This is something everyone thinks about if they want their living room, bedroom or any other room to be unusual in its design.
There are many options for creating draperies on fabrics , but the most popular are folds directly on the canvas, which can be bow, one-sided, glass, and all of them are usually done by hand. Therefore, you need to know the technique of creating them.
What is a curtain?
Curtains are a canvas made of thick fabric used to decorate a window or door. Translated from French, the word itself means “door” (Portiere, Porte).
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Pleated curtain design
The main source of good mood is tastefully designed and sewn products.
But you can create beautiful folds on curtains only if you have high-quality fabric and the correct assembly technique for it.
At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing complicated about this: there is fabric, there are two hands, but on top of everything else you still need desire, skill and a little imagination, without which it is impossible to create anything original.
The density of the fabric, its texture and color scheme dictate what assembly technique can be used in a particular case, and if it is dense but soft material, then volumetric folds such as bows, glasses, and one-sided ones will look great on it. You can learn more about matching the color of curtains to the tone of the wallpaper in this article.
Types of curtains
In addition to the variety of materials, manufacturers offer a wide selection of curtain opening mechanisms.
Sliding
Classic canvases that move horizontally along the cornice.
Curtain panels
Unlike sliding panel types of curtains, they do not have folds or flounces. Screen panels diffuse light well, so with windows facing south, you can not move the panels apart even during the day.
Lifting
These types of curtains are the most compact, as they are assembled at the top of the window either in a roll or in folds and do not take up extra space.
Smart curtains
So-called “smart” curtains. To open such curtains you don’t even have to go to the window. It will be enough just to press the remote control button and the mechanism will do everything itself.
One-sided folds on curtains
One-sided folds are a popular way of decorating interior products ; a very interesting design theme is created on curtains in this way.
This technique of folding fabric includes elements folded in half, the laying of which is performed first on the wrong side, where width and depth markings are applied. Then the work is transferred to the front side.
The direction of bends is carried out in one direction only.
After the folds are laid out in a row, they are fixed using a sewing machine or manually.
Draperies in the shape of glasses are the best option for classic curtains
Every housewife understands that classic curtains are suitable for any interior, so they are the most common in every home and decorate windows in rooms for different purposes. Classic curtains are decorated with different elements:
- cords;
- magnetic clips;
- fringed.
It is the magnificent volumetric folds that give extraordinary beauty to such curtains. They look like glasses, wide at the top and so graceful at the bottom - it’s very beautiful and always stylish. To enhance the effect, you can trim the edge of the curtains with a border. Choose a curtain rod responsibly: it is advisable to buy it with the original rod and tip. This will add splendor and festivity to your window. Look at the examples of classic curtains in the photo.
Bow pleat look on curtains
What can you say about this type of fabric draping? Folds can be made along the entire length of the curtains or in single moments, alternating between an even field of fabric.
There are several ways to decorate curtain fabric, depending on which the ratio of fabric to the width of the finished product changes.
The fold width is minimum 2 cm and maximum 8 cm, as a result, one bow element is 4 cm and, respectively, 16 cm.
The most common ratios of the two components are the following variations:
- 1 to 3 , when there are no gaps between the edges of the bow elements, they go one after the other and the edges touch each other. To sew such curtains, you will need fabric 3 times the length of the cornice or the width of the finished lambrequin;
- 1 to 2.5 , in this option the distance between the edges of the folds is smaller compared to the width of the folded fabric. The estimated amount of material for sewing such products should be 2.5 times greater;
- 1 to 2 , with this ratio the width of the bow folds is equal to the distance between them, which means that to make curtains you will need twice as much fabric. This is the most economical option, but also the least voluminous.
The bow fold on curtains is used both for making lambrequins and for curtains of different lengths.
For example, this technique is often used in English-style curtains, where the products on the windows look very elegant.
English curtain models are most suitable for windows in the kitchen and bedroom; in such an environment you feel homely and it’s pleasant to be here.
Types and models of folds on curtains
What draping technique should I choose so that it can make the product the most striking in terms of design solutions?
In any case, we should not forget that any curtain will look neat if you correctly and competently calculate the depth of the fold of the fabric.
After all, the greater the number of deep folds used, the larger the footage of fabric required for sewing curtains.
Blinds
Blinds are a separate group of sun protection systems, characterized by functionality and practicality in use. The system consists of plates-lamellas connected by cords and chains, forming a canvas, distinguished by type of orientation:
Vertical
The slats move along the window slope, the height of the product either reaches the window sill, or covers only the upper part of the window, visually stretching the room. Made from aluminum, wood, textiles, plastic. Mainly used in modern interiors.
Horizontal
The slats are attached to the window sash or frame and rise horizontally to the top of the window, visually expanding the space. In classic interiors, wood products are popular, framed by curtains, while minimalist ones are made of plastic and aluminum. For eco-friendly and ethnic styles, bamboo blinds are usually chosen.
Roller and pleated curtains are a type of horizontally oriented blinds:
Rolled
The fabric sheet, wound on a shaft, is hidden under the box and attached above the window opening or on the window sash. Due to a special control mechanism, they are lowered to the required level and fixed. Used in laconic modern interiors.
Sliding models
Classic
Classic curtains are used in almost any interior; they are optimal for bedrooms and living rooms; they often consist of two rows:
Curtains are vertical curtains that completely cover the window opening and protect against the penetration of bright sunlight. Made from heavy, dense fabrics, they can be an independent main element or part of a decorative window design.
Curtains are vertical curtains that partially or completely cover a window. They are made from translucent fabrics, are decorative and allow sunlight to pass through.
