HELP! Can these window treatments be saved?

bigdee1960

5 years ago

Hello!

I had hoped to get what is depicted in this photo (with one swag and no horizontal stripe along the bottom)...

but this is what I got...

One of the things I liked most about the inspiration picture is the way the sides of the treatment extend out. The fabric used for the actual treatment, Fabricut Eleganza, is 59" wide and my window is 36" wide. Do you think that there is enough fabric to have the actual treatment resemble the inspiration photo? Also, what can be done with the fabric to make it look more structured and not so "sloppy"?

Here are the cornices...

The fabric on the cornices is wavy and the stripes are only stapled on to the back. To correct the problem should I unwrap the fabric, sew the stripes on, then re-wrap it tighter? If so, should I use foam or batting behind the fabric?

Lastly, please let me know if you think they can be salvaged or should I just get rid of the treatments and start over.

Sincerely,

bigdee1960

Featured Answer

User

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I think the issue is the fabric. The inspiration fabric appears to be burlap or similar, with a stiffer, more structured look.

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Comments (11)

armchairshopper
5 years ago
The first window will never resemble the inspiration photo because of differences in the body and thickness of the fabric used. It may not be possible at this stage to put something behind the fabric to fill It out.

The bay window looks pretty good. I would leave it alone. It is possible to tamper with it and make it worse.
bigdee1960 thanked armchairshopper
Sammy
5 years ago
I’d get rid of them and start over.
bigdee1960 thanked Sammy
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D M PNW
5 years ago
When you say no horizontal stripe, are you talking about the bottom pleats?
shadylady2u
5 years ago
They're two different treatments. The first is called a "London shade" and the second is a "Relaxed Roman with tails".

You should have just enough with the width, but the length needs to be the full length of your window.

I can try to give you a quick tutorial, but I don't have time right now. It would be sometime over the weekend if you can wait.

They'll also need to be lined with a thicker, stiffer lining to help keep it more structured, or it needs a stiffer fabric.
bigdee1960 thanked shadylady2u
PRO
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
There are a couple issues here. One, the fabric used is quite different from the inspiration photo. Two, the inspiration photo appears to be a functioning window covering that is synched up in order to let the daylight in. What you've attempted is similar to a home with faux shutters that are too small. Perhaps if you approach them as functional and synched (aka. enough fabric to cover the length of the window) you will achieve your look without having to change the fabric.

Good luck!
bigdee1960 thanked User
PRO
Anglophilia
5 years ago
What others have said above. But a blind like that, unless the fabric is VERY heavy, should have a flannel interlining. It gives the blind so much more body and it hangs much better.
bigdee1960 thanked Anglophilia
bigdee1960
Original Author
5 years ago
DM When you look at the inspiration photo you can see there is what appears to be a flap (at the very bottom) that has a horizontal stripe on it.

Can anyone give me some advice about the cornice? Why is the fabric wavy? Is the material to thin to put over batting or should it have been put over foam?
RNmomof2 zone 5
5 years ago
Perhaps the "waves" are from where the fabric is pulled taut on the cornice. You are there, is the fabric pulled fairly tight? If that is the issue it goes back to the fact that you are dealing with a thin fabric without substance.

Wrong weight fabric for what you wanted.
bigdee1960 thanked RNmomof2 zone 5
D M PNW
5 years ago
I see now. The comments from others are what I would have said. The cornice is wavy for the same reason. The fabric is light and probably pulled unevenly when it was stapled over the batting.You could try using iron on fleece to stabilize and give it more body before reattaching to the cornice.
bigdee1960 thanked D M PNW
shadylady2u
5 years ago
I'd make it about an inch, no more than 2in. wider than the window, mounted on a 1 x 2 board, so you'd need 1in. returns. If you want to mount it on a bigger board, you'll need to add more for returns. Put 6 inches in each pleat, and I'd put them 6 inches in from each end. I'd use double 1 inch side hems.

If you're making a working shade, I'd make them the full length of the window. If you just want a faux/valance shade, then make them double the size you want them to be, so you have extra folds which gives it the fullness.

I interline everything, but if you don't want to, try to find a napped lining.
bigdee1960 thanked shadylady2u

HELP! Can these window treatments be saved?

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HELP! Can these window treatments be saved?

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