Buy or make curtains?

jenie_2

Hi, if you have a TJHughes near you, have a look in there, they do some good deals on curtains. We've recently redecorated our living room, and being on a tight budget at the mo, I had a really good look around for a bargain.
I got a pair of chocolate brown curtains with a circular pattern on them, size 90"x90" for £15, they are lined, and look really nice.

Dobie

Hi
I was going to make curtains for my sisters' odd square shaped bay window but in the end I bought some from Rosebys & altered them to fit. They're great quality, lined & reduced & reduced 'til they were £30 per pair & they cost me a fraction of what I'd have spent on fabric, lining, header tape etc.
I deliberately bought the largest ones & have plenty of fabric left to make 5 matching cushion covers for their new sofas.

They have some really nice quality bedding reduced too.

I think it's worth checking out what they have left if there's one in your area.

As Ricki said they're definitely going bust this time. I work for a company that supplies them. :eek:

flea72

pennypinchingmum wrote: »

hmm i'm confused maybe i am getting my measurements wrong. I think maybe i could do with a couple more metres. I'm afraid i work in metric and fabric works on imperial so it requires alot of converting on my part. I was planning on 4-5 metres per curtain giving not quite double but almost. i already have the header. Could someone explain where my meausrements are wrong? I'm baffled.

The fabric is 60" wide, your window is 90", i usually do double the width as i dont like my curtains too gathered and bulky, but less than this, and the curtains are stretched to their limits. Also when you say width 90" is that the opening or have you allowed for overhang on each side too?

where imperial and metric is concerned, there is very little difference when working yard against metre. i tend to work in yards, as that way, if i have underestimated, the fact i have to buy in metres in the UK, means i get a few more inches to work with (ooo err)

From what you are working with, i think you are hoping the 60" is enough width per curtain. But once you have turned hems, this means you curtains will have little gather, and wont hang as nice. ok, if they are gonna just be used decoratively and tied back all the time, but when drawn, you may find that they dont meet in the middle

Flea

pennypinchingmum

thankyou all so much for your help. The trouble is i really enjoy the satisfaction of knowing i've made something and so i enjoy making sewing almost everything however in this situation i can buy a pair much cheaper then i can make a pair, so here's the plan... I'm gonna buy these a cheap pair from ebay around £20-£25 including p+p, invest in some nice beads tassles etc and 'pimp them up'. That way it will be much cheaper. I dont quite know how to glam them up yet and any ideas would be welcome!!!!

Olliebeak

I got my curtains (1pr 90 x 90 and 1pr 36 x 54 - stupid window sizes in one room!) from Wilkinsons. They are lined and look great. They had lots of choice but I was limited by having to find two stupid sizes that matched. Another poster has mentioned TJ Hughes - again they're great for curtains and I got my bedroom curtains from them (1pr 90 x 54 and 1pr 36 x 54).

If I ever get my hands on the architect who decided to put 2 silly small windows on the side of my house, I will not be responsible for my actions :mad: !