I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS PROJECT, I HOPE YOU ENJOY LOOKING!
SEVERAL OF YOU REMARKED ABOUT THE DRAPERIES IN MY RECENT POST
The fabric was very pricey so it languished on the roll in my bedroom for a year because I was afraid to cut said fabric.
I searched the internet and studied tutorials for silk draperies. I learned that it is a "cardinal sin" to make silk draperies without lining AND interlining. Well, I had never attempted an interlining of drapes before. There were a lot of firsts and I was nervous. I am not a professional seamstress but I will try anything!
I found and ordered what was touted as a must for drapery construction.
"The Complete Encyclopaedia of Curtains"
"The Complete Curtain Maker"
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| Authored by Catherine Merrick and Rebecca Day Published in England |
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| This book has instructions for making all kinds of soft goods. The pages are filled with photos of elegant English homes. Lots of eye candy. |
I took the next step and purchased a serger. This was another fantastic purchase. I don't know how I ever lived without a serger.
I was beginning to run out of excuses for further delay.
I had assembled the necessary components. I had the FABULOUS fabric, lining, interlining (this is a very lightweight flannel and sold for this particular use), threads, buckrum and trims.
No more excuses.
Think I was ready to start the draperies? NOT!!
But I started here. I decided to try making the valances for the living room first. At least I wouldn't ruin as much fabric here. I liked the way they turned out SO!
No more excuses.
Think I was ready to start the draperies? NOT!!
But I started here. I decided to try making the valances for the living room first. At least I wouldn't ruin as much fabric here. I liked the way they turned out SO!
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| One of three windows in the living room |
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| I know, I know! That was one puny looking plant. It had a short life. |
WHEW!!
The hardest part was matching the checks and making sure each panel started and ended, top, bottom and sides, with the coordinating color check. I rechecked my self too many times to count.
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| The rods were special order, from my beloved internet. I love shopping the internet, don't you? |
After three weeks, this was the finished product. You will notice I made tiebacks. That was about three years ago. I have since decided to let them hang free for a while. I will probably go back to the tiebacks at some time. I really enjoy that look as well.
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| I love the tiebacks. I think they look prissy! |
Sweet Old Bob was also.
If you would like to see the Valentine Tablescape
go HERE
Please leave a comment so I know you visited.
Hugs, Ginger
I am linking to the following gracious hostesses:
Please leave a comment so I know you visited.
Hugs, Ginger
55 comments:
Ginger I so remember seeing these beautiful drapes on RMS when you first posted there..Just elegant my friend..Hi-five to you for an awesome job..Hugs and smiles Gloria
Ginger, these draperies are just gorgeous! So elegant, and so amazing that you MADE them! I enjoyed reading about all you did before making that first cut into the silk!
Ginger -- I am in awe -- those are amazing drapes! You are one talented seamstress!!!
You did a fantastic job Ginger...really nice. I love the colors too!
Granny! I didn't know you sew too, you are an amazing lady, so glad I'm getting to know you more and more, YOU SEW TOO! whoo hoo, I need window treatments for 49 windows.
~Jo
LazyonLoblolly
Bravo - you did a fabulous job! I know how challenging it can be to get that designer finish - I'm still working at it. :-)
BTW -- Have you heard of Pate Meadows? I stumbled onto their website a few years back and they sell fabulous patterns for drapes and valances - mostly the latter and they have customer photo gallery that is fun to browse for ideas. They also design for Southern Living homes. I won't add a link as it seems tacky to do that as a guest comment. But if interested tou can google Pate Meadows and you'll find it.
Thanks for the tip on the book - looks like one I need.
I am speechless Ginger, you are a talented drapery artist and your work looks impeccable.
Oh and I'm in love with your dining room too.
You should be proud. They are gorgeous. I used to help my mil with her upholstery and drapery business and she turned down clients who had silk material. Said it was too time consuming to work with. Love that material too.
Just BEAUTIFUL!!!
I have made more curtains & drapes than I can count, but have never heard of Goblet pleats... I am going to check it out.
Thanks for showing us these gorgeous drapes...
I so love these drapes, you did a fantastic job. I have made drapes in the past, but don't know if I would have the patience now.
