How To: Drapery Panels

by A

4 Materials

$75

4 Hours

Medium

My guest room is getting a lot of attention lately. I am almost done. A while back I posted about hanging a curtain rod and sheers. Now I have added the drapery panels to finish the look. (In truth, I have only added one panel because my guests arrived before I could finish) LOL!

This project requires intermediate sewing skills - not because it's so difficult to sew a straight line, but because you need to understand the construction of the panel in order to figure out your cuts and to get it to hang straight.

This is the window I want to make the panels for. It has a very full set of sheers on it and looks pretty as is, but I felt like something was missing. Also, I wanted my guests to be able to pull a drape across the window to block out the light if they wanted to sleep in. I chose to use hooks and rings so that the drapes would slide across the rod easily.

I am making full length panels so I had to use my floor to lay out and cut the fabric. I am using one full width of fabric for each panel and cutting them 98" long. Do not just fold your fabric in half and cut both out at once if you have a pattern. If you do, one panel will not match up with the other and it may be noticeable on your window.

Next, I cut my lining. You will note that I am a bit short. This will not matter when I am done because it will be covered by the hem and header. I have laid out my lining and fabric with right sides together and pinned the edges that I will stitch first.

For the header, I measured 6" down and pressed it in place across the width of the fabric. I then folded under the raw edge 1" and pressed in place all the way across.

I purchased pinch pleat tape and cut it the width of my fabric. I pinned it in place to line up with the bottom of my header hem. I also tucked under 1/4" on each end.

I then sewed very close to the edge, all the way around. NOTE: Be very careful that your tape is facing in the right direction. The first time I sewed it on, it was on the wrong side and upside down. When I screw up, I go big! I had to pull out the stitches and do it again.

I sewed a 4" hem (with 1" raw edge tucked under) on the bottom of the panel. You can do whatever size hem you like, but a 4"-5" hem looks very nice and doesn't turn up or curl.

I purchased 4-prong drapery hooks and went to work putting them into the tape. Between figuring out the spacing and working them into the sleeves, it was a job. Not a fun job.