How to sew French curtains yourself. French curtains: how to sew with your own hands? French curtain care

23.06.2020

If you want to decorate the interior of the kitchen with luxurious, but at the same time light and practical curtains, pay attention to the models of French curtains. They are a single piece of fabric, the length of which can be adjusted at your discretion by folding the fabric with lush scalloped folds using a vertical braid. Having chosen French curtains for the kitchen, they can be used both independently and in an ensemble with other curtains. But in any case, they look elegant, stylish and give the atmosphere of the room a truly Parisian charm and a bit of palatial pomposity.

Curtains with lush scallops were invented to decorate the interiors of banquet halls and bedrooms of the French nobility (which is why their second name is “marquise”), then spectacular textiles began to be used to decorate theater scenes. And today, almost three centuries later, French curtains are still associated with wealth and success, and can decorate the windows of any room in our house - from the interior of a romantic bedroom to a cozy kitchen.

Light and airy drapes french style

5 reasons to hang French curtains in the kitchen:

Short draperies do not block access to the window and window sill, but thanks to spectacular scallops, they look much more respectable than Roman or roll designs.
They go well with other types of window textiles - curtains, lambrequins.

A short curtain in a duet with a luxurious lambrequin fits perfectly into the interior of the kitchen

The number and splendor of the folds can be varied at will, so the "French" looks great both on a small narrow window and on a wide opening.
Thanks to the lush folds, the French curtain closes the room well from prying eyes, so it can be used even in the kitchen on the ground floor without blinds or thick curtains.
Such a curtain will be an ideal addition for both expensive historical interiors (classic, baroque, renaissance, empire), and for kitchens decorated in the spirit of a cozy country, romantic Provence or elegant English style.

Lush scallops in a classic kitchen interior

On a note! Many people confuse Austrian and French curtains, because the models are really similar in the form of folds, the principle of lifting and a solid canvas. The difference is that French curtains have scallops all the way down and do not fully unfurl even when the curtain is down. And the Austrian ones form folds only in the lower part of the canvas.

Varieties of lifting curtains

Choosing fabric for curtains

French curtains for the kitchen can be of any length - both practical short curtains to the windowsill, and lush drapery "to the floor". There are no special restrictions in the choice of textiles. The material can be airy or quite dense, the difference is in the form of folds (the heavier the canvas, the more clearly the arcs will be expressed). Dense soft tissues will fall in smooth "waves", and the lungs will help form lush "clouds".

Colored transparent textures perfectly scatter light

The most popular types of fabrics:

Translucent - veil, organza, muslin, silk, cambric, chiffon, tulle, polyester with various additives.
Opaque - satin, cotton, linen, jacquard.

Plain textile with multi-coloured braid

As for colors, curtains can be any color of the rainbow, although white and other neutral tones are usually preferred. But textiles with a pattern are used infrequently, because when the curtain is raised, the beauty of the pattern can be lost in the folds. But if you really want to revive the interior of the kitchen with a colorful print, use light-colored fabric with a repeating colorful ornament (peas, cage, flowers).

Floral motifs in the interior of the kitchen

For sewing, you can use plain fabrics different colors

On a note! To finish the lower edge of the curtains, you can use lush ruffles, a fringe of gilded threads or glass beads, a spectacular border of bright color. The choice of decor depends on the density of the material and the style in which the interior of the kitchen is decorated.

Systems for scalloping

Distinctive feature French curtains - a cascade of even arched scallops. In the classic version, curtains are mounted on profile cornices, which allows you to create more lush and expressive folds. V modern interpretation the canvas is attached only to the upper holder with special Velcro, like other lifting models.

Types of lifting mechanisms for French curtains:

Manual - curtains are raised using a system of several cords and rings.

Automatic - just flip a switch or press a button on the remote control to activate the roller, which will rotate and adjust the curtain to the desired height on its own.

The working principle of the automatic lift

On a note! The simplest design"French" can also be static - that is, the folds will be fixed in one position without a lifting mechanism. For short curtains for the kitchen, this can be a good and very economical solution. .

