How To
Sew Drapes
Or
How To Make Expensive Looking Professional
Drapes In A Day
I was sick of my plain
windows. I had all the right furniture in the
room, but nothing on my windows.
Here's the dilemma. I am
moving to Texas in a few months... so whatever
I decided to make had to be versitile enough to
use on the windows in the house in Texas. So, I
didn't want to make something so tailored that
I couldn't reuse the fabric.
I also didn't want to spend
too much time on this project. After all, I'm
only going to be in the house for a couple more
months.
What I came up with was
simple, but beautiful drapes that were super
easy to make. And I'm going to show you
how!
I made a total of 8
panels... 2 per window. I averaged 2 Panels a
night. So, you could easily dress up a window
in a day.
The rods cost me $25 each...
totaling $100.
The fabric on sale cost me
about $300.
I was able to give my room
softness, drama, color and a designers touch
for less than $500. These would have cost close
to $4000 if I had a professional design and
make these for me.
So, here's how to make
them.
1. Install your curtain
rods. Install these first and hang the rings
you're going to use.
2. Measure from the bottom
of the curtain ring to the floor. Subtract
1/4". This is your finished length.
3. You will use the full
width of your fabric for the width of your
panel.
4. Cut your fabric and
lining:
Cut fabric width = full
width of fabric (trim off the selfage if the
fabric doesn't lay smooth and flat)
Cut fabric length = finished
length + 10" (bottom hem) + 14" (heading)
Cut lining width = fabric
width - 3"
Cut lining length = finished
length + 4" (bottom hem) + 2"
5. Sew the bottom hems
Fold the bottom edge of the
fabric up 5" and press.... fold up another 5"
and press. Pin. Sew with a blind hem stitch.
You can also sew the hem in place with a
straight stitch.
Fold the bottom edge of the
lining up 2" and press... fold up another 2"
and press. Pin. Sew with a blind hem stitch.
You can also sew the hem in place with a
straight stitch.
6. Sew the lining and fabric
together
Lay the fabric right side
up
Lay the lining right side
down so that the bottom edge is 1" above the
bottom edge of the fabric.
Align one side edge... pin
and sew together with a 1/2" seam. Repeat on
the other side.
Turn the drape right side
out. Your fabric will fold over to the lining
side about 1 1/2". Carefully press the drape so
that the fabric is even on both sides of the
lining. Pin in places to keep the layers from
slipping.
7. Lay the drape lining side
up
8. Fold in the raw side
edges of the fabric and pin. Stitch in place
with a straight stitch.
9. Tuck the raw edges of the
fabric at the bottom corners of the bottom
hem... and stitch the bottom corners in
place.
10. Lay the drape lining
side up again
11. Measure from the bottom
edge up the finished length and mark with a
couple pins
12. Fold the top edge down
to the lining side so that the top edge is
about 1" past the pins you just placed. Pin the
top edge in place.
13. Stitch the top edge to
the drape along the pinned measurement in step
11
14. Clip or sew the curtain
rings to the drape along the stitched line
15. When you hang the drape, the fabric will
fold over to the front. Arrange and fold the
fabric as desired.
And there you have it!
Gorgeous, professional quality drapes that can
add some serious class to any room. You can
make formal draperies with silk fabric and a
tassel fringe along that folded over edge. Or
you can have more casual drapes like the ones
in the photo.
Happy sewing!
Jennifer Thoden has helped
thousands of people just like you to
successfully sew professional quality
draperies. If you liked this "how-to" then you
will love SimpleSewingProjects.com. Click here
for more step by step sewing projects.
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