Saturday 17 October 2015

Lined curtains - Part 4

They're done!  What have I learnt?  Handmade curtains cost a small fortune, your fingers bleed and they take absolutely ages to make.  But all is forgiven as they look good and (quite importantly) block out light.  I think I deserve a quick project next!





























Forming the pleats 
This was a really quick step.  I inverted each cylindrical shape so that I made two pleats of equal depth.  I then secured them at the top from the wrong side before holding the pleat with bulldog clips and finishing them off by securing the pleat at the bottom on the right side.
Finding the centre and securing the top of the pleats from the wrong side
Sexuring the top of the pleats
Completed top pleats

















Securing the bottom of the pleats

Training the curtains
I wanted to teach the pleats and curtains to sit nicely so I bought lots of bulldog clips and used three on each pleat.  I then hung the curtains using hooks which I placed so that they covered the small hole at the bottom of each curtain loop.

Curtains in training!
Once they were hung I cut calico into long strips and tied a strip around each curtain at equal intervals (top, bottom and a few in between). Then I went on holiday for a month!

When I came back I removed the calico strips and bulldog clips and the curtains retained their shape very nicely.  I finished them off with some Laura Ashley tie backs and the look is complete!












Cost




Item Supplier Quantity £
Clarke and Clarke Oberon Duck Egg curtain fabric https://www.the-millshop-online.co.uk/ 11m @ £12.50 per metre 137.5
Cotton sateen cream lining https://www.the-millshop-online.co.uk/ 10.5m @ £3.95 per metre 41.48
Curtain weights Class teacher 4 @ £0.50 each 2
Thread http://www.abakhan.co.uk/ 3 @ £1.55 each 4.65
Buckrum, iron on white, 6" http://www.abakhan.co.uk/haberdashery/curtain-making-upholstery-supplies/buckrum-iron-on-white-15cm-6.html 6m @ £1.30 per metre 7.8
Bulldog clips http://www.wilko.com/ 4 packs @ £1 per pack 4
Curtain poles http://www.fashioninteriors.co.uk/rolls-neo-premium-28mm-chrome-effect-metal-curtain-pole-23041r-cfb/p124904.html 2 @ £60.92 each 121.84
Pin on hooks http://www.dunelm.com/product/pack-of-20-pin-on-hooks-1000014939?searchTerm=curtain+hooks 1 0.99
Tie backs  http://www.lauraashley.com/uk/invt/3385264 4 @ £11 each 44
Wall hooks http://www.lauraashley.com/uk/hooks/pair-of-classic-cream-wall-hooks/invt/3266790 2 @ £4.60 each 9.2
TOTAL 373.46