We sew French curtains with our own hands

Ready-made models with lush scallops are quite expensive, but if you have a sewing machine and a desire to create a unique window decor in the kitchen, you can sew French curtains yourself. Despite the apparent complexity of the design, such work is quite feasible even for a novice seamstress. Therefore, we will consider in detail all the nuances of the upcoming work - from window measurements to the manufacture of the product itself.

Material calculation

The key to success in tailoring any curtains is the correct measurements. Therefore, we arm ourselves with a tape measure and go to the kitchen window.

We are interested in four main parameters:

The length of the cornice, to which a margin of 1.3-1.5 should be added, in order to beautifully drape the opening with fabric and leave an allowance for the seams.
The height of the future curtain, which is measured from the cornice to the window sill or the middle of the window (however, if we are talking about a kitchen-dining room with a large opening, you can sew a curtain up to the floor).
Assembly coefficient - depends on the type of textile, splendor and bending of the folds. For dense material, you need to multiply the length of the curtain by 1.8-2, for light tulle, chiffon or veil - at least 2.5.
The number of stripes with scallops - the length of the cornice should be divided into 4-5 equal segments (or more - depending on the size of the window).

An example of calculating the fabric for a French curtain in the kitchen:

Given: a standard window with a two-meter cornice, the length of the curtain is up to the window sill (175 cm).

Determine the width: multiply the length of the cornice by 1.5. Total: 2 m * 1.5 = 3 meters.

We determine the height: we multiply the length to the window sill by 2.5 (assembly factor for lush scallops). Total: 1.75 m * 2.5 = 4.375 m (including allowances - 4.4 m).

To form 8 rows of scallops on the curtain, the fabric will have to be cut into canvases. But if you can find desired material in a narrow roll, 80 cm wide, - this will be perfect option for the beginner seamstress. According to our calculations, such matter will need 17.6 meters (4.4 m * 4 canvases) with a width of each row of folds of 35-40 cm.

Material calculation scheme depending on the number of scallops

In addition to fabric, you will need a curtain rod for attaching curtains, rings and a skein of nylon cord - all this can be bought at a sewing accessories store. And, of course, you can’t do without a set of home craftswomen - sewing machine, scissors, thread, needles / pins and a measuring ruler with chalk for marking.

Tailoring technology

To get a spectacular curtain with lush folds, it is important not only to correctly calculate the amount of material, but also to provide tucks in the right places of the drapery, and even correctly fix the rings for the lifting mechanism. In order not to miss any of the upcoming stages of work, we suggest using our hint.

Step-by-step instructions for sewing French curtains with your own hands:

Sew the pieces of fabric together to obtain the desired width of the curtain.
Lay out the resulting whole canvas on a table or other flat surface.
Make a markup, indicating with chalk the location of the center lines of the scallops, taking into account the seam allowances (at the bottom and on the side - 5 cm each, and on top - along the width of the curtain tape or Velcro).
Finish the bottom and sides by folding the fabric twice and secure the fold with a straight stitch.

Advice! For convenience, you can first baste the seams by hand or pin them with pins, and then iron them with an iron.

Now it remains to form the scallops. To do this, from the sides, along the seams that fastened the strips and along the markings of the center of the scallops, it is necessary to lay a French (or underwear) seam, with large stitches through which you can pass the gathering cord. The second option is to buy a finished braid with stitches in a sewing accessories store (the so-called "marquise" tape) and attach to the wrong side of the product with a regular stitch.

On a note! For a curtain under a two-meter cornice from our example, consisting of four sheets of fabric, you will need 9 seams and 9 cord cuts of 175 cm each.

Then we take a pin, pass the cords through the seam loops and collect the curtain with beautiful folds. After that, you need to tighten each end and sew to the bottom of the curtain. To get beautiful folds, you can make small tucks in the center of each row of scallops or limit yourself to only the first row from the top, allowing the rest to form arbitrary “waves”.

Pattern for sewing French curtains with your own hands

On the upper edge we make a bend, then we attach a mount to it - a curtain tape or one of the sides of the pile. After that, we adjust the width of the product according to the size of the eaves.

