Quilted curtains?

I think you will find that you want some kind of lining as well as backing, Janner. Otherwise the seams will show through and you will probably not see the pattern! just the black seams. You don't need to line with batting, though, just some sturdy fabric (white or cream for preference). I have just lined some hospital blankets with flannelette sheeting - it worked very well indeed and was much easier to handle than batting.

I am planning to do the same thing as you for an internal kitchen window, on my table as we speak funnily enough!. . In message , Janner writes

Thanks, have been here thinking.

One of the things that I was worried about, was the extra weight of the batting and the curtains stretching. Have measured the windows and each curtain will be 3' wide by 5'deep. Presumably if they are well quilted, then bagging and sagging shouldn't be an issue, well at least not with the curtains ;p)

I have looked at my wadding and it isn't bulky, so I think that I will go for it!! Need 4 separate curtains, so am going to make 4 different but co-ordinating curtains and have a play with different techniques. It seems forever since I had a good excuse to sit and play with my fabrics. Now the kitchen is in, I have a table, with wonderful overhead lighting, to play on. Yay, it has been 2 1/2 yrs in the planning.....

Good luck with your curtains as well.

Janner France

Howdy!

Might try putting a hanging sleeve on the back, something rather simple; this will distribute the weight more evenly, not letting any little clips claw holes in the fabric.

Using cotton fabric from my stash, long panels for the living room windows, I just hemmed the top w/ enough space to slip in a curtain rod, w/ a header like this: All this discussion of drapes & window-treatments reminds me that most windows are "over-dressed"; can't see the window for the covers.

Good luck!

R/Sandy - surrounded by fabric ;->

Been talking to DM, and she suggested curtain tape, then buy little hooks that clip to the curtain rings. Seems to be the way curtains are hung here! So will go that route.

Have had a lovely afternoon looking through books looking for ideas, suppose really I should start making them before winter arrives! Although at the moment we are having an Indian Summer up to the 30s by day but down to 9 overnight.

Thanks for the help,

Janner France

I've done roman shades for our bedroom and DR with cotton batting with no issues. I usually use a light colored lining but have had issues with seams showing. In fact I've done drapery-style coverings for just about every window in our home. Some have seams in the lining; some not. And I always do a light colored (either white or beige) lining with no issues.

Go for it! Kim in NJ currently ballooning at Fiesta in Albuquerque and lookiing forward to visiting the many LQS's that seem to be here!

Janner - Whilst I haven't made "quilted" curtains per se, I have used a thin flannel lining known in the States as "Interlining." The interlining is sandwiched between the main drapery fabric and the cotton drapery lining. It provides both body and insulation to your window treatment.

I love your idea of quilting your curtains! I wish you much success.

-dlm. in central MA

I am hoping that because we have shutters for when it is sunny, that my seams wont show, because if it is that bright, they are shut!!

Most French houses don't have curtains and shutters, usually just shutters, but in winter it is cold here and in order to insulate the house, we thought that we would put up thick curtains, because it is a lot cheaper than buying new double glazed windows!! Our windows here are wooden, a bit twisted although only the same age as the house, about

45 years old, the weather with the heat of summer and the cold of winter has not been kind to them....but they have character :o)

Mt French friends see curtains as a fashion accessory, not for keeping the house warm, so they have voile curtains to look pretty! Hey, I might even start a new trend. Also, I would imagine that in the heat of summer with the shutters closed and the curtains closed, that it should stay cooler indoors...

Thanks again,

Janner France