Replies

1. 
   jomuir_ | Apr 09, 1999 06:16am | #1

   *
   Adrianne, have you considered looking at a book about making window dressings? It sounds like you'll have so many changes to your patterns now that if it were me, I'd be wondering if it will fit at all. Not doubting you, but its easy to get lost when you change that much. There are many books on the subject, I suggest you head over to your local library first and see what they have there, maybe you won't even have to buy a book at all, can just borrow it. You would then decide the style you want and follow their instructions, no pattern. It may sound scary if you've never sewn w/o one, but its common in the home dec business. I worked for a custom drapery shop for 3 years and never did we use a pattern, we just figured what we needed and went from there. Draw an accurate picture of your dimensions and double check everything before you start. good luck whatever you decide, Marcie.

1. 
   Ginna | Apr 12, 1999 08:37pm | #2

   *Adrianne - I don't totally follow your explanation and when I went to the store I didn't have the pattern numbers with me so I couldn't see what you were talking about. Maybe a book would help - did you try the library for one?Let me try how to expand the middle portion with a diagram.----A|-|-|B--------C|-|-|D------The pleats are represented by A to B and C to D (4" each). The space between pleats is B to C (10.5"). One fabric section is B to D - a flat portion and 1 pleat (14.5"). One finished section is B to D with the pleat folded (10.5" + the amount of space the folded pleat takes up - let's assume 1"). You must determine how many finished sections (B-D = 11.5") have to be added. If the pattern finished width is 54" and you need 88" you need to add 34" (88" - 54" = 34") to the finished width. Divide 34" by one finished section (11.5"). This comes to 3. I rounded up since 11.5 x 3 = 34.5 and that .5" isn't going to make much difference. You need to add one fabric section (14.5") to the pattern for each finished section (11.5"), so you would add 43.5" (3 x 14.5" = 43.5").Now to get more complicated. If you need 94" finished width, you need to add 40" (94" - 54" finished width). Divide the 40" by one finished section, 11.5" to determine how many finished sections must be added (40" / 11.5" = 3.478). 3.478 is 3 full finished sections (3 x 11.5 - 34.5") plus 5.5" (40" - 34.5"). You need to add 3 fabric sections (3 x 14.5" = 43.5") plus 5.5". You can add this 5.5" in 2 ways. 1. Add another full section if the exact size is not important - or - 2. Increase the distance between each pleat (B to C) on the entire drape. If there are six of these sections each section would be made .5" greater. 11" from 10.5". I would cut the pattern between each pleat and add .5" of tissue if I chose this solution. Personally I would use the first option if I could.As far as the tail are concerned. You might try making a sketch of the drape & window as stated on the pattern and a sketch of the window using your dimensions. Use the same scale to make it easier to compare. If your window is much taller you will probably want to lengthen the tails and if you lengthen them you will probably want to increase the width of the tails to keep the same proportions as the pattern picture. If the length is 40" and you add 20" (1/2 of the length), you will probably want to make the width 1/2 again as wide. For example, a 30" width would become 45". Make these changes in the middle of the tail (both length & width adjustments) then you should be able to just draw a line between the original starting and ending points of the tail to get a corrected angle cut. Working with the tails will really depend on how you want the finished product to look. Where you place the seams will be a matter of preference and length/width of you fabric. It will be easier to pleat if the seam is not in a pleat but it is entirely up to you. HTH. Good Luck!