Types of curtain fastening:
Eyelets and rings - plastic and metal rings sewn or sewn at equal distances from each other in the upper part of the fabric, strung on the cornice and forming uniform, voluminous folds;
Loops - sewn onto the curtain from the front or back side and strung onto the cornice;
Ties - two fabric strips are sewn to the upper edge of the fabric and tied to the cornice, mainly used for light fabrics;
Drawstring – fastening directly to the cornice due to a drawstring pocket into which the rod is threaded.
Curtain decor elements:
Lambrequin is a decorative horizontal drapery in the upper part in front of the curtains, hiding the cornice. There are four types:
Swag is a version of a soft lambrequin, consisting of many round or semicircular draperies;
Jabot (De Jabot) - a hanging drapery of a soft lambrequin, looks like a tie, most often complements a swag;
Bandeau is a hard, smooth lambrequin, which can have a smooth, jagged or wavy edge;
Cascade is a wavy drapery falling obliquely.
Tiebacks are paired elements that fix the fabric, most often made of the same material as the curtains.
Italian
They differ from classic curtains in that they do not slide completely apart, but are draped diagonally using cords passed through rings on the reverse side of the product. Italian curtains are characterized by a voluminous cylindrical manual fold of a semicircular shape along the upper edge. Inherent in the classical-historical styles of Baroque, Empire and Rococo. They are used to decorate large and arched windows in living rooms, bedrooms and children's rooms, usually combined with other types of sun protection products.
Japanese panels
Japanese curtains are screens - several panels covered with fabric. They are attached to profile guides and move along a given plane; they have one-sided or central sliding. Characteristic of laconic and ethnic styles, used for decorating window and door openings and zoning rooms.
Cafe curtains
Compact cafe curtains cover only the lower half of the window; the curtain rod is installed either inside the window opening or frame, or to the wall outside. Can be complemented with a light lambrequin made of a similar fabric. They are practical to maintain and look harmonious in the interiors of kitchens in Provence, country, rustic and shabby chic styles.
Rope
They are made from rain thread, muslin, beads, rhinestones and glass beads, and can consist of the same elements or combine several types of parts. They are divided into two types - muslin and hard. Used to decorate windows, doorways and highlight areas in the room. They often play the role of tulle in the interior and are combined with fabrics of different densities and textures.
Assembly factor and its calculation
The curtain assembly coefficient is the ratio of the dimensions of the canvas and the curtain tape, on which the initial length of the braid required to form a certain type of drapery on the finished product depends.
The gather factor is determined based on the shape of the folds you want to achieve:
- To form a pencil assembly - from 2.5 to 3;
- For bow folds - from 2.5 to 3;
- Buffer assembly - 2.5;
- French folds - 2.5;
- Flemish assembly - 2;
- Folds glasses - from 2 to 2.5.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the gathering factor for curtains with grommets - it is 1.6-2.5. For draping curtains fixed with eyelets, a braid is used, the design of which differs from standard tapes - it has special holes for ring fastenings.
The higher the gather factor for curtains you use, the tighter the folds will be in relation to each other. The above coefficients are not mandatory; if desired, they can be increased by 0.5-1 and get thicker drapery.
We give an example of calculating the length of the braid for an Italian type curtain consisting of one sheet. The initial data is as follows: the length of the cornice is 3 meters, the coefficient for assembling Italian curtains with pencil folds is 2.5.
- 3 × 2.5 +10 = 7.6 m.
We take an additional 10 centimeters in reserve so that when attaching the braid to the canvas, we can tuck its edges inward.
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Hand-draped curtains
Any skill should always be highly valued, and handmade even more so. the most popular design direction has gained wide popularity .
This option for draping curtains allows you to modify the interior of the room, giving it special attractiveness and even luxury. Ready-made French curtains create equally beautiful draperies; you can learn more about such curtains here.
There are a huge number of variations on the Internet for creating draperies that are unique and inimitable in their design, which can be made using large or very small hand-made assemblies.
The most original decorated element on curtains is created, as a rule, using the simplest methods.
These can be models of curtains with lambrequins in original assemblies or curtains with tiebacks, with the help of which a beautiful volume of freely hanging fabric is created. You can learn more about the types of curtain tiebacks here.
Characteristics of fabrics, curtain color, selection rules
Before buying curtains, you need to think about what density and shape the fabric should be. The dimensions of the window opening and the functionality of the room should be taken into account:
- Shortened or asymmetrical curtains are suitable for the kitchen, which will not interfere with cooking (practical fabrics with the addition of polyester are used for production).
Short curtains gathered at the sides are an excellent solution for decorating a kitchen window Source tkac.ru
- For the bedroom, you should choose a thick fabric for curtains that will protect from the rays of the sun and prying eyes (textiles are chosen to match the interior design of the room: jacquard, cotton with polyester, linen, taffeta, silk, brocade).
Jacquard curtains in the bedroom will perfectly protect from the sun Source art-interior.moscow
- You can choose lush models for the living room to create a feeling of celebration (a lot of people often gather in the guest room; fabric that is easy to wash is suitable: viscose, velor, linen, silk). Velvet and brocade will make a good drapery and lambrequin.
Curtain and tulle will decorate the room, the combination looks lush and elegant Source art-interior.moscow
- Bright textiles (natural, breathable fabrics: linen, cotton) are often used in the nursery. The design on the curtains can be anything, the main thing is that the child likes it.
Curtains and walls in the same color scheme advantageously highlight interior items Source art-interior.moscow
Folds on curtains in the form of glasses
The folds of the glasses add soft drapery to the curtains. On medium-density curtains, such decorative elements look quite original.
A distinctive feature of this type of fold on fabric is its semi-cylindrical shape, which is obtained by fixing the folds four times inside one large fold, as well as filling the upper part of the cylinder with artificial filler such as synthetic padding polyester.
It is this method of draping that designers use to create curtains with an interesting decorative theme.