Absolutely gorgeous! Stunning! I mean, I feel like I am looking at pictures from Traditional Home magazine! You did an amazing job Ginger and I am just so impressed with your talent. :-)
Vanessa
I make custom drapes for a living and recently posted on goblet pleats. I have a drapery workroom that I use and they hate using silk in a check or plaid because it is so difficult. I have learned to stay away from it as it tends to not run true either horizontally or vertically. So you get big points for making such perfectly straight draperies and they really look as good as any I have made or seen.
WOW these are gorgeous!! I soo wish I could sew!
Ginger, those are beautiful. Your valances before these were gorgeous, too. I wouldn't know how to even begin to sew those. I think people who can sew like that are so gifted. Thanks for sharing these beauties.
Hello Ginger. so perfect stitched curtains... you really did a great job I love the cheery colours and they look Fab
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah
These drapes are absolutely beautiful Ginger. Love the color and you did such a great job on the construction. Love everything about them.
Did you ever do a wonderful job or what? I too made all my drapes and have some silk ones too. I think yours are just stunning and look perfect. Amazing.
Ginger, I know those goblet pleats were a lot of work. You did a fantastic job! They hang so beautifully. I love the colors too.
Hi Ginger, I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit. Thanks so much for following me. Your drapes are so beautiful and your dining room is too. I'm now following you.
Wow these are awesome!! You are so talented.They really are elegant. The fabric is just beautiful and I am also in awe of this project. You should be very proud of this accomplishment!!
Okay I have to have that book and I love the goblet gathers on the top.. Wow. Don't you just love your serger?? I love mine so much. Your drapes are amazing. totally amazing. As it the table several posts down.. I've been browsing. Thanks for dropping in and visiting and leaving your kind comments.
Wow! I am impressed. The drapes are gorgeous! I wish I could do something like that.
Thank you for stopping by and your sweet comments.
Oh, Ginger Peach...these are probably the prettiest drapes I've ever seen in my entire, looong life.
The fabric and color is out of this world...and you did a MAGNIFICENT job of making these lovely beauties.
I ESPECIALLY love the tiebacks, too.
Very prissy, indeed. I adore tiebacks.
Like Gloria, I'm giving you a high-five for a job WELL done.
xoxo..
Oh, and your dining room is breathtaking.
Hi Ginger you did a beautiful job on the drapes and I love the ck pattern and colors also! Thank you for the sweet comment you left me and also for becoming a follower I really appreciate it. I'm following you back. Martina
Ginger, you did such a beautiful job sewing your curtains. Even though I have sewn quite a bit in the past, I have never attempted curtains. I applaud you! I also love the blue and yellow AND plaid ...my favorite!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower.
Your newest follower~
~Vicki~
You did a great job, they look really good ! I don't have that book but I am taking a fabricating class from Rebecca Day next month.
These are so pretty, love them!
Ginger,
Your drapes are fabulous! They are showstoppers. I had no idea that you made them but, they really did make a statement in your dining room when I viewed your Valentine table. You did a fabulous job. I love the tiebacks too they each have the same matching blue swag in them, just beautiful! You should be proud. Thanks for linking them up!
Sherry
These are so gorgeous!!!! The fabric is simply stunning and I can imagine how you felt about cutting into it!!!
Congratulations on a job well done!!!
Hi Ginger, They are beautiful and you did such a fantastic job! I love the fabric...perfect with the paint color.
Hugs,
Sherry
Your draperies are beautiful and you should feel proud of them, making them yourself is a real accomplishment! Good for YOU!!!
I think they look best just hanging straight, don't you?
Hugs, Cindy
Wow!! You absolutely should be proud! I don't really know how to sew much at all... mine is turn the wheel and turn the fabric ..just enough to get a doll body made... so it wouldn't even occur to me to do my own curtains... much less silk... how brave and how beautiful.
The drapes are gorgeous, Ginger. I am so impressed that you made them yourself....Christine
Wow! You did a great job. So glad you stopped by my blog. You have a beautiful home. Savannah is my mother's hometown, so I'm partial to it, too!
Oh my goodness.....those are so glam fabulous! Love them!
Gorgeous! They look so professional! You did a great job!
I am amazed at your talent! Jaw dropping gorgeous!
Oh Ginger, you are so talented! The valance and the drapes turned out beautifully! The final result made all of the anxiety you had over making them worth it. I hope you don't mind that I "borrowed" a photo from your blog for my post today. laurie
Hi Ginger...
