How do I get started when measuring for curtains?
Before you even think about how much fabric you need for your curtains, the first step is to get your pole or track fittings in position.Asyoulllearn from thishandyvideo guide, theres an art to measuring up.Using a metal tape measure,fityourcurtaintrack orpole 10-20cmabove the window, and 15-30cm either sideof it. When measuring the length ofthepole, measurein-between the finials (ie.dontinclude them).
How much fabric do I need for the curtain drop?
Curtain length is not cast in stone. Maybeyouredrawn to the vibe of stylish sill-length curtains. Or perhaps you prefer the puddled look, with a flood of excess curtain fabric billowing over the floor below.Theresno wrong answer but nothing should happen by accident. As such,itsvital to unfurl the tape measure again before you order your curtain fabric, so you achieve your dream look and dont waste money onmaterialyou wont use.
It's fairly common for full length curtains to sit just off the floor, which also allows for the curtains to hang nice and straight and generally keeps them off any potentially dirty floors1
After deciding whatstyleyou want your curtains to be, you mustthendecide on the curtain heading you want and whether you have a track or a pole, as this will determine where you start measuring from.
How to measure for pencil pleat curtains?
Ifyourechoosing to hang your pencil pleat curtains on a track, measure from the top of the track. This is so that your curtain will cover the track when drawn. Ifyourechoosing a pole, measure from the eye on the curtain ring to your finished drop. Your curtains will then hang beneath the pole.
If you require your curtains to hang from a different position on the track orpolethen you will need to measure from that point to your finished drop.
How to measure for eyelet curtains?
For eyelet curtains, measure from topof the pole to your finished drop and then add on 5cm.Eyelets are typically set 5cm down from the top of the fabric, so you need to allow for this.
If we are making your eyelet curtains, please ensure you have at least 5cm clearance above your curtain pole, if you don't please state so in the comments box when ordering or get in touch with us.
To choose the correct size eyelets for your curtains, measure the diameter of the pole and make sure there will be enough space for free movement when opening and closing the curtains.
How to measure for tab-top curtains?
Fortab topor tie top curtains,simply measure from the top of the pole to your desired drop.Next, ifyourewonderinghow many widths of fabricyou needfor curtains read on.
How many widths of fabric do I need for curtains?
Curtainsarentjust flat sheets of fabric, and while this is sometimes a matter ofpersonaltaste, itsusuallydetermined by the curtain heading type that youllneed (usually between 2 and 2 times fullness to achievean attractivelook).
Here's a list of the fullness you should use for each heading -
- Pencil pleat / Gathered / Stand Up / Floppy top x 2 fulness (6" pencil pleat tape can be 2.5 for extra fullness)
- Eyelet / Tab Top x 2 fullness
- Double Pinch Pleat x 2.3 fullness
- Triple Pinch Pleat x 2.5 fullness
- Wavex 2.3 fullness
Theresasimplecalculationto work out howmuchcurtain fabric you need.First, multiply the track/pole width byyour chosenfullness (eg. Pole width 150cm x 2.5= 375).Next, divide that figureby the fabric width, which is typically 137cm (375divided by 137 = 2.73). Then,round thatup to theclosest whole number to calculate how many widths you need (3). Finally, multiply the drop measurement by the width number to reveal how many metres of curtain fabric to order(175cm drop x 3 = 525cm soIdneed to order 5.5metres of a plain fabric).
Ifyourechoosing patterned fabric, you need to consider extra fabric youll need to match the pattern, depending on the size of the pattern repeat. You take the curtain drop and add the hem allowance for the choosen heading, then divide the pattern repeat into this total and round up.
Example - Curtain drop 220cm, hem 25cm (for pencil pleat). 220cm + 25cm = 245cm. Pattern repeat is 64cm. So you divide 245cm by 64cm = 3.8 repeats which you have to round up to 4. So each drop will need 4 x 64cm repeats = 256cm.
USE OUR CURTAIN & BLIND CALCULATOR ON EACH PRODUCT PAGE & IT WILL WORK IT OUT FOR YOU!
How flexible are you when I order curtain fabric?
At Just Fabrics, well never makeyouordermorecurtainfabric than you need,sellingmost of ourgorgeous rangeby thehalf-metreand even offering amade to measure optionforbespokeschemes.And rest assured,if youre ever unsure how much fabric you need, our experts are always on-hand to talk you through, either on the phone or with our freeVirtual Visitservice that lets usassessyourneedsvia video call.
That said if you are making yourself it's always wise to add at least an extra pattern repeat to your total to give you some flexability and it allows you to start the pattern where you wish.
Learn Life-Long Sewing Skills with Just Fabrics The Academy
If you are looking to make your own curtains, explore The JF Academy which will help you with every step of the way. From expert-led courses, detailed downloadable workbooks to hundreds of hours of lessons, The Academy will help you create soft furnishings to be proud of.
