Practical tips for planning your curtains

Practical tips for planning your curtains

How to Care for your fabric

Take a look at the instructions for the care and cleaning of your chosen fabric before you purchase it. If your curtains will hang in a high traffic area such as the kitchen or bathroom, perhaps fabric that is machine washable is your highest priority. Check if the fabric has been treated to be shrink-resistant. You may have to allow for shrinkage on synthetics or untreated cottons when you calculate the amount of fabric you need.

Perhaps the most important thing you need to know is if the fabric is fade resistant if your curtains or blind are to hang in a sunroom. Remember that curtains or upholstered furniture fabric placed in a child's bedroom or playroom may benefit from being pre-treated with a stain-resistant finish. Alternatively you yourself could apply such a finish to your finished article using an aerosol spray specially designed for this.

Getting the look - quality and quantity

Most of us have to work to a budget while at the same time trying to get the exact look we want for our curtains and soft furnishings. Here's a word of advice. Don't try and save on the AMOUNT of fabric you purchase just so you can purchase a more expensive choice. It is much wiser to choose a less expensive fabric and be generous with your fabric quantities. I promise you the final effect will be much more successful.

At all times go for quality. You absolutely can find excellent quality at low prices. Why waste your time and money making up poor quality fabric, for an item that will soon look worn and lifeless after a short space of time. Within your budget remember that lining fabrics, sewing thread, zips and heading tape costs soon add up.

More advice

Never, ever throw an off-cut away until you have completely finished all your sewing projects. Fold them neatly up and store them in a plastic bag. You may want a small cushion, or some arm covers for your sofa made up from leftover fabric. You may be able to use 2 pieces of contrasting but complementary fabric together for a cushion cover. Long pieces of left over fabric can cover piping cord and make wonderful piped edges on cushions.

You may need to take an odd scrap of your fabric with you to the shops to pick out complementary furnishings or fabric for your next project. Do ask the sales assistant for fabric swatches. It's rare these days that the customer cannot come away with an arm full of swatches before making their final purchase decision.

Check the order availability of the fabric you like if you are not buying immediately, and check how much the shop has in stock. Make sure you will have enough fabric from the same roll to complete your soft furnishing project. Otherwise carefully check the fabric from two different rolls to ensure an exact color match.