Curtains! Help please getting really confused

Kmodo

Kmodo

Kmodo

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Joined
2 Oct 2006
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2,240
Okay firstly yeah I know lame thread.. board the fail boat ect :p

Now that is over with I genuinely have a problem that has been bugging me, basically I really do not understand which size curtains to get as i do not understand how the size system works!

If description for curtains is lets say 66" by 90" is that the size per curtain therfore together giving a width of 132"? Or is the width lets say the 66" the length of the curtains combined?!?!

Please can someone help me!
 
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Measuring Up for Curtains

Measuring up for your window treatments should be one of the first steps, and probably one of the most important, you make. Get this wrong and no matter how well you sew your curtains the desired effect will not be achieved.
For curtains outside the recess the track or pole needs to be wider than the window frame [4" - 6" (10 cms -15 cms)] to allow for stacking the opened curtains. It should be fixed about 4" (10 cms) above the top of the window frame and should be horizontal.
It is advisable to make a plan of each window and transfer all the measurements onto it for future reference. Never presume that 2 windows are exactly the same size even if they look identical.
Take all the measurements in either inches or centimetres. DO NOT MIX THE TWO.

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Measuring Curtain Width. Outside the Window Recess
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  • Measure the width of the track or pole (F) adding any extra for centre overlapping, normally about 6ins (15 cms).
  • Multiply the track width by 1.5, 2 or 2.5 depending on the heading to be used.
  • Divide that by the width of the fabric, normally 48" or 54" (122 cms or 137 cms), and round up to the next whole number to give the number of widths required. If an odd number results then one width can be cut in half and added to the outside edge of each curtain.
Measuring Curtain Width. Inside the Window Recess
  • Measure the width of the window recess (E) and multiply by 1.5, 2 or 2.5 depending on the heading to be used.
  • Divide that by the width of the fabric, normally 48" or 54" (122 cms or 137 cms), and round up to the next whole number to give the number of widths required. If an odd number results then one width can be cut in half and added to the outside edge of each curtain.
Measuring Curtain Length. Outside the Window Recess
  • For a pole, measure from the bottom of the ring to wherever you wish the curtains to fall (A, B or D).
  • For a track, measure from the top of the track to wherever you wish the curtain to fall (A, B or D).
  • For tab top curtains, measure from the top of the pole to the required finished length (A, B or D). Deduct the length of the tabs (approx. 3" [7.5 cms]) as the top of the curtain must come above the top of window frame. (This may mean moving the pole.)
  • To this measurement add 8" (20 cms) to the finished length (2" (5 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem) for lined and unlined curtains with attached heading tape or tab tops.
  • For lined and unlined curtains with cased headings add 10" (25 cms) to the finished length (4" (10 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem).
  • Short curtains should finish 0.5" (12 mm) above the sill or radiator and full length curtains should fall within 1" (2.5 cms) of the floor.
  • If patterned material is to be used then each length has to be a full pattern repeat, for example:- With a pattern repeat of 25" and a curtain finished length of 54" you will need 75" for each drop. i.e. 54" + 8" for hems = 62" rounded up to the next multiple of 25" (your pattern repeat). Multiply this amount by the number of widths required and hey presto you have the length of fabric required.
  • To calculate the amount of lining required (if used) multiply (the finished length plus hem allowance) by the number of widths required. Hem allowance is usually 6” (15 cms), 2” (5 cms) for the top seam and 4” (15 cms) for the bottom hem. Ignore any adjustments for pattern matching.
Measuring Curtain Length. Inside the Window Recess
  • Measure the length of the window recess (C). Curtains should finish 0.5" (12 mm) above the window sill so they fall correctly.
  • To this measurement add 8" (20 cms) to the finished length [2" (5 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem] for lined and unlined curtains with attached heading tape or tab tops.
  • For lined and unlined curtains with cased headings, add 10" (25 cms) to the finished length [4" (10 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem].
  • If patterned material is to be used then each length has to be a full pattern repeat, for example:- With a pattern repeat of 25" and a curtain finished length of 54" you will need 75" for each drop. i.e. 54" + 8" for hems = 62" rounded up to the next multiple of 25" (your pattern repeat). Multiply this amount by the number of widths required and hey presto you have the length of fabric required.
  • For curtains with heading tape or tab tops, calculate the amount of lining required (if used) by multiplying (finished length + hem allowance) by the number of widths required. Hem allowance is usually 6" (15 cms) [2" (5 cms) for the top seam allowance and 4" (10 cms) for the bottom hem]. Ignore any adjustments for pattern matching.
  • For curtains with cased headings, calculate the amount of lining required (if used) by multiplying (finished length + hem allowance) by the number of widths required. Hem allowance is usually 8" (20 cms) [4” (10 cms) for the top seam allowance and 4" (10 cms) for the bottom hem]. Ignore any adjustments for pattern matching.
 
While our curtains are sold in pairs, the sizes refer to each individual curtain. So if you purchase 46" X 54" curtains you will receive two curtains 46" X 54" in size, this allows for a full and luxurious fitting for the curtains.

First of all, measure the width of your curtain track or pole. If you have yet to fit your pole or track please bear in mind that the track or pole should ideally be positioned 6" (15cm) above the window and extend 6" (15cm) either side of the window (excluding finials).

We would recommend you use the following as a guideline which will result in a "full" look to the curtains:
To fit track/pole up to 48"
(122cm) 48"' - 66"
(122 - 168cm) 66" - 90"
(168 - 228cm)
Curtain Size 46" (117cm) 66" (168cm) 90" (228cm)

As a minimum the total width of both curtains should be one and a half times as wide as the track or pole (excluding finials).

Before measuring the length, decide whether you want your curtains to fit to the sill, below the sill or to the floor.

We suggest that:

* Sill length curtains finish 1/2" (1.5cm) above the sill.
* Curtains that fall below the sill finish 6" (15cm) below.
* Floor length curtains finish 1/2" (1.5cm) from the floor.

Tip: use a metal tape measure so that your measurements will be as accurate as possible.

Measuring curtain length for poles

Pencil pleat curtains: measure from the eye - the small metal ring at the bottom of each curtain ring. This will prevent the pole or rings from being obscured by the curtain.

Tab top curtains: measure from the very top of the pole.

Measuring curtain length for tracks

Measure from the top of the track.
 
HeHe K you guys don't fail :D

Ahhh so the size is per curtain and once measuring the pole you allow for one and a half times the length :)

Sweet thats me sorted :p

/hops off the fail boat
 
just to add my bit
i work in the curtain industry, we always recommend double fullness
so if your window measures 66" then a 66" pair of curtains would be perfect as you have twice your window width.
 
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