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Lining on curtains visible at edges

Please forgive me if the terms I use below are a bit wrong - I'm completely ignorant of practically all matters to do with sewing!

I have several pairs of curtains from a major retailer, all with plain white linings. As I think is usual, the curtain material is folded at the sides, extends back in for an inch or so and is then stitched to the lining.

The folds at the sides of each curtain tend to come unfolded, to the extent that the lining is visible from the front. For some reason I find this really irritating! I've tried ironing (is pressing the word?) the edges but they still come unfolded.

Can anyone suggest a method to stop this, please? Maybe some sort of starch to keep the edges folded flat, or a few swtiches to keep the lining tight to the front material? The starch sounds easy, whereas the stiches might be visble from the front?

Thanks,

Dave

Reply to
Dave A
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There are a number of things you could try. New curtains are usually tied together in the open position for a few days to give them what is called a 'memory'. To do this you put the folds into the final position you want them to be in and then tie string/wool/ribbon at a number of intervals down the whole hieight of the curtain. With the lining/fabric edge, you would obviously make suret aht the lining does not show and that the seam faces backwards towards the wall/window side.

You could also try putting washers in small pockets at the hem to weight the curtain down into position or you could just try pressing the lining to the inside and then running a line of stitiching (either by machine or hand). Neither should show if done properly. Use thread that is just ever so slightly darker than the main colour in the fabric.

Reply to
FarmI

I would recommend a very fine "prick stitch", which is essentially a back stitch with the part of the stitch on the face side very tiny, almost back into itself. I was unable to locate a URL showing the technique, maybe Kate has something on her site.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Thanks FarmI and Beverly.

I found an illustration of the prick stitch and will try that.

Dave

Reply to
Dave A

Not for this application, but it's a perfect solution. You can do it from the front of the curtain, without taking them to bits, and, done carefully with a fine thread that matches closely, will be invisible in use.

Here are a couple of How To sites:

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your stitches on the back an inch to an inch and a half long, and the front stitches over just a thread or two. DO NOT pull the thread so tight you get dimples on the front! If you do it up the seam between front fabric and lining, it'll be next to invisible on the back, too! A quick & dirty solution would be to press hemming web between the layers in the turnings at the sides. The problem with this is that it makes the edges of the curtains stiffer, looks squashed, and is NOT permanent - no matter what the claims of the manufacturer!

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

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Kate, I have saved those to my bookmarks. I was unable to locate a site with illustrations, which work better for beginners. Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

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