Ordering Materials Draperies at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Drapery measurements. Accurate measuring is of the utmost importance both in ordering materials draperies materials for draperies and in making the draperies themselves. For the height of a curtain, the distance from the Floor to the top of wood trim should be taken, with the extra allowance for hems added to this figure. Allowances for headings and hems depend upon the style of the curtains. When lightweight materials are used, a 3-inch or 31/2-inch hem at the top is required. For heavyweight materials, a 4-inch heading should be used. The hem at the bottom should be 2 inches deep and of triple thickness of material. A good general rule is to allow 8 inches of material extra for the top hem and 6 inches extra for the bottom. If the overdraperies are to rest on the floor, allow an extra 12 inches. In the commercial types of ready-made draperies, there is less allowance for hems than stated.

Drapery measurements. Accurate measuring is of the utmost importance both in ordering materials draperies materials for draperies and in making the draperies themselves. For the height of a curtain, the distance from the Floor to the top of wood trim should be taken, with the extra allowance for hems added to this figure. Allowances for headings and hems depend upon the style of the curtains. When lightweight materials are used, a 3-inch or 31/2-inch hem at the top is required. For heavyweight materials, a 4-inch heading should be used. The hem at the bottom should be 2 inches deep and of triple thickness of material. A good general rule is to allow 8 inches of material extra for the top hem and 6 inches extra for the bottom. If the overdraperies are to rest on the floor, allow an extra 12 inches. In the commercial types of ready-made draperies, there is less allowance for hems than stated.

The choice of plain or figured textiles. There can be no fixed rule as to when figured or plain materials should be used for overdraperies. Patterns unquestionably produce a gay effect; plain materials are more restful. The choice of either is a matter of i ,ste. Visual fatigue and monotony should both be avoided, and perhaps the different rooms in the house should be treated with varying materials in order to introduce the variety that is necessary for good decoration. A rule that is followed by many decorators is to use plain drapery materials in rooms with patterned walls, and vice versa. Draperies should always contrast with the Wall in some manner; if pattern is not used to foil a plain adjoining surface, contrast can be introduced by color, tone, or texture. A certain amount of interest and variety is always obtainable by trimming draperies with color-contrasting fringes, borders, or edgings. Valances and draperies may also be made of different materials.