How Much Fabric You Will Require to Make Your Wave Top Curtains

How Much Fabric You Will Require to Make Your Wave Top Curtains 

The first step

Before you decide how much fabric you need you need to decide what your going to hang your new curtains from. Is it going to be a rod/pole or a curtain track?

If its already fitted then great that save some work. Let's assume for this example that we need to fit the curtain hardware. As a rough rule of thumb I fit the rod or track half way between the top of the window and the ceiling.  If there's a lot of space over your window and think to go half way would look odd. Then fix your curtain rod or track a good 4 to 5 inches over the window.

Now How to measure the width

Once you have your curtain hardware fitted over your window, you can now take accurate measurements. The first size you need to measure is the width of your track or rod. Your curtain track or rod should be 5 to 10 inches wider than your window frame each side. The wider the window the more you go out each side. For example a window 4ft wide then 5 inches either side would be good. If your widow is 8 ft then go out 10 inches each side with your curtain hardware.

The reason for the extra width is so that when you open your curtains they can pull back off the window. The meeting edges of your curtains can come a little way onto the glass area but not to much or it starts to make your room a bit to dark.

Next how to measure your curtain length

If measuring curtains to hang from a rod/pole then start from the bottom of the curtain rod ring. Then measure down to where you want the curtain to stop. For example a few inches past the window sill. Maybe to just reach the floor and even sometimes to drape onto the floor (non working dress curtains usually). This measurement is called the “drop”.

If measuring curtains to hang from a curtain track then start from the top edge of the track and measure down to where you want your curtains to finish.

Cutting your fabrics

Now you need to clear the dining room table or your curtains are going to be really big. Then work on the floor as long as its a hard surface and clean. You will only need a pencil or chalk to mark the cutting line on your fabric. Also your sharp pair of scissors for this step.

We will keep to our 6 ft wide rod example for this, so we will need 3 drops of fabric at 93 inches long. If you are using plain fabric then simply cut 3 lengths at 97 inches (85 inches plus 12 inches for hem turnovers).

If you are using patterned fabric then you would need 3 drop of fabric again. This time it would be cut at 97 inches long. (85 inches plus 12 inches for the pattern repeat. This could be more if the pattern repeat is more).

Laying out the first piece of fabric

Cutting plain fabric:

Lay out your fabric ready to mark and cut then using your straight edge (my spirit level) mark a line across the fabric at 97 inches. Repeat this 3 times.

Then take one drop of your fabric and fold in half along the drop of the curtain. Then cut straight up the middle. This will give you the half width for each curtain.

That's it for the cutting of your plain fabric next step is putting it all together.

Cutting patterned fabric:

Lay out your fabric ready to mark and cut then using your straight edge (my spirit level) mark a line across the fabric at 97 inches. This fabric comes folded in half down the middle, I usually fold all my fabric this way so it fits onto the width of my table. It makes it so much easier when cutting.

The photo on the previous page shows you the pencil line across the fabric. I used my straight edge to do this line at 97 inches from the top. You can then cut along this line which will give you your first length of fabric. Now you need to cut another 2 lengths of fabric.

Next lift up the first piece of fabric and lay out more fabric. Then bring back your first piece of cut fabric and lay on top. Now you need to match the pattern by moving the top cut piece down the fabric until the pattern on the top piece is lined up with the pattern on the bottom fabric. You will probably have a few inches of fabric more at the top.

Then you can cut the other end of the fabric underneath. You now have 2 drops of your curtain. Repeat the whole process again for the third drop of fabric.

Then cut along the pencil lines. Repeating this couple of times will give us the 3 drops of fabric we need for this example. If you look at the edge of the fabric you will see a row of letters. This usually gives you the design name.

Then take one drop of your fabric and fold in half along the drop of the curtain. Then cut straight up the middle. This will give you the half width for each curtain.