At this stage, you can finish the assembly - the curtain is ready. It remains to smooth the fabric, attach it to the hooks of the eaves or combine the sides of the fluff tape on the mounting plate. But if you want a movable rather than a static curtain, you will have to work a little more.

Installation of the lifting mechanism

In order for the curtain to be adjustable in height, you will need small rings that are sewn at the bottom of the curtain along each edge of the French seam. So that the fasteners are not visible from front side, it is necessary to make indents - at least 5 cm from the bottom, and 12-15 cm from the top. Also, the rings must be attached on the sides and the seam of the towels in steps of 15-30 cm.

Important! The step depends on the size of the scallops. For small and narrow “waves”, smaller indents are needed, for deep or wide ones, larger ones.

At the bottom of each gathering tape, it is recommended to hang small weights that will evenly hold the fabric in a vertical position (for light curtains, you can use heavy brushes, bead fringe, decorative stones or glass beads). After that, it remains to thread the cuts of the nylon cord through all the rings.

It is done like this:

The first segment is wound into a ring located in the lower left edge of the curtain, passed through all the rings sewn along the side seam, passes through the cornice and is displayed on the right side.

On a note! The length of the cord will consist of the sum of the two lengths of the curtain and the length of the cornice (in our example (175 * 2) + 200 = 550 cm).

The second cord is tied to the next lower ring, also runs vertically, then along the cornice and leads out to the right.

All other cords are drawn in the same way, after which their free ends on the right side of the curtain are woven into a beautiful pigtail and fixed on a hook. This will be the control system that will allow you to raise and lower the curtain to the desired height.

Advice! The lengthy process of sewing on rings can be simplified and accelerated if you buy a ready-made "marquise" tape with rings already sewn on.

Ready-made braid for lifting French curtains

Video: step by step master class

Methods for fastening French curtains

Like any lifting curtains, French models can be mounted directly on the window frame with adhesive tape, hung on the eaves by hooks and even directly on the rod (if the curtain tape loops are wide enough). But, unlike roll and Roman designs, lush scallops require free space. Therefore, you should not fasten French curtains immediately to plastic windows, and as shown in the photo - on the bar along the edge of the window opening or on the cornice.

Types of holders for French curtains:

A bar equipped with adhesive tape is an excellent a budget option for static curtains. Models may differ in the type of fasteners for wall and ceiling mounting.

Ready-made cornice with Velcro and wall fixing system

Special cornice for lifting curtains - has small loops, hooks, a recess or a cavity for lacing, which adjusts the height of the curtain. Such a holder is very convenient for DIY models - you don’t have to invent a way to mask and evenly place the cords on top of the curtain.
Cornice with lifting mechanism – turnkey solution for French blinds, already equipped with a system of cords that you just need to pass through the rings and an adjustment chain.

Fastening for French curtains on the eaves with a chain system:

Fastening for French curtains on the eaves

On a note! You can replace the finished cornice with a cut of a metal profile or wooden beam, on which one of the strips of fluff tape should be glued or nailed with small studs (the second part is sewn to the curtain). Additionally, such a home-made holder is wrapped in a cloth or painted in the color of the walls or curtains.

French curtains in the interior of the kitchen are a great alternative to the usual tulle and a real decoration for the kitchen window. And what is important - despite all the sophistication and visual complexity of the design, they are quite easy to sew with your own hands from any suitable material. But if you are not fond of needlework or simply did not have time to acquire sewing machine- no problem. Such a model can be sewn in any studio, providing professional seamstresses with measurements of your window and the fabric you like.

Photo selection of kitchen interiors with French curtains

French curtains or marquise curtains are a decorative detail that will make the decoration of your room truly solemn, elegant and pompous. Their luxurious look will enrich any room, and soft flowing scallops (elements of the curtain composition, represented by arcuate fabric assemblies) will attract the attention of your guests with their smooth curves. Marquis curtains - a constant favorite in the creation classic interior. French curtains are cascade-lifting, not sliding; when assembled, they form beautiful volumetric folds. The length of the French curtains can be adjusted both manually and with the help of special mechanism built into the eaves.