1. 
   adrianne | Apr 15, 1999 04:00pm | #3

   *Ginna: Gee, I wish you lived in my area! Sure takes a lot of writing to explain something that, if shown, wouldn't need that many words! I thank you again for coming to my rescue. Of course, in my really long explanation I added wrong, right off the bat. But even though I don't have any of the size windows of the Vogue pattern, I made the 42" one out of fabric I kept meaning to use but never have. I found it interesting that it actually came out wider than 42", but there wasn't any indication how far past the moulding on each side it would go. I just assumed it was from one side of the window moulding to the other, seeing as it was attached to a wooden pole w/wooden rings. It came out looking rather nice, except for the "tails." They didn't really look like the pic on the front of the pattern pkg. They looked too short and stubby, and the folds didn't seem to fold/angle correctly for enough of the lining fabric to be seen properly. And I checked like 3 times to make sure I traced the pattern correctly. Am I being clear? Based on that, I've ruled that treatment out, only because at this point I don't want to go through the work of trying to "fix" the tails by making different sized patterns and seeing how they work. I think I'd run out of my "stash" of material! I still haven't tried to make the McCall's pattern yet, but it's on the list. Of course with Jo-Ann's big pattern sale, I went out and bought 5 more! Glutton for punishment, aren't I? I promise not to bother you anymore for help, though, as you are being more than kind in assisting me as of late. I've asked at some stores about classes, or people willing to teach me how to do the things I don't understand, or just someone who wouldn't mind me running to them for help, but so far I've gotten negative responses. So I really do appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. I understand, from the 1st reading of your directions, some of it, but I think I'll do better if I do-as-I-go kind of thing. (Making it while reading your instructions) If I do go back to that Vogue pattern, I'm definitely going to make it one piece, not seam the tails in, and see what happens. Some pattern explanations are more difficult than others to understand, at least to me. I guess I ask more minute detail questions than they seem to provide. Oh, yeah, I meant to ask, also, (minute detail coming up!) - when the pattern says bring the pleat lines together and tack in the back, is the material pleated with the LINES pulled FORWARD and matched, or PUSHED BACK and the SPACES between the lines are matched? Do you understand what I'm trying to say? It has 4 lines |||| for one pleat. Do I crease the material on the line(s) and pull it toward me, which would make 4 folds for the pleat, or do I pull the spaces BETWEEN the lines forward to make 3 folds per pleat? Can't tell from the pic on the cover, and they don't say which way to do it. Things like this screw me up. I'm not savvy enough to not get literal about it. But - I just thought - if I did it wrong, say 4 folds instead of 3 per pleat, I'd be using more material, and that would affect the measurement, right? And as for the seam, I understand the difficulty of pleating if it falls IN the pleat (due to bulk, I'm assuming), but what if it falls WITHIN THE WIDTH of the pleat, but in the SPACE between the folds? (Like I tried explaining back there) Would it work then? (In attempting to hide the seam within the pleat) Well, Ginna, off to get abused by the other patterns. I'm also curious to know if I can combine them - say the "tails" from one pattern attached to the mid section of another, like I want to do with the McCall's, since I can't find a pattern that looks like that (the "crown valance" w/tails). More abuse, I'm sure. My husband would call this an expensive learning venture. I just call it learning the HARD way! Thanks, once more, for your time, understanding (except for my confusing descriptions!), and willingness to help a novice like me. It sure means a lot!

1. 
   Ginna | Apr 15, 1999 09:48pm | #4

   *Bring the fabric forward between the lines making 3 folds. A 3 fold pleat seems to be standard.Seams - you could put it within the width of the pleat (using your terminology). You would want it as far back in the pleat as possible to hide it but forward enough that the seam allowance won't add bulk to the back of the pleat. Remember you want all the pleats to appear to be the same size so be careful if you are using a heavy wieght fabric - it could throw the appearance off. You might put a seam just before or just after a pleat and you could trim the seam allowance to eliminate bulk.Yes, you can use more than 1 pattern to achieve the look you want. Sewers do it all the time with fashion patterns changing sleeves, necklines, etc. I find it difficult also to understand many directions with only a verbal description. Frequently I have to sketch a small picture/diagram for myself as I read instructions. You should have seen the machinations I went through trying to understand how elastic was attached at a waistband using a serger. "A picture is worth a 1,000 words" is so right. Sewing books/magazines with good pictures/diagrams are worth their weight in gold.