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From: blackie
Date: 06-30-2005, 07:51 PM (1 of 5)
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I have been asked to make seven simple curtains - three with tabs for hanging and the others with a simple casing and top ruffle. I want to line them all with muslin. I have made some simple panel curtains with muslin but had a hard time getting the two fabrics to be exactly the same and lie flat together (I was rushing it). Since the bottom hems of the muslin and FF were all selvege I left them unhemmed and unsewn. They look fine, but very casual. I would like to make these a little more professional looking. How does one go about doing a good curtain lining with muslin? Also, do you recommend a neutral muslin, or one that matches the fashion fabric used (which will be simple quilting-weight cottons)? I had thought to do a neutral muslin so it wouldn't fade in the sun. Thoughts? I have made my own curtains before and they turned out fine, but very simple. I would like to try some more professional finishings. What online tutorials or books would you reccommend to do a more professional job? I checked out a Singer book but found it a bit lacking. Any help is much appreciated! - K. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: shirleyp
Date: 06-30-2005, 11:54 PM (2 of 5)
| I have done some home decor with muslin. Advice, wash it first since it shrinks quite a bit. It also wrinkles more than most fabrics, so ironing is a must, unless you hang them outside overnight so the dew can take out the wrinkles. I have just made straight muslin curtains, in a soft ivory and they look very nice. I made them on the long side so that they flow on the ground. Very romantic look. I have never lined with it though. Using a flat sheet might work better for lining. I plan to do this with some cotton curtains I have. They get a lot of sun and I don't want them to fade. Maybe someone else knows of a good fabric to use for a lining. |
User: shirleyp
Member since: 02-12-2002 Total posts: 352 
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From: MaryW
Date: 07-01-2005, 08:31 AM (3 of 5)
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I made curtains for my son from muslin and they looked very nice too. I would use it as lining too. Coloured linings fade as badly as the curtains themselves. If I wanted a nice professional look, I would consider drapery lining the same weight as the curtain itself.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: shadylady
Date: 07-02-2005, 11:10 AM (4 of 5)
| I also answered your other post, but I would not use muslin as lining for a paying customer. You need to use a good, high quality, sateen drapery lining. Muslin will shout "cheap and homemade". You need to cut off the selvages, and both the FF and lining need to be double hemmed (bottom and side hems) and do not pillowcase. Unless the fabric is railroaded, the selvages should be at the sides, not the top and bottom. The face fabric should match at the seams. I have different methods of making panels, and have lots of books, but the Singer Window Treatments and the Singer Sewing for the Home series, have excellent instructions for draperies. I don't know which Singer book you have. |
User: shadylady
Member since: 09-19-2003 Total posts: 58 
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From: paroper
Date: 07-03-2005, 11:46 PM (5 of 5)
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I don't railroad either. I do often use chintz or even inexpensive broadcloth for curtain linings (Wal Mart 1.87/yd). I've used lots of colors for linings but I don't use heavy dark fabrics but often contrast and similar colors. I have curtains with mauve lining (broadcloth) that have been in south windows for years and have had no appreciable fade. The main thing is that the dark green chintz of the inside (inside the house) curtains has never faded. I often make the curtains and the linings at the same time but instead of just sewing up the side seams the same, I double fold the curtain over the lining with about a 2 inch (1 inch fold). Many well-made curtains which are purchased are done this way. I also heartily agree with doing the double fold hems (I would NEVER leave a selvage...as a matter of fact, I was taught to clip all selvages if they are included in the making of a garment because the selvage usually shrinks differently from the rest of the fabric. Usually the double fold hems are quite deep too...quite often you allow 7-7 1/2 inches to double fold making a 3 1/2-4 inch hem. The added weight, esp. at windows helps the curtain to hang well. I also hem the lining about 3/4 inch shorter than the curtain, hem the curtain and then do the sides, leaving the bottoms of the two curtains unattached to each other. I would hem the bottoms of the curtain and lining. Then I would sew in the tabs and encase them, if they are encased in the curtain, or I would sew across the top, then do the sides. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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