| When fabricating curtains there is always a choice | | | | turned over raw edge can be seen. If the hem is such |
| between good and best. And as always, your budget | | | | that it is not backlighted it a single hem may be what |
| and the look you want to achieve will both dictate | | | | you want. There is, however, an additional advantage |
| what your finished product will be. The bottom hems, | | | | to having a double hem which is to add some body |
| side hems and rod pocket as well as what fullness or | | | | and weight to the curtain which helps it drape better. |
| gather will be involved in your decision on how many | | | | Custom curtains, sheers and draperies are always |
| yards the project will use. | | | | finished with double rod pocket, side and bottom hems. |
| First of all, you should decide what fullness or gather | | | | A bottom hem is folded up double the amount needed |
| you wish to see in your finished curtains. It may be a | | | | for the hem and the top part is folded down to the |
| good idea to gather a sheet on a long piece of pipe or | | | | original crease. When this is done you also do not see |
| rod to see how much gather would look good to you. | | | | the raw edge because it is folded completely down. |
| When figuring on this you can use fabric in the amount | | | | The size of the hems can be quite different as well. |
| of 1 ½, 2, 2 ½ or 3 times the rod length. | | | | On a ready made product the bottom hem is usually 2 |
| This is known as the fullness. As an example, most | | | | or 3 inches in width. Custom bottom hems are always |
| ready made lace curtains are shown with a 1 ½ | | | | 4 and sometimes 5 inches to give a more quality look. |
| times fullness, ready made draperies are mostly 2 | | | | The side hems on a ready made curtain are usually |
| times fullness, custom draperies 2 ½ times | | | | ½ or 1 inch in width single hems and custom are |
| fullness and custom sheers are 3 times fullness. To | | | | almost always 1 1/2 inches in width double hems. |
| some degree the weight or heaviness of the fabric | | | | Occasionally on lace curtains the selvedges or sides |
| makes a difference as well. You would not want to | | | | are finished in a pattern and there is no need for a side |
| make a heavy velvet curtain as full as an antique satin | | | | hem. The rod pocket for a curtain rod is generally 1 1/2 |
| curtain and certainly far less full than a lace curtain or a | | | | inches in width for either ready made or custom |
| sheer curtain. | | | | curtains, the first being single and the other double. |
| Once you have decided the fullness you next need to | | | | There can also be a top ruffle added above the rod |
| consider what size and style the rod pocket, side and | | | | pocket which can be 1, 2 or even 3 inches in height. It is |
| bottom hems will be. Ready made curtains and | | | | part of the same rod pocket hem with an additional |
| draperies are generally sewn using what are called | | | | sewing line down from the top to form the rod pocket. |
| single hems. This means that the fabric is folded up | | | | Once you have mastered these items it might be a |
| and turned over just enough to be sewn. This is a | | | | good idea to read complete Curtain Sewing |
| good way to save some yardage but does have a | | | | Instructions. Good luck with your next window curtain |
| disadvantage. When sunlight is behind the drapery the | | | | project. |