Curtains Portieres Styles

The general rules and suggestions made for curtains serve also for door hangings. Plain portieres are used with figured hangings. They should be as rich yet as unobtrusive as possible. Doublefaced materials come in many varieties. Portieres must be presentable from both sides. It does not look well to use a plain material on one side and figured of another texture on the opposite. Two colors of the same texture are always permissible, as the color schemes of connecting rooms are different. Portieres should be hung with rings on rods from inside the trim, since the opening is an architectural feature and should be treated as such.

Always see that the portiere blends with the floor covering beneath it. Plain or self-tone fabrics are preferable as stripes and much figured patterns serve to accentuate the opening. If we use a patterned material, the design must match in each pair.

Reps, velours, damasks and tapestries are the most suitable materials. The edges of the portieres may be hemmed down with a wide hem at the bottom. If a cord is applied be sure and do not pull the stitches too tightly, as that is the main reason for the edge puckering. The nap of materials with a pile should run down. Lined portieres are made in exactly the same way as curtains except that both material and lining come even at the edge, instead of being set back % inch as in curtains. Portieres may be made up as a bag, the two right sides being put together and stitched. If the material allows it, the portieres should be pressed around all the edge and the cord applied at the edge and bottom. Galloon may be used as an insertion, but this should be applied before the curtains are stitched together.

Suitable edgings come with and without fringes, with a double heading. The material is slipped between the heading and this stitched on. No hem therefore is necessary, and the finish is as good on one side as on the other. If the valance is used, have it at least six feet from the floor.

The selection, making and hanging of curtains and portieres seems endless in its variety of choice. It were better so, else we should have less left to our personality to express, and, hackneyed as this expression is, our curtains do much to express ourselves to the passing neighbor without and our household within.