Preparing to sew curtains with your own hands

Marquis curtains are the most delicate curtains that will be a great addition to the design of the hall in classical style. In such a room, you will plunge into the atmosphere of the era Louis XIV and feel all the luxury of court life. Making French curtains with your own hands is a rather responsible task, but not difficult. Today there are many video tutorials and master classes with which you can easily sew gorgeous French curtains for your room.

Photo of French curtains, embodying the true richness of taste.

Fabric choice

When choosing a fabric, the main condition is its lightness, elasticity and softness of texture. Such material will help form flowing, airy folds. Lightweight thin materials with a smooth surface are perfect:

atlas;
organza;
silk;
batiste;
other tulle fabrics.

Some prefer more massive and lush French curtains made of dense materials, which are decorated with bows, braid, frills and lace. Such curtains look very advantageous in combination with thick lambrequins framing the curtains.

However, the disadvantage of such curtains is their bulkiness, which will be extremely inappropriate in a small room, so it is better to opt for a light, translucent curtain made of thin, flying materials, possibly complemented by some elegant lambrequins. As a rule, lambrequins for French curtains are decorated with tassels, ruffles, fringes. The material for lambrequins and curtains framing the tulle part of the curtain composition is selected more dense. Lambrequins can be made of velvet, wool or velor.

Photo of luxurious French curtains with lambrequins.

Color selection

It is very important to decide on the color of the material that will help you sew incredibly beautiful curtains. Curtains of all colors of pastel colors look the most harmonious:

Pale pink;
Peach;
Vanilla;
pistachio;
Jasmine;
Tea rose;
Sand;
Creme brulee;
Milk chocolate;

Absolutely inappropriate in the design of French curtains are bright flashy tones, these curtains already look quite pretentious and attract everyone's attention with their lush assemblies. Therefore, in a rich design, they can look tasteless and clumsy, which can significantly spoil the overall design of the room.

Photo of the most delicate French curtains in pastel colors

Mounting types

In order to securely fasten your elegant French blinds, you can resort to one of two types of fasteners to choose from:

Using standard window cornices, on which the curtain fabric is attached with hooks, clips or eyelets. Sometimes the curtain is mounted on a rod through a special braid sewn along the edge of the curtain.
With the help of special cornices, equipped with a mechanism for adjusting the length of the curtains. The curtain is attached to such a cornice with a self-adhesive tape. The mechanism is usually controlled by a remote control. remote control. This type of fastener is great for window openings of various shapes and sizes.

The choice of fastening largely depends on the desired final look of the curtains.

Calculation of the number of scallops

In order for our curtains to have a three-dimensional look, and the folds to have an airy texture, it is necessary to spend quite a lot of material on the product. As a rule, when creating French curtains, their width is dictated by the width of the window space. It is also necessary to take into account the length of the cornice to which the future curtain will be attached. Do not forget to leave allowances at the edges of the product.

An important nuance in creating French curtains with your own hands is the final length of the curtain, multiplying which by two and adding allowances, we get the amount of material needed for tailoring.

The size of the scallops is largely determined by the width of the windows; wide folds are more appropriate on a large window opening.

The required number of scallops depends on the width of the finished product. An exact calculation can be carried out using the following table:

Accurate calculation of scallops for tailoring French curtains.

Sewing curtains

Today, you can easily make the necessary curtains that meet all your requirements on an individual order in specialized ateliers. However, what hostess does not dream of sewing a masterpiece of curtain art with her own hands, without resorting to the help of specialists, because a thing created by her own hands has a special warmth and energy. Moreover, today on the Internet there are a lot of training videos and master classes that reveal all the tricks of creating marquis curtains with your own hands. We bring to your attention a master class on sewing curtains using an unpretentious pattern that does not require remarkable preparation and outstanding sewing skills from you. First you need to process the material for curtains, for this, rinse the fabric thoroughly in water at room temperature, trying not to wrinkle or deform its texture. After that, lightly wring out the fabric and let it dry, but do not overdry.

