Short on fabric length for drapery panels. Best solution?

18 years ago

I miscalculated the length I need for my drapery panels. I figured a 90" cut length, but I would really like a finished length of at least 85". 86" would be ideal, but I don't think it's possible to pull that off at this point. The windows are at my vacation home and I didn't measure before I ordered the fabric; stupid, I know. I'm already beating myself up over that. The windows are standard height, but there is wood trim over the top which I would like the rods to clear that I didn't take into account.

I am making grommet panels using the grommet tape linked below. They only recommend a double 1/2 inch hem for the top because I am using the tape and because the thickness needs to be minimized for the grommets to work properly. The tape is supposed to give it the body it needs. I know I should have a double 3 inch hem for the bottom, so I really need a minimum 92" cut length.

I have already cut most of the panels 90" long. I am wondering what the best solution is? Can I sew an additional 2" piece along the bottom of the panels that would be concealed in the hem or should I just have a double 2 inch hem?

I am already regretting that I took this project on, but I can't throw in the towel because of the money invested.

Here is a link that might be useful: grommet tape

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

cowgirlprincess
18 years ago
i'd go with the smaller hem. there are worse errors to make and I have made them (grin)
0
kybell
18 years ago
I would use a coordinating fabric for the hem. That should get them to about the right length. You might also use a piece of coordinating fabric at the header, making it as wide as needed for it to look "planned" and not an after thought.
0
Related Discussions
What length drapes? Can't decide!
Q
Comments (13)
I vote all the way to the floor. And I LOVE seeing valances UNDER the panels. Sounds wierd until you see them. A few of my favorite decorators on this forum have various "valances" under their panels, (some more like roman blinds, but don't function, so I guess those are still considered a valance??). I like the look, as Sueb posted above. I guess I look at a valance in that application as being sortof like seeing a peek of underclothing or something. Sexy, but subtle. That probably sounds weird. LOL! Anyway, I like your ideas. And if you are having blinds that function, I don't see the need for the sill length. Go for the elegance of the floor to ceiling!!!
...See More
Toile Pattern Repeat - Calculating for Drapery Panel
Q
Comments (11)
shadylady2u - Thank you. I am trying to learn more about sewing with every project that comes up! It's helpful for me to hear from all of you sewers who have experience and are willing to share. I am going to make sure the first edge of fabric is square/straight before I do any measuring for cutting that first panel. I will follow what you and the others said and cut 126" so I will have room for adjustments of the pattern. I am glad you brought up the header size. I was wondering about that (as well as the hem size). I bought a book from JoAnn's Fabric store several years ago. It's called "Windows with Ease". In the section on Flat Panel Curtains, there's a chart for hem depths. It includes method of hanging (clip on rings in my case) and curtain length (brushing floor in my case). For bottom hem allowance it says 8", upper hem allowance 3". In the directions, it says to "Press under a double-fold hem in the upper edge...." I also read & looked carefully at the pictures in the book describing How to Stitch a Double-Fold Hem. Their pictures & descriptions shows a 3" hem allowance ending up with a 1-1/2" hem. A 8" allowance ends up being a 4" hem. I followed their directions a few years ago when I made my DR & LR flat panel floor length drapes (using clip rings). They look fine, except I felt that the finished top hem (where the clip rings attach) looks too skimpy (only 1-1/2"). The finished bottom hem is 4" and looks good to me, but I could see that an inch or two greater may look better. BTW, my home is not formal...more on the casual side. For a finished header (not "allowance") and a finished bottom hem, what would you suggest? Happy Memorial Day to all! Laurie
...See More
Short curtains: what is the appropriate hem length?
Q
Comments (27)
I thought they looked fine before you raised them. Yes, they are a little too high but not enough to go to the trouble of lowering them. One suggestion is when baby is able to pull himself up in the crib, he'll want to pull on the curtain. I'd arrange the room so that the crib is not within reach of the curtains.
...See More
best way to add length to draperies?
Q
Comments (17)
Adding fabric to the top or bottom of the existing curtain panels is not an option you should consider as there would be no linear delineation in relation to the rest of the room. Also rings used at that height usually do not work because the scale of the rings is tiny compared to the overall length. A oversized custom pleat at the top would fare well. It's always a good idea, when designing a custom window treatment, to have the workroom send over their fabricator to advise on proper dimensions, as they have seen the good and bad of what can be accomplished. An interesting multiple border along the entire perimeter of the curtain panel would customize it nicely and make up for the 49" you need to make up for the length. For instance, from your existing panel, consider +5" coordinating color fabric + 3" trim + 4" fabric + 3" trim + 10" matching available fabric. Here are some inspiration pics. If you post your existing fabric, it would help us all.
...See More
Related Professionals
Bronx Furniture & Accessories · Eagan Furniture & Accessories · Manhattan Furniture & Accessories · Memphis Furniture & Accessories · Norwalk Furniture & Accessories · Gages Lake Furniture & Accessories · Northbrook Furniture & Accessories · Robbinsdale Furniture & Accessories · Carson Furniture & Accessories · Mount Laurel Interior Designers & Decorators · St. Louis Furniture & Accessories · Stamford Furniture & Accessories · Culver City Staircases & Railings · Egg Harbor Township Staircases & Railings · Spanaway Staircases & Railings
Rene54
18 years ago
There are several types of interfacings, if you did a interfacing in your header, maybe one of the iron on type, I would first sew the interfacing and fabric together then adjust to the width needed to apply the grommets would that give you the extra fabric you need, plus the stability for the grommet hole? Rene
0
valleykat
Original Author
18 years ago
I'm sorry Rene, but I don't really follow what you are saying. I will only have a double 1/2 inch hem at the top per the instructions that came with the grommet tape. There is no interfacing. The tape gives it the stability for the grommets. Check out the link above. It's pretty cool stuff.

I am still trying to decide between just having a shorter hem or having an accent panel at the top or bottom or both. I am leaning toward the latter because I would have plenty of my main fabric to go around and I could achieve the length I really want, 86".

Thanks for your replies.
0
stitchntime9
18 years ago
Is there any law that says you can't have a 2" hem on the bottom and use a light interfacing in the hem or add a 2" band at the bottom. Unless you are using a sheer fabric, I don't think you would really need a double 4" hem.

Another option would to do a contrasting valance or order more fabric and use that for the valances. If this is a vacation home in a gated community, you might want to check what their rules are about window treatments and solid white showing to the street (condo associations will have rules like that, know mine does).

Are you going to line these panels which would give extra drape to the whole look.
0
valleykat
Original Author
18 years ago
Yes, I do plan on lining these. I went to the fabric store today and found a coordinating fabric that I really like. I am going to use it on the bottom with a piece of trim between the two fabrics. I played with alot of different options, but once I came across this one; there was nothing more to think about. I think I will like it better than the original plan. So, I'm out a little more money, but since I am saving such a bundle sewing them myself, I can live with that. This is my third thread since I started planning these. I'll no doubt be back again as my work progresses. Thanks for all the help.
0
stitchntime9
18 years ago
Isn't it wonderful when you can use your creativity to get a result you really like?
0

Short on fabric length for drapery panels. Best solution?

Comments (7)

cowgirlprincess

kybell

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

Rene54

valleykat
Original Author

stitchntime9

valleykat
Original Author

stitchntime9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Short on fabric length for drapery panels. Best solution?

Comments (7)

cowgirlprincess

kybell

Related Discussions

Related Professionals

Rene54

valleykatOriginal Author

stitchntime9

valleykatOriginal Author

stitchntime9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

valleykat
Original Author

valleykat
Original Author