The Sewing Place
The Emporia => House Beautiful => Topic started by: b15erk on June 26, 2021, 18:51:45 PM
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The time has come. We have put the curtain rail back up - not without a blue tinge to the air... :laughing: Why won't the man listen when I tell him what to do... :dance: :laughing: I put the original up, and it's a queer shape, so I found it easier to work from the middle. It only pinged off twice before he tried something different... :laughing: :dance: :laughing:
Now I have the conundrum of making up my voile curtains. I say conundrum, because I haven't got much fabric to play with - it was a remnant and I just took what I could get, so I need to get my thinking cap on. Fortunately, it isn't a curtain to be drawn, mainly to dress the room, but it will need curtain weights, and I think the strips will be most suitable.
More updates on Monday...
Jessie
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Getting close to having to make these, and I know I need curtain weights to stop them blowing out of the door. I would like to use the strip weight - sold by the metre, but not sure what weight to get.
Any ideas from you clever lot? The weights go up: 15g, 25g, 50g, 100g,200g or 400g. I'm pretty sure I don't need the very heavy ones, but not having used them before, I really haven't a clue.
Tbh, I saw the ready weighted voile at the fabric outlet on Saturday at only £8 pm, and it was tempting. It wasn't as nice as the one I have though, so it wasn't an option.
Jessie
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Last time I asked DH for ideas on weights, for a thin skirt hem I'd made moons ago, he came up with thin strips of lead, which until it went the way of all things that didn't fit were still there. I took them out just in case I might need them.
So no idea what weight you would use @b15erk I wish I'd known you could buy them but this was before internetty.
Actually when I've looked now they were similar to what I've seen only mine was a skirt not a curtain :S.
https://www.the-millshop-online.co.uk/curtain-lining-heading-tape/curtain-blind-accessories/curtain-lead-weights.html
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I can't find anything online about how heavy the weights should be other than the general advice that the heavier the fabric and the longer the curtains are the heavier the weights should be and vice-versa.
The very light stuff will be for sheers and voiles and the really heavy weights for for interlined or stage curtains. If your curtains are fairly average weight fabric, floor length and lined I'd guess at 100gms.
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Thanks @BrendaP , I think so to (now that you have advised!). I just don't want the curtains blowing out of the patio doors.
Nearly finished the telephone seat, so curtains will follow...
Jessie
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Well, fabric has marinated for a while, and I have picked it up this afternoon to see what I can do with it.
Length of fabric is 150"
Width of fabric 135" , although this has selvedges of 11"x2 so total width is 157". However, the selvedge is not much use (I don't think)
Looking at the sums, I think I will railroad the fabric, as that gives me 15" extra fullness (7.5" each curtain)
Finished length of my curtains will be 83", so I'll have plenty length, it's just the width which will be a bit skimpy. They are only dress curtains and not really going to be drawn - except on one side...
Reading this, it makes me think if I could cut the curtain which will never be drawn, a little narrower than the one which will... Hmmmm :thinking:
Yes, I think that's the way to go. Even a couple of inches will make a difference to coverage.
Sorry if anyone is bothering to read this, but it's just me thinking out loud - and my thoughts aren't always coherent.
Just off to do some more sums.
Jessie
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Could you add a decorative leading edge to each curtain? Plain if the fabric is patterned or patterned if the fabric is plain. That will get you an extra 3-4 inches on each curtain.
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Nothing but problems atm with this project which should be straightforward.
I woke up yesterday with a niggle at the back of my mind which was telling me to double check my measurements, and guess what, they are wrong, so I need to start again... :headbang: At least I haven't cut into the fabric, just straightened the edges.
Then I discovered that the end stops I have for the curtain rails, are the wrong ones... I have two types, one has no name on it, the other is Harrison Drape. The curtain track is the old one which was originally there. We didn't replace it, as the window wall has a difficult (for us) curve, and the Swish rail was already cut to fit. It seems that we made the wrong choice, as I can't find any end stops to fit, either in my stash, or on the internet. :headbang:
OH says he may be able to cobble something together, but I have little faith in his Heath Robinson approach. :rolleyes:
Any ideas Wise People?
