Fabric for curtains

Back when I was taking Interior Design classes (a looooong time ago) I was taught that draperies were window coverings that were heavier, lined, more formal and *usually* went from above the window to near the floor if not from ceiling to floor. Draperies had a sort of "tailored" top with pinch pleats and some sort of hook for hanging on the rod. Sometimes they were hooked to traverse cords but not always. Draperies were usually for the formal rooms of a home -- the ones that weren't used except for very special occasions so they weren't taken down and washed very often! Curtains, OTOH, were never lined and didn't have the pleated top with the hooks. They were gathered onto the rod or hung from tabs or had holes for the rod to go through, etc. -- they were much more casual in style. Being put in a kitchen or some other room used a lot, they had to be easy to take down and launder and then put back up again Now, I don't think anything is written in stone anymore :-). If you like the fabric and want to make window coverings out of it, then go for it and make then whatever style you want! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Yep- I have made many 'window coverings' using my quilting cottons and lined them with more quilting cotton, or layered with batting and/or used the black-out insulated stuff for lining. It's pretty much whatever tickles your fancy at the moment.

Quilting cotton valance (unlined), quilted center thingy (front, backing and batting) and a 3-d appliqué with a big fake pearl in the center- with sheer under curtains-

That's what I was taught too. Draperies were hung from pleated tops with hooks hung onto loops on (usually) a traverse rod. Curtains were gathered onto a rod which was inserted through a fabric pocket on the curtain and were usually a light-weight material and less formal, and sill length rather than floor length. Today, I see floor-length curtains that traverse and short drapes that just hang on a non-traverse rod. I think the distinction would be that drapes have a more formal look ---- usually. Who really cares??? Whatever looks good. My house has one pair of floor length curtains. The rest of the windows have either horizontal or vertical blinds, and a few have just valances. KT. in MI

Joan Rivers says that you wash the dishes and sweep the floor and next week you have it all to do over again. Curtains come close to that 'chore' category. You will want to try to be sure that the fabric you choose behaves nicely in the laundry. Polly