Home is the place that you want to make cozy, beautiful and complete. And there will be no completeness if you leave the windows without curtains, and the curtains without lambrequins. It is they who will give the interior a special grace and beauty, as well as hide part of the wall between the window and the ceiling, replacing this not too beautiful strip of wallpaper with elegant folds of fabric.
Types of lambrequins
Once upon a time, when lambrequins had just appeared, they were made of wood, and their purpose was simple: to hide the cornice. For this purpose, no one was particularly sophisticated, and the lambrequins were of the same type. Now, when they are made of fabric and serve mainly to decorate the room, add elegance and respectability to the interior and turn ordinary boring curtains into chic curtains, lambrequins are divided into four types.
- Classic lambrequin. Just a narrow strip of fabric, gathered into folds with a wide ribbon. There are three subspecies of the classic lambrequin: wavy, straight and arched. It depends on the design of the bottom edge. Such a lambrequin is good for those who, during the repair, something went wrong, and the window slope and the cornice came out with defects. The classic lambrequin will hide them well, and it will just look neat and beautiful.
- Hard lambrequin. As the name suggests, it keeps its shape well. This happens due to the fact that it is made from a special very dense fabric. As a result, the curtains on which such a lambrequin hangs look voluminous and majestic.
- Lambrequin with decorative inclusions. Cockillas, ties, throws, jabots and other pretentious elements – all this refers to lambrequins of this type. Lambrequins with decorative elements are a real space for your imagination and a great opportunity for self-expression, as well as making the room more interesting and, perhaps, even extravagant. Of course, they are not easy to sew, it is better to start with something easier to execute..
- Combined lambrequin. This is the most complex type of lambrequins. It can combine elements of all three types: for example, when strips of fabric gathered in folds on the curtains are pulled through the holes in the hard lambrequins (in fact, a classic lambrequin).
There is also another division based on the components of the lambrequin:
- simple rectangular lambrequin,
- composite lambrequin of geometric rectangular panels,
- composite lambrequin of semicircles,
- simple lambrequin of fancy shape.
Determining the type of lambrequins, you are determined not only with the design of the curtains, but also with the appearance of the entire room. This seemingly small detail will determine the overall style, so you should think carefully about everything and only then tackle the lambrequins.
Patterns and necessary materials
What fabric is better to take for a lambrequin? In fact, many types of fabric are suitable for these purposes: taffeta, velvet, satin, ivy, cotton, linen, silk, polyester and much more. It all depends on the style in which you decorate the entire room, and it is the type of the room itself. For instance, velvet looks very rich and fits perfectly with the baroque style. In addition, it perfectly holds its shape due to its density. It is perfect for decorating a living room. AND polyester often used to decorate kitchen windows, where practicality and the ability to easily clean are primarily important. Also practical cotton, beautiful silk and linen, which are easy to wash, protect well from sunlight, hygroscopic and hypoallergenic.
Light fabrics and the whole interior will give a certain lightness, airiness and elegance. For example, silk looks very good – the curtains will look flying, like in a castle in the air. Heavy and dense fabrics, on the contrary, will give the curtains a certain monumentality and respectability, but at the same time and elegance..
In addition to fabric, you will need threads, pins, ribbons and decorative cords. In addition, if you are making a solid lambrequin, in addition to fabric, you will need a special non-woven, with which the fabric is glued to maintain a given shape.
When choosing a pattern, you should be guided by your skills and sewing skills. You should not immediately take on something difficult if you have not held a needle in your hands for several years.
DIY lambrequins: step by step instructions
Now we will look at how to sew some types of lambrequins.
Plain rectangular lambrequin even a beginner can sew.
- Take a rectangle of fabric the same length as the curtain. If you are going to fold it, take a fabric one and a half times longer.
- Hem the bottom of the fabric, finish the sides.
- Sew on top for fastening.
- Hang the lambrequin on the curtain.
Done! Looks simple and tasteful.
Composite lambrequin from semicircles it looks quite complicated and pretentious, but it is done very simply:
- Take a trapezoidal fabric. The height of the trapezoid is one and a half times the planned height of the lambrequin; the sum of the lengths of the sides and the length of the upper side of the trapezoid should be equal to the width of the curtain.
- Finish the edges.
- Sew the curtain tape (the tape along which the cords are threaded) along the sides of the trapezoid and tighten. The fabric draped to form beautiful semicircles.
- Hang the lambrequin.
You can also just take a long strip of fabric and, stepping back the same distance from the ends, drag them with ribbons so that the middle part sags, forming beautiful folds, and the ends themselves hang freely.
As you can see, it is very simple and quick, anyone can handle it, and the room will literally be transformed and take on a more complete and neat look. In addition, lambrequins can be decorated with flowers, figures of fish, animals and plants cut from cardboard or dense fabric, brushes and other decorative elements that only your imagination will tell you..
DIY lambrequins: video instruction
Our video instructions will help you sew a lambrequin with your own hands easily and simply, clearly showing how to proceed to get a beautiful, neat and tasteful decoration for your home.
