My back door has a window, and I need the type of curtain which has a small rod at top and bottom, and is pulled tight between the two. I've gone into several stores (in the U.S.) looking for them, and unfortunately, teenage stupidity has invaded fabric and window treatment departments. The kiddies look at me like I'm from Mars when I describe these curtains. Does that type of curtain have a name, or is there a secret code word necessary in order to get an intelligent response in retail shops?
Is this a curtain that you will put on tension rods? On maybe on just one tension rod? You might need to buy a small piece of cloth twice the width of your window and just hand sew a casing at the top, and hand sew a narrow hem at the bottom. From experience, tension rods come in different lengths---some that adjust from small widths to a slightly wider width. So you need your window measurement when you go to the store. To hand sew the curtain probably won't take you more than 30 minutes, including cutting the fabric. Just remember to add on enough for your hems. Hope this helps! Barbara in FL & SC
You're talking about curtains that end up having sort of an hourglass shape, right? I have a couple of these curtains on my back doors/windows and as far as I know they're called cafe curtains. At least, that's what they were called when I bought these several years ago. I think that "cafe curtain" refers to something a bit different these days. We bought these at JC Penney many years ago. You might check their catalog on line, see if you can find something similar there. Do you have Anna's Linens where you live? You might try them, too.
I know what you mean about the so-called "help" they have working in stores today. Recently I went into a Lowe's to buy some new windowshades. The clerk in the department literally did not know what "windowshades" were. Had never heard the word (and she was born and raised here). I finally had to get a floor manager to explain to her, and show me where they were. That was darn frustrating, let me tell you!
shirring and shirring rods. I have them on my french doors. they are 2 tiny 1/1 inch rods that slip through a casing that is at the top and bottom of the panel. the rods have tiny holes in each end that fit onto little bracket hooks that attach to the door.
You've never seen my sewing. If it took me 30 minutes, the result wouldn't be something I'd want to let anyone see. :-) I'll just take it to a tailor and pay the ten dollars to have it done straight.
Try looking for casement curtains or casement sheers. You can get magnetic rods, if your door is metal. A nice place to look is Country Curtains. Google that. I have gorgeous casements from them. A tad pricey, but lovely.
You think finding a nice curtain is difficult? Just try asking for millinery ... not known even in an 'upscale store.' How do these people ge, and hold those jobs?
NAYY. PAT > My back door has a window, and I need the type of curtain which has a small
I've made a similar lace curtain for the exterior door in my laundry, it has glass in the top half of the door. I cut poly lace curtaining double the finished width by the length including rod pocket casings top and bottom. They are quite simple to make if you can get hold of a sewing machine (it seems from your message that you don't have one?). To hold my curtain in place I used some plastic covered springwire found in curtain shops here (Australia). In the ends you fit very small screw eyes and in turn these attach to a small hook that has been screwed into the door. Cut the springwire a little shorter than is needed so it will stretch slightly without drooping. Of course this springwire will only hold lightweight curtains, heavier fabrics will need a rod. If this is the case why not try 1/2" wooden dowel with the same screw eye and hook setup? Sorry I can't help with the name, but cafe curtains (as I understand them) have a valance across the top and the bottom curtain starts around half way down the window.
Can also agree with your frustation with shop assistants these days, it's the same here unfortunately. One of my pet-hates is someone working in the fabric section who knows zilch about sewing and can't even measure fabric correctly....now don't get me started!!!
Hope this helps? As you can see there are lots of ways to skin this cat!! LOL
I think Doug could do these curtains up just fine without doing a stitch or hiring a stitcher! The curtains will be gathered across the width part so whatever width the fabric is will gather up just fine and the selvage edge of the fabric really won't make that big a difference and it won't ravel or need to be hemmed. Screw a cup hook on the four corners of the window. Get doweling or a little round curtain rod that will fit the width and slide into the cup hooks, top and bottom. Turn the cup hook so the doweling doesn't fall out. Measure from the top to bottom doweling and add 6". Lay your fabric down, right side down, and turn the cut edges up an inch and iron flat. Now turn (fold over) again equal amounts so you have the top to bottom measurement of the dowels and iron this down flat. You'll want the turned edges pretty much equal. Get a roll of "Steam a Seam" at the fabric store, sandwich between the turned under first inch and the bottom fabric so you have a channel to put the dowel through. Iron that down per instructions on the Steam a Seam packet. This stuff will glue that down as well as a stitch and hangs in there for washing as well. Slide the dowels through the top and bottom channels, thread the ends through the cup hooks, fiddle a bit with the gathering to even it up and Doug will have a dandy curtain on his window that any non sewing bachelor would be proud of. You could also use the metal shirring rods, as previously mentioned with the little clips that secure them on either end if you can find them, the curtain construction would be the same. Try places like K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target and the likes in their curtain rod section, these are pretty standard inventory. With a pair of reasonably descent scissors, an iron and a measuring tape he has all the tools needed to get what he wants for a very affordable price. Plus he'll still have a good amount of that seam tape left over for all kinds of handy mending jobs that won't require a needle and thread. If you are looking for an inexpensive fabric try checking the curtain departments in the same stores you found your rods and look for "sheer panels" they come one to a package and that's all you would need. Depending on the length of your window you could probably get away with using one of the pockets for a rod already sewn into the panel and do the second panel as I suggested. When all that material is gathered it won't be that obvious what you've done and since the you didn't publish your address the chances of the QA's in the 'seamstress police" department showing up with calipers and a magnifying glass would be pretty slim. The sheer curtain, when gathered, will give you privacy but still let in the light.
Val
"Doug Kanter" snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote in message news:4uYAd.1534$ snipped-for-privacy@news01.roc.ny...
I may go this way, but on the other hand, I've had cuffs done on pants for $10. What could it cost for someone to sew two straight seams on a rectangular piece of fabric?? $11.00? :-)
Well, if you came to me, I wouldn't charge $11, simply because it was such an easy job...I just did a quilt for $10/hr, so....even if it took me 12 minutes, that is only $2.00....or am I doing my math wrong again?? LOL
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