Ohhh my goodness...I am sooo very impressed, my friend! Your silk draperies are GORGEOUS!!! I can't even begin to imagine the work...and stress...that went into making these beauties! I have done a bit of sewing but have never attempted draperies. They look just fabulous in your beautiful dining room...and the valances in your living room as well! I love the silk fabric pattern that you chose! Ohhh my goodness...I bet it was a bit of a challenge to get those stripes to line up...but they look perfect! BRAVO, my friend!!! I love the "goblet" pleats...so pretty! I love both styles...hanging down with and without the beautiful tiebacks! I think that using the tiebacks has a bit more "formal" look and feel! So nice that you can do either!
Ginger, your home is gorgeous! I love your dining room...the wall color is stunning and I love how the stripe in the silk draperies pick that same color up! By the way...your Valentine's Day table is beautiful! Ohhh my...this is all just breathtaking, my friend! Thank you for sharing the drapery making experience with us...this has been such a treat!
I also wanted to thank you for stopping by for a visit...I sooo enjoyed your sweet note, my friend!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
Oh Ginger,
First I would like to say thank you for the kind words about my Sweet Romantic Notions. I am a very timid blogger so I step out here slowly.
I am so in awe at your wonderful talents with a needle and thread. You should be so proud of what you have created. The drapes are so beautiful. Having a talent like yours you can have the best dressed house on every block. I have to shop in the stores..Wish they carried drapes like these!
Have a wonderful weekend my new friend..
~Shirley
Beautiful drapes, love the pattern and the colors. You are very talented!
I have been sewing most of my life and would have the same fear as you did...you really did amazing they're beautiful!
Hi there Ginger~ Wow- these are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I love how elegant and pretty they are and the attention to detail! What a fantastic seamstress you are!! Thank you for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday!:)
Ginger, your drapes are awesome!
Those silk panels are GORGEOUS! I too would have been afraid to make the first cut!!! Love the color and the style.
Oh Ginger Thank you for stopping by Kreative knack and becoming a follower! And oh, those drapes are to die for! I love the colors! You did a wonderful job! How funny, I can totally relate, when you said the fabric sat...because you were afraid to cut it, oooh I have been there :) I am your newest follower!
Hi Ginger,
Your home is beautiful and the draperies look fabulous! You are quite the seamstress!
Thanks so much for coming by my new blog. It allowed me to find yours!
Have a great day.
Pam
Thanks for joining my blog and for your sweet comments.
Actually, I did see your beautiful drapes last week. I'm just learning how to get around in blog land and leave comments. I get so excited when I have a new follower and/or someone leaves me a comment.
I love your drapes and think the pleats are absolutely beautiful. I would have gotten out the sewing machine and made some too, if I had
found these - basically what I would have made. I don't think I would have tackled those beautiful pleats - or silk.
Gorgeous! Love the color scheme!
Ginger, these drapes are just divine. I noticed right away that your pattern matched perfectly, something you never see in "store bought" drapes.
I love your matching valance. I am making a valance for the master bath and your valance is really inspirational.
Traci
Ginger!
These are gorgeous! I am blown away by your talent here. I have worked with workrooms and seamstresses for years and THIS is truly a professional job. FANtastic.
You are amazing Ginger!
xx
Alison
Your newest follower.
:)
Wow, Ginger, those are gorgeous! You did a beautiful job! You are not a novice at all. I am a professional window treatment fabricator/designer, but many times I still have to make something I've never made before. Once you get over the 'fear' of cutting the fabric (I've cut $200/yd fabric that belongs to my clients - talk about nerve racking) - you're on your way to completing the job and having something beautiful in the end :)
Thanks for visiting my blog and enjoying my photos too. Stop back any time!
Take care,
Michelle
www.newengland-style.com
Hi Ginger, Your window treatments are just beautiful and I just love Duralee fabrics. I sew all of my window treatments also so I know the work that you put into these. You are a very talented women. Your work exceeds some that I've seen come out of professional workrooms. I'm also enjoying looking through your blog. You have some lovely collections.
Marianne :)
Silk draperies make an elegant statement in a room. They present extravagant luxury and beautiful details. For a soft, elegant and aesthetically appealing window treatment, these are an excellent interior design choice. Thanks a lot.
Blackout Curtains
You did a perfect job lining up the stripes from one panel to the other (easier said than done). Beautiful fabric.
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