Off I go to start measuring - again! :facepalm:
Jessie
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@b15erk, I had similar problems finding end stops for my sons curtain rails when he moved, in the end I found some in Boyes. If you have one near you it might be worth a look.
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Progress Peeps!
Well, after double checking my measurements - they were well out - I re-calculated, and the voiles are going to be rather narrower than I first thought. I know how the mistake happened, but I'm usually bright enough to spot that something is wrong, not this time obviously!
@BrendaP , thanks for the nudge about a leading edge band. I managed to salvage enough fabric from the top of the curtains to use as a 5" band, you can tell it's from the length rather than the width, but I'll call it a design feature! :thumbsup:
@Surest1tch , no we have no Boyes near us, and the Internet isn't throwing up any solutions either. I did manage to get extra hooks, although they are a bit tight, but just no end stops. I guess it's the Heath Robinson approach then! :rolleyes:
Hopefully they will be finished today, ready to hang when the carpet has been laid.
Jessie
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Post a pic of the rail. (and measurements) I have a jar of useful bits I have saved from the past, might just have them.
I have been having problems with voiles too. Went to buy a pair of nets for a friend.
Boyes didn't have prepacked ones but had samples hanging up, labelled 72" 183cm.
For some reason I decided that was a panel, 72" and 183cm wide (yes, I know 183cm =72") :S Reported back, now convinced I am looking for 2x66cm wide panels. Since it is a picture window, I should think, no, 66" but... realised it was not a panel but a sample. Decided to buy whole half metres, so asked for 1.5m there were a few cm left over on the roll, so she gave me the piece. Having trimmed the edges straight (thankfully I can still do that) measured the finished piece - a full 2 metres. Having finally sorted out my cm and inches, I went back for another 2m - she might as well have them a bit fuller. They don't have another roll! The lad found another 72" and was going to cut it when I pointed out it was not the same pattern.
I honestly don't know what has happened to my head, I used to be very clear on both cms and inches. Either it is the effect of lockdown, or I have heatstroke after the last few days.
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@toileandtrouble , That is so kind of you! I couldn't add a picture of the rail as it's white on white and the sun is shining, so you couldn't see anything! :rolleyes: But, I've taken a picture of the type and size of hook that fits the rail.
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Jessie
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@b15erk Sorry, I seem to have some rail supports, possibly that type, and one hook but no end stops. It does look like Swish Sologlyde and Terrysfabrics has end stops for that track, £2.19 for 2. Take a look and see if they are familiar.
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@toileandtrouble , thank you for looking. I had a look at Terry's and they did have the Sologlyde end stops, I hadn't looked at them as they were a different style to the original ones I had, which was just a normal hook which had a screw on the bottom. These are more of a clip on thing. So, I ordered two. Got to checkout and had a shock as it was £4.99 for delivery!
So, I was very naughty, looked at the details, and ordered the same from Amazon :| :rolleyes:
Thank you so much, you made me look again, when I thought I couldn't get what I wanted.
Jessie
eta I'll let you know if they fit! :laughing:
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I looked online and found the sologlyde fitting instructions (amazing what is online!) I remember these. The clip fits to the track, then one of the gliders fits on the front between the two prongs, so it can't slide either way.
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I had the problem with end stops also. I used a rubber band as a temporary measure :| :| :| Hey, it works and who looks at the end of your curtain rail anyway? :laughing: :laughing:
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@realale I've done that before now! I find as I get older I try to do it 'proper' - and unfortunately, this time, the ends will probably be on show... ;)
I only have the header tape to do now, and a couple of tiebacks. Fingers crossed I can keep going for a few hours... :rolleyes:
Jessie
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Finished one of the curtains, and it is up at the window, looking rather nice... Just one more to finish off - the weights have taken forever, then I decided to hand sew the hems as well.
