How can I make curtains stretch?

kunekune

We also have four curtains. I couldn't get four the same size (it was a sale), but ended up with a pair of very wide and a pair that weren't so wide. It works just fine, and we spent less than £100 as opposed to £450 or more.

vij

if you cant afford a second set what about sewing extensioons onto your current curtains?

scotrae

vij wrote: »

if you cant afford a second set what about sewing extensioons onto your current curtains?

Interesting idea although I'm looking forward to a change in the lounge to be honest! It might be an option for the bedroom curtains though.

Thanks.

valk_scot

vij wrote: »

if you cant afford a second set what about sewing extensioons onto your current curtains?

I did that when I moved house and got given a set of curtains for my then bay window. They were just the right shade but a foot too short. I put a broad border of a plain toning chintz along the bottom but also a thin matching band along the top and down the inner edges, though I didn't need extra width. It all pulled together very well and in fact when I left that house the new owner asked to buy the curtains off me.

scotrae

valk_scot wrote: »

I did that when I moved house and got given a set of curtains for my then bay window. They were just the right shade but a foot too short. I put a broad border of a plain toning chintz along the bottom but also a thin matching band along the top and down the inner edges, though I didn't need extra width. It all pulled together very well and in fact when I left that house the new owner asked to buy the curtains off me.

That sounds wonderful. It sounds as though you're more of a seamstress than I am!

SallyForth_2

Same here! There's two pairs in my Lounge Bay, as there didn't seem to be any wide enough in the design I liked, and it worked out cheaper anyway.

valk_scot

scotrae wrote: »

That sounds wonderful. It sounds as though you're more of a seamstress than I am!

It's only sewing straight lines! If you do go down this route, get a fabric you can tear into strips rather than have to cut. Keeps it all nice and straight, then you line up the edges, pin together and sew away.

ChapelGirl

If you have a sewing machine (or can borrow one) and an ironing board it is often worth looking in John Lewis' remnant bins. I am no great seamstress but I have not found it that difficult hemming material and stitching on a bit of curtain tape, provided you take your time.
I once heard the saying "measure twice, cut once" and it is a very wise one.

If you get a booklet or DL the instructions off the internet you can even venture into making proper lined curtains with invisibly-stitched hems!

You are unlikely to find enough "remnant" for a pair of curtains for a bay window, but if you have a spare room or a hallway etc. with a small window to dress you can pick up some lovely fabrics at a fraction of their original price in the remnant bins. You can afford to experiment with your sewing skills if it is for a spare room or cloakroom, because who is going to spend that long in there examining your hems to see if they are straight?

Also, some curtain shops' "end of ranges" or "sale" bins might have 2 narrower pairs of curtains in the same material but of different lengths. If you are able to do a bit of hemming you could make them fit your window by cutting off the surplus from the longer one and hanging both sets on the same rail, as has already been suggested.

I once bought 2 sets like that, one of which was technically just a few cms. too short for the required rail to sill drop, and one quite a bit too long. I took down the original hem and sewed on some of the extra from the other pair of curtains onto the bottom. When I turned up the new hem my joining seam was almost at the bottom edge of the curtain but still invisible from the front, and the extra piece of material gave the hem enough weight so that it would still hang properly.

daska

three tricks for you:

1. tab tops work with a pole and don't need much fullness.

2. bedspreads - 100" is about 250cm (a reasonably common double bedspread size) and you can get away with double fullness on pencil pleat tape quite easily if the bedspread is quilted.

3. have curtains for decoration only and get blinds for the window

scotrae

daska wrote: »

three tricks for you:

1. tab tops work with a pole and don't need much fullness.

2. bedspreads - 100" is about 250cm (a reasonably common double bedspread size) and you can get away with double fullness on pencil pleat tape quite easily if the bedspread is quilted.

3. have curtains for decoration only and get blinds for the window

Nice tips thank you! Unfortunately there's no way that DH will replace the curtain pole and it doesn't appear to be one that can be dismanted to get the finials and rings off ready to fit tab tops.

I'd love to have blinds for the bedroom in particular but trying to get blinds wide enough or fiddling around with double widths is more complicated and costly than the curtains!

Personally I'd be more than happy to drape thermal throws over the curtain poles but the neighbours have been looking at our crazy curtain arrangements for long enough and DH is feeling self conscious!