To correctly measure the consumption of fabric for curtains, you need to determine two main parameters: the length and width of future finished products.
Length calculation
Please note that the calculation of the length is done without taking into account the hemming of the bottom and top of the curtains, this parameter will be added later. To calculate the fabric for curtains, measure with a metal tape measure the distance from the place where the curtain is attached to the curtain rod to the desired length.
- Length to the sill. In this case, it is recommended to make the curtains slightly higher than the level of the window sill, by about 1 cm.Then they will easily move without touching it.
- Average length. Curtains that descend 10-15 centimeters below the sill line look good. In addition, this option allows you to reduce the consumption of fabric for curtains..
- Full length. One of the most traditional and favorite design options for window openings is floor-length curtains. In this case, the distance should not be measured to the floor surface, but slightly higher. This will prevent the fabric from fraying, the curtains can be washed less frequently and will last longer. Curtains falling to the floor certainly look impressive, but they quickly deteriorate and interfere with cleaning.
Width calculation
To calculate the fabric for the curtains, you need to take into account how the fabric will be attached to the cornice, and how lush the curtains will be. The last parameter takes into account the density and width of folds on the curtain in a fully open state.
Advice
Before you start taking measurements, it is worth hanging the cornice – this will be needed to calculate both the length and width of future curtains. Usually, the distance from the upper edge of the window to the eaves is in the range from 7.5 to 12.5 centimeters, beyond the width of the window, it should protrude at least 15 cm in order to be able to completely free the window opening from the curtains.
In order to beautifully fold the curtains from the sides when sewing, you need to add 10 centimeters on each side.
How to calculate fabric for curtains designed, for example, for a standard window opening and standard ceiling heights?
In this case, the length of the cornice can be 2 m, the height of the curtains (to the floor) – 2.6 m.To make them not too lush, we will take the assembly factor equal to 2.
Curtain: tulle
The fabric consumption for tulle curtains is done according to the following formulas:
Height: curtain height + bottom hem allowance + top hem allowance
In our case, we have 2.6 + 0.15 + 0.10 = 2.85 (m)
Width: eaves length x assembly factor, or in our case 2 x 2 = 4 (m).
Curtain: curtain
The consumption of fabric for blackout curtains is done according to the same formula, with the only difference that it, unlike tulle, is made of at least two parts. Therefore, the height will be the same, but the resulting width will have to be divided by two.
Advice
Do not discard the pieces of fabric left over from the curtains. From these leftovers you can sew decorative pillows, curtain tiebacks, and other decorative elements..
Attention!
If the pattern on the curtains is repeated in length, then when sewing curtains, you will have to adjust the pattern at their junction. To do this, the fabric must be taken with a margin of the size of the rapport (repeating pattern on the fabric). If the rapport is 60 cm long, the fabric must be taken 60 cm more than calculated..
