A familiar old pet peeve and a familiar old dilemma–fabric print that isn’t on grain. I’ve waited for several years to utilize some treasured fabric purchased in Paris that will make a dynamite window valance. When I analyze it, the fabric print slants more than 4 inches from one selvage to the other. The fabric is very wide–nearly 110″, but still the crookedness bothers me. If I cut on grain, the print–sort of a Quimper-like design–will slant. If I cut with the print, I risk crooked seams. It seems like I have no choice but to cut crooked so that the fabric print doesn’t look wonky, and then NEVER launder it. LOL
Any wisdom from those who do a lot of home-dec sewing?
Kateri
Replies
If this is a case where you would want to at some point wash the window treatment then I would wash the fabric first, press it really really well and then I would cut it off grain so that the print hung correctly. If you're worried about sewing off grain hems and stretching then you could stabilize the edges or stay stitch the edges before pressing and sewing the seams.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I'm planning to make just a straight valance, basically a very long lined rectangle, with a channel sewn in for the rod to pass through. I suppose it might sort of stabilize itself. It's a polished cotton and I don't really want to pre-wash.
These grain/design issues always drive me batty--give me a nice woven plaid anytime. LOL
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