Choosing fabric

Choosing Fabric

The aesthetic is of course important, but so too is the performance. It's also important to choose something that's easy to work with for your first few projects.

Linen

• Loomstate linen is untreated and unwashed, so is quite harsh and scratchier than other types.
• In its washed state, the fibres are drawn closer together and the fabric is softer and drapes beautifully. However, its soft fluidity can make it tricky to handle and may not be ideal for a starter project.
• A heavier linen, such as the Robert Kime 'Field Poppy' fabric I use in this course, will be easier to work with as it has a stiffer feel and won't move around as much while you are working with it.
• Linen generally works in all rooms; however, you should avoid using it in a bathroom without good ventilation.

Silk

• Silk is a beautifully luxurious fabric; but notoriously bad for window dressings as the sun has a very direct and damaging effect on it.
• If you have a silk fabric you really want to use, I would recommend lining it right to the edge, or even a little beyond around the front, to protect it.

Cotton

• A great choice for your first curtain project, as it's quite stiff and doesn't move around much.
• Avoid anything that has any stretch, as this will make it tricky to work with.

Linen Cotton Union

• A fabric that combines these two fibres offers the best of both worlds and can be a great choice if you love the look of linen, but prefer working with the stiffness of cotton.

Polyester

• It's worth noting that any fabric that contains polyester may be prone to static build-up, which can cause your curtain to stick to the window rather than fall naturally.

Furnishing Grade Fabrics

• Whatever material you choose, it's best to ensure it is a furnishing grade fabric rather than a dressmaking fabric.

How to Keep Costs Down

• Buying fabric for curtains can get costly, as you need a lot of it. To keep costs down, you can opt for a cheaper plain fabric to make up the bulk of your curtain, and have a more expensive fabric as a contrasting border along the bottom or the leading edge.
• A plain fabric is normally more cost effective, as not only is it often cheaper, but you don't need to buy extra to allow for pattern repeat.
• If you do want to buy a patterned fabric, something with a smaller repeat means you won't have to buy a huge amount of excess.

Where to Buy Fabrics

• A curtain maker should be able to advise on what will work best for your project.
• Search for offcuts of designer fabrics, as these are often sold more cheaply.
• Look for fabrics in charity shops that can be repurposed and recycled into something new.
• Refer to my list of recommended suppliers near the beginning of the workbook.

Buying Fabric

• While you can buy any length of fabric you want, the width is almost always the same standard width of around 140cm. This means you will have to buy several 'drops' to make up your desired curtain width.
• To work out how many widths you need, divide your final curtain width by your desired fabric width - normally around 140cm.
• Always round up when establishing how many drops you need.
• You must also add 30cm on to each drop to allow for the hems.

In Summary:

Final curtain width ÷ desired fabric width = drops required

Round up for final number of drops

30cm x number of drops = hem allowance

Final curtain length x number of drops + hem allowance = amount of fabric you need to buy

For Example

Final curtain length = 230cm

Final curtain width = 380cm

Desired fabric width = 140cm

380cm ÷ 140cm = 2.7

Round up for final number of drops = 3 drops of fabric required

30cm x 3 = 90cm hem allowance

230cm x 3 + 90cm = 780cm of fabric to buy

Buying Patterned Fabric

• If you choose a material with a pattern, it's crucial to buy enough to be able to pattern match the different widths later down the line. Using the formula below is a fail-safe way to ensure you won't get caught short.
• As you would for a plain fabric, add the 30cm to the curtain length to allow for hems.
• Look at the fabric specification to find out the number of pattern repeats required.
• Divide the amount of fabric you need for each drop by the pattern repeat.
• Always round up to the next full pattern repeat.
• Do this for each drop.

In Summary:

Final curtain length + 30cm allowance for hems = amount of fabric for each drop

Amount of fabric for each drop ÷ length of pattern repeat = number of pattern repeats required

Round up to next full repeat

Number of pattern repeats required x length of pattern repeat = amount of fabric to achieve a pattern match

For Example

Final curtain length = 230cm

Pattern repeat = 15cm

230cm + 30cm = 260cm

260cm ÷ 15cm = 17.3

Round up to next full repeat = 18 pattern repeats required

18 x 15cm = 270cm of fabric per drop to achieve pattern match