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published by KatieDid Design
Tips to Hang Draperies Like the Pros
by Kathleen M. Peters, www.KatieDidDesign.com
Ever wonder how the pros get
their curtains and draperies to hang so perfectly? You know... the pleats
and ruffles are all perfectly even, and they drape just the right way. Well
here's some secrets that may help:
#1 Rule for all types... if you're hanging
more than just one rod, start with the inner rod first! It's extremely difficult
to get everything to look nice if you've got your head under one already-hung
set of curtains of valances while you're trying to get that under rod up
and hung properly! :-)
Rod-Pocket Curtains
1) First if you want perfectly smooth curtains,
they'll have to be ironed perfectly smooth - even the ruffles (if they have
them).
2) Second is putting them on the rod. First,
just get them all on there, making sure that your rod is not extended too
long. (It can be very difficult sometimes to slide it smaller with the curtains
on... On the other hand, it is always easy to extend it longer.) The easiest
way to put them on without wrinkling your just ironed curtains is to lay
them across the bed while you're putting the rod in. Don't worry now about
getting your gathers even.
3) Now put the rod up on the brackets. Put
one end in, then extend the rod as needed and put the other end in.
4) Now is the time to even out those gathers.
First find the center of your window and make sure your edges meet there.
Then even out either side. To make sure your headers (the ruffle that's on
top of the rod) stand up properly, start at one end of the curtains, pull
up on the headers with one hand, and pull down on the curtains below with
the other. Move along the rod and repeat every few inches.
5) Now for the bottom of your curtains. If
they've got ruffles, pull them all out so they're hanging freely and evenly.
Put the hooks for your tiebacks about 2/3 of the way down the curtains and
just outside of where the outside edge of the curtains hang. Hang the inside
end of the tieback.
6) Now for those neat and even pleats! Kneel
down on the floor on the outside edge of one side of your curtains - let's
start with the left side. (This is a little hard to describe, although it's
easy to do.) Fan-fold the curtain into your hands like this: Hold the outside
edge of the curtain panel - about a foot up from the floor - in your left
hand between your thumb and palm with your fingers straight. (so the outside
edge folds back) Create the first fold by folding the fabric around to the
back of your left hand with your right hand. Pull your left hand out of the
fold so you're holding the folds in your right hand between thumb and palm.
Create the second fold by folding the fabric around to the back of your right
hand with your left hand. And so forth. For each fold you make, pull down
slightly on the new fold to help the fabric carry the fold to the top. What
you will be doing is folding the fabric accordion-style from the outside
in. Each time you make a new fold, the inside edge of the curtain will be
drawn in and up a little. You will end up with the entire bottom of the curtain
neatly folded in your hands. Check the folds up to the top once more and
straighten any that need it. You're still holding those pleats in place.
Now reach up to the folds near the tieback with your left hand, and gently
draw the pleats farther back. Let go of the bottom and use your right hand
to bring around the tieback and fasten it. Let your pleats gently fall into
it. Your folds will bounce out a little at the bottom, hanging exactly as
they should. Repeat with the right side, using the opposite hands.
7) One more thing... Lift the folds up a little
on the inside just above the tieback giving them more of a drape. Lift the
innermost fold up about four inches, and each next one a little less so that
your folds continue to hang evenly.
Pinch-Pleated Draperies
1) First iron them smooth.
2) Second is putting the hooks in and hanging
them. Make sure all your hooks are put in at the same point, so they'll all
hang at the same level. Having one hook even a quarter of an inch higher
or lower will prevent them from hanging neatly. To hang them on the rod,
start in the center with the rods drawn closed. Put the first hook in the
very end of the 'leaders' that overlap in the center of your rod. Put the
second hook in whichever hole allows that first section of drape (between
the pleats) to lay smooth and flat. Follow with the rest of the hooks in
the individual sliders - up until the last three. Put those last three hooks
through the holes in the end of the rod - one on the front, and two around
the sides. While closed, your drapes should pull smooth and even... not tight,
but not all bunched up. If you have just a few inches of extra drapery that's
keeping them from closing smoothly, use the extra holes on the outside end
of the rod bracket and pleat them together there.
3) Pinch-pleated draperies will naturally
hang with even folds if step 2 is followed properly and your draperies are
smooth when closed. Now, put your tieback hooks about 2/3 of the way down
your draperies, just outside of where the outside edge of the drapery naturally
hangs. Measure up from the floor to make sure that all the tiebacks in your
room will be attached at the same height. Hang the inside end of the tieback
on your hook.
4) To make those perfect pleats for pinch-pleats,
follow the same procedures as above, but you'll need to match up the front
edge of each fold with a pleat on top.
5) Do the tiebacks the same as above.
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This article Copyright 1999-2004 - Kathleen Peters, KatieDid Design. Reproduced with permission.
Kathleen Peters - 'Katie' - is a custom window treatment and bedding designer, and owner of KatieDid Design, her online shop. She is also the editor-in-chief of Decor, Decorating, and Design, a free bi-monthly ezine filled with articles, tips, and guidelines to help with your home decorating.
http://www.KatieDidDesign.com
http://www.DecorDecoratingAndDesign.com
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