Best tutorial for sewing lined curtains?
Comments (26)
dawnbc
12 years agoRelated Discussions
sewing box cushions--how to make snug?
Comments (24)I realize I'm several years late to this posting, but I think I have a VERY GOOD formula for boxed cushions. Please bear in mind though, I've only used this formula with indoor/outdoor fabric like Sunbrella and Crypton that has little to no give. Okay, so If I had a 24" x 24" piece of foam 3" thick, I would cut my top and bottom plates 24" x 24" (exact width and length of foam). Where I would allow for zipper plaques and seam allowances is in the BOXING (the strip that goes around the cushion). Since my foam is 3" thick, I would cut my boxing strips 4" wide; that gives you a 1/2" seam allowance for the entire cushion. Also, if you find with your fabric that it's still too loose, or too tight, (even though it's a pain) it's much easier just to take off the boxing and either cut it down or a cut a larger strip. Always doing your adjustments in the boxing REALLY saves fabric (and most of the outdoor stuff is "through the roof" expensive as it is). Adding an inch to the boxing always makes the top of my cushions look taught, flat, and plump....See MoreCan I sew my own curtains? Help!!!
Comments (25)update on the plan! Shannon- thanks- I love Candice too! If I weren't using a solid color sheer in the center of the door I would definetly consider doing a solid vertical stripe up edges. The fabric on these panels will never be closed completely. Tam184- The seamstress asked me to describe the pattern and I spoke with her about "matching the repeat" (all new terms for me!) so I am assuming she knows how to do this. She said she would come out to the house and measure the door herself because I was a novice with giving her concrete measurements for sewing. Ajsmama- This is a local women here in Florida that the fabric store recommended. They gave me 2 names and warned me that one was a little bit more expensive, but that both were very good. As I said before, I live in a pretty small town. I have a feeling prices vary depending on where you live. Have you checked locally? I bought the fabric yesterday. After all of this information ( thank you all a million times over) I have decided to have them sewn professionally. The fabric was pretty expensive for my budget, and I don't want to risk ruining it. It will mean waiting a bit longer, but I have been in the house for 6 years without curtains for the door, so what's another month or two! I would rather wait to save up to have it done properly. Thanks again, and will post pics as soon as they are done!...See MoreBest Sewing Machine To Buy for Home Dec?
Comments (19)I purchased my Bernina used on ebay. $800, 5 years ago...could have gotton a top of the line Bernina for that on CL.....didn't want to buy long distance tho. :0) It monograms and you can download embroidery or use ones already loaded. You can ask how many hours are on a machine, it will tell you. I found ones with less than 100 hours being sold as used....:0) I've done everything from upholstery to sewing the crotch seam of denim jeans with mine. I was told if you sew a LOT, a machines head lasts about 25 years. Then it's pretty much worn out. My old Kenmore was 25 years old and the needle would be out of alignment every time I went to use it. I do at least one BIG project a year and was paying $80 each time to get the needle aligned. I went to Walmart, purchased a Brother, it lasted about 6 months. Something plastic made a crunching sound....now it's hosed. :0)The local repair shop said they won't touch a Brother, all plastic junk. :0)...See MoreSewing drapes vs. curtains vs panels; several ???
Comments (3)First-- you can buy extra hook carriers so you are not limited to the number that come with the rods, though you probably won't need them. Second--For full drapes you will need 3x the width of the window or the width you want the finished drapes to be if you make them wider than the window. If you make five finger pleats you may need more. You will need the length you want the finished drapes to be plus an extra header width and a good sized hem. If they are full length drapes I usually put a 4 or 5 inch hem, but it depends on your material. Don't go too small or they look cheap. To make pinch pleats. You need header tape. Remove the selvedge edges from the sides. Put the header tape on the top end 1 1/2 inch in from the edge--stop 1 1/2 inch from the other edge and cut the tape. Fold the material down over the tape 1/2 inch and sew. Make a 1 inch hem on the sides. Now fold the tape down so the tape is enclosed in the material and pin. Now comes the measuring. I prefer a 3 finger pleat. If I want extra fullness I make the pleats closer together. You need 1 inch for each finger--a 3 finger pleat requires 3 inches. Measure 1 1/2 inches from the edge and make a mark. You can use chalk, sewing pencil or even a soft lead pencil. You don't need a big mark , just something you can see to mark where the pleat pocket is. For a 3 finger pleat with 2 inches between pleats---Measure the curtain across the top. Take off 6 inches--for ends and pleat at the end. Divide the remainder by 5 and see how it works out. You may have to increase or decrease the end measurement or make it 2 1/2 inches between pleats.now measure 3 inches and make a mark. Now mark the distance between the pleats 2, then 3 for pleat repeat across the top. Sew your pleat loops from top to bottom of thr tape so you have one big pleat. Now pleat the loop and finger press into 3-- 1/2 inch pleats and stitch across the bottom of the pleats at the bottom of the tape. If you want to make it easier then buy pleater tape that has strings you pull to pleat them. This makes very nice pleats all across the drape. The tighter you pull the strings the fuller the pleats. You sew it on flat and then pull the strings and tie them off. I suggest you get hooks that go the full length of the tape in both cases. Little hooks tend to make the tape fall forward on top and if you put them higher the rod shows. I also suggest that you look at rods that have wooden rings on top and clip on to the drapes. They are as easy as a shower curtain to open and close. The link below is very good and it will give you a lot of info about making drapes Here is a link that might be useful: tutorial on drapes...See More
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12 years agoAnele, I can totally relate. I made panels last year for my living room. Let me start this by saying that I do not sew. My mom who is quite skilled at sewing, tried to teach me in my youth, but I never made it past learning how to sew on a button. A couple of years ago, my 12 y/o got a sewing machine for her birthday (a really nice one, not a kids' machine). She uses it for making fun stuff like purses, pillows, etc. Well, I decided that I was going to try to make panels - I mean, how hard could it be to sew rectangles?! A friend of mine offered to assist - she was making some panels herself. I had the fabric already (had fallen in love with a fabric I saw online then stumbled over it on clearance at a local fabric store so bought it and saved it, thinking I'd have someone else make my panels for me). Anyway, my friend walked me through it - helped me measure the fabric and the lining, then showed me how to pin. I have to say, the hardest part was all the pinning! Making sure that the hems were all evenly pinned took forever. If I remember correctly, I hemmed the bottoms of the panels and lining (separately) first, then laid the lining onto the panels and sewed then sewed the side and top hems into place over the lining so at the bottom, my lining hangs loose at the bottom but is sewn into the panel at the top and sides (not sure I'm making any sense).
As a mom of four, plus a dog and cat, finding a convenient place to lay everything out was a pain. My kids are all in school (youngest was in kindy at the time) so I had to do it while they were at school. I only had one space in the house that was wide and long enough where I could fully lay the panel out to do all the cutting and pinning then I just draped them over my dining room chairs until I had time to do the sewing. I just did them one by one but it took me months! Mainly b/c I didn't set aside the time to do it, not b/c it was time consuming. I then used my kitchen table (I have a large farm table) for the actual sewing.
All in all, it was a fun project. I was so proud of myself that I decided at some point, I want to take a sewing class. Unfortunately, I haven't taken out the sewing machine since, but I do plan on making a couple of pillows (nothing fancy) soon. And I have to say, my mom was SHOCKED when she came over and saw the panels hanging and I told her that *I* made them. She couldn't believe it, especially when she saw that I took the time and lined them!
Here is an old picture. The panels aren't hanging nicely here and have since been fixed, but you can get the idea of my finished product! Good luck with yours!
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