@DrapeyDreamer , they look absolutely awful and I would ask for a refund immediately if they aren't able to correct the problem. Be insistent that they are totally unsatisfactory.

Normally with interlined curtains you would be able to feel 3 distinct panels of fabric - the decorative fabric used for the front of the curtain, the thin lining on the back and, between the two, a fleecy feeling interlining fabric which will not be visible but which you should be able to feel through the lining on the back.

Interlining will generally be loosely stitched into place, but still easily discernible as a separate panel. (At least it has been in all the interlined curtains I've made and owned!) I do think PPs who've said that it looks like they've tried to bond the interlining to the front panel. I've done this once for a Roman blind, but didn't think it was the done thing with curtains. I'm no expert though!

Thanks all for your advice - it was incredibly helpful and gave me confidence to go back to the manufacturer and complain. Something I realised based on @Mammillaria' s feedback was that I don't think the interlining was done properly. I've attached a photo of what it looked like - can I just confirm that this is wrong and that the interlining should be sewn onto the fabric? Sorry, I'm so clueless about this and just want to make sure I get as much info as I can!

I’m not an expert but I’ve just looked at my interlined curtains and they don’t look like that. They are sewn onto the main fabric. Hope that helps!

Actually that looks like it's three separate pieces of fabric, decorative material, interlining and then lining. In theory that's fine (although there's clearly a problem somewhere). I thought you might find that the middle piece of fabric had been ironed on to the decorative fabric.