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Curtains are an excellent addition to any home or office interior. Not only do they add character and a certain peppiness to a room or space, they also keep the room dim when necessary and maintain the temperature whether it’s cold or hot season.
A lot of housewives would like to purchase curtains directly at stores, while some, who are more technologically inclined, prefer to do it online with just a few clicks. There are also traditional women who prefer to sew their own curtains instead of buying ready-to-hang products.
Whether it is bought online or sewn manually, one has to measure the dimensions which are needed to identify what the exact size of the fabric and the finished product will be. But how exactly does one measure the fabric for curtains?
Measuring fabrics for curtains
There are two major parameters that need to be measured in order to get the size of the curtain, namely: width and drop. But before measuring these parameters, one has to know or decide which type of curtain will be bought or made. The style of the curtain is necessary because different styles have unique ways of measurement. Here’s how to measure width and drop for every curtain style:
- Measuring for poles
For pencil pleats, also known as tape top curtains, the drop is measured from the bottom ring to the desired drop length. The width is the measurement between the decorative finials.
- Measuring for eyelets
The drop for eyelet curtains is measured from 2.5 cm above the pole to the desired drop length.
- Measuring for tracks
The width for tracks is the entire width of the track while the drop is measured from the top of the track down to the desired drop length. The curtains need to cover the track as well.
How to determine the right drop length
Notice that not all curtains have the same length. Some drop a little below the window’s lower frame while other curtains completely touch the floor. There are three basic lengths for curtains – sill level, below the sill level, and floor level lengths. It’s usually personal preference that dictates the curtain’s drop length but there are things that one must consider for each drop length level.
Curtains that drop to the floor must have a drop length of at least one centimeter above the floor. This is to avoid drag. Curtains that drop just below the window sill must have at least a 15 to 20 cm allowance below the sill. Sill-level curtains must have a drop length with 1 cm above the sill, again, to avoid drag.
Buying right size, ready-made curtains
Curtains that can be bought directly from stores or even online shops usually come in pairs. These curtains are categorized based on width: narrow, medium, and wide. The trick to choosing the correct size for curtains in order to achieve the best effect for your windows is to choose something that is as wide as one and a half or at most twice its dimensions.
When there is more fabric, the curtains will appear fuller and more luxurious. Another thing to remember about measuring fabric for curtains is to make sure that the curtain drop length is not too long.
It’s better to pick something that is shorter rather than longer than the actual measurements— that’s if the curtains are ready made. However, for those who would like to do the sewing themselves, always go for a measurement that is longer than the actual measured size. This will leave allowance for hems, pleats, waves, or gathered headings.
Once the measurement of the window and the desired drop length has been taken, feel free to check out his compiled list of blackout curtains. These are just a few of the best sellers in the market and are definitely worth checking out.