I put the curtain up, in order to try the end stops, which arrived this afternoon - can I fit them, can I heck! I have the brain cell of an earthworm lately (unless they are wrong of course!) :laughing:
Going to try to get this last curtain done, and then I can hand stitch the D rings on the tie backs.
I will report back on the end stop fitting tomorrow - while OH is at work, and hopefully take some pics.
Jessie
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Both curtains now finished - even the handsewing!! Unfortunately, the endstops I got from Amazon didn't fit, so I'm going to try white Bluetac, not sure it will work, but I can only try. I thought to press a lump at the back of the rail, and hope it will be enough to stop them dropping off the end!
They are hanging a bit long, I put that down to the weights, which are a bit heavy for voile I think. So, the next time they go up, I'll move the hooks to the middle of the tape. At least they won't blow out through the patio wondows when it's drafty!
I'm holding off hanging them, because the Carpet Man is due in the next week or so, so I would have to take them down again so that the poor chap won't have them wrapping around him!
Tie backs are also done, but not too sure about the metal D rings - they have a tiny gap at the top, so hoping they won't come loose. :S
I'm very pleased with them, but disappointed that I had to be economical with the fabric, and they don't pull as far as I would like. Can't complain though, I only paid a few pounds for the piece.
Jessie
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@b15erk i have these ancient endstops that you are welcome to have and try. The square hole is ~30 x 4-5 mm, but I’ve no idea of the make.
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@b15erk I have some welded D rings if you would like some?
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@StitchinTime , thank you so much for your generous offer, but I have that type of end stop, unfortunately, my rail is a Swish brand, with a funny shaped hook - I've attached a pic. It's very annoying as I know I have some somewhere. :rolleyes:
@Lilian , yes please! Do you have 4? I'm sure the stitching will pull away through the tiny gap. Send me a PM and let me know how much I owe you for the D rings and postage and I will organise it straight away.
You girls are so supportive! Thank you!
Jessie
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@b15erk you can, as many as you want, I have a bag full of them - 7/8 is inside measurement and they are nickel plated. I will upload a photo as soon as. I also used to have swish rails and will have a look to see if I can find some end stops :)
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@b15erk These are they
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I know that this won't help you Jessie, but I was told a few years ago that the Swish people had stopped manufacturing the Swish curtain rails and were concentrating only on the white boarding for houses. Therefore any Swish curtain rail products found are likely to be old stock, and this was proved when I eventually took delivery of an Austrian Blind rail with all its many bits and pieces. The packaging from the factory was very discoloured and due to having been packed in adhesive plastic for travelling, when it was unwrapped the original packaging a square sort of plastic all disintegrated and bits flew everywhere - I was not impressed. The tracks I used in my lounge and bedroom bay windows was a special type of track that Swish produced and had a metal rod through and very different fastenings, and of course I cannot get any more of these and my square bays in an old building mean I have very little space to be able put a curtain track at all as the curving old plaster and lathe ceiling curves down to the track. These bay windows are huge and I need four widths of fabric to cover them. I do hope you find something suitable for your curtain rail.
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@b15erk I have been sifting through loads of 'stuff' and came across these they are a bit painted up but it should come off easily enough.
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I took them off an old Swish rail, are these what you have been looking for? :)
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I've just found this thread. @b15erk have you now got end stops? I'm sure I have curtain bits , if you still need the stops I'll have a look see.
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@Lilian you are so kind for thinking of me, but the ones in the picture are not the right ones, I've put a pic up...
@Lachica , that would be much appreciated, I've found a temporary solution, but I doubt it will last long - double sided tape!
These are the best pics I could get, without taking the beastly things down.
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Jessie
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@b15erk I've dug them out. Your system is the same as mine but unfortunately there are no spare end caps in my hoard :( Sorry ! On the plus side, I've chucked out old curtain rings from the box :)