Carefully finish the edges of the product. After spreading the fabric, make double folds 1 cm wide along its side edges and sew them.
On the bottom edge, make a double fold 1.5 cm wide and hem the edge.
Make markings for future festoons. Place them at an equal distance from each other across the entire width of the product. As mentioned above, the width of your scallops depends on the width of the curtain itself.
Then, using pre-prepared fabrics, decorate the scallops (drawstrings) of your curtains. Sew these fabrics to the places of your preliminary marking, bending the material on the sides by 2.5 - 3 cm.
Thread special cords into the finished scallops (it is advisable to choose a decorative rope, ribbon or beautiful braid that will harmoniously fit into the design of your curtain composition). With this cord, you can easily adjust the length of your curtain.
You can also create scallops on your curtains using rings that are fastened at a distance of 15 to 20 cm from each other along the entire length of the product, or using a gathering tape sewn in the markings.
The cord should allow you to easily adjust the height of the curtain, forming soft rounded folds of fluffy fabric when pulled together. It is necessary to sew a dense braid to the upper edge of the curtain to fasten the canvas to the rod.
Having fixed the curtain on the cornice and on the sides of the window opening, adjust the length of the finished product. Voila, stylish French curtains are ready! We enjoy the result.

Add a touch of charm to your room with DIY French Curtains.

The French curtain is an aesthetic interior decoration that makes the room solemn thanks to airy draperies.
French curtains

History of awning curtains

Name of this textile product people associate with the place of origin: with ancient, amazing traditions of France. The history coincided with the development of the Baroque style and the ascension to the throne of the Sun King - Louis XIV, who gave rise to pomposity and a solemn look. During his reign, even everyday little things became luxurious, including clothes and dishes, architectural nuances and interior decoration.

Massive windows, luxuriously decorated spacious rooms, expensive furniture - these factors influenced the creation of a new one, later called French.

Previously, in lush halls, not only windows were decorated with fabric. Shade, which upholstered the walls. Draperies and scallops saturate the atmosphere with luxury, and a French curtain with a lambrequin has become a familiar attribute of a wealthy French house.

The “companions” of French textiles are considered to be those that received the second name - scalloped. But if in the first case the emphasis is on luxury, then in the second - on practicality and convenience.

They are called blinds, drawing parallels with the chain. If there is a need to give access to sunlight, the canvas is moved to the top of the window using a special design. These are not familiar to consumers, but products that retain luxurious folds even when assembled.

Sewing French curtains involves hanging products on a profile cornice designed for lifting structures or on classic cornices. The mechanism is controlled manually or using a remote control if the console is equipped with a built-in electric drive.

What color is better to choose?

The color scheme of the textile product depends on the surrounding decor. At the same time, they are repelled by the following elements of the interior:

furniture;
wallpaper;

Where do we start sewing?

The textile industry offers many options for ready-made French curtains. The average price of a French curtain is from 2 to 5 thousand rubles.

French tailoring is often practiced now. It is exciting, profitable, and in addition, it allows you to take into account personal preferences. If it doesn’t work out, light tulle or rayon is suitable for sewing French curtains.

The harder and lighterfrench fabrics for curtains- the drapery is more magnificent, and when using soft and heavy canvases, the tails are more rounded and seem to “sag”.

Fabric calculation

First, a mandatory calculation of the fabric for the French curtain is performed. To do this, take an assembly factor equal to 1.5 in width and a factor of 2 in height (in order to properly sew French curtains 2 meters high, you need to take 4 meters of fabric).

An important condition is that a special one is used in the sewing process, which ensures that the assembly does not slip during operation of the product. It is also important to take into account a stripe 5 cm high at the bottom for the hem of the fabric and 2 cm for processing at the top.

Festoons are calculated according to the schemes that can be found on specialized sites. A pattern of French curtains is also published there, which is examined in detail in order to better understand the principle of operation.

Sometimes, in order to sew French curtains with your own hands, the canvases have to be joined. In order to mask the resulting seam, a decorative braid is sewn onto it to match the fabric.

Important: the distance between the lines of the assemblies is 50 cm! This must also be taken into account when preparing materials for tailoring.

Preparation of tools and materials

For work, stock up on the following things:

the cloth;
threads in tone;
braid, with which the canvas is then tightened;
a plank along the width of the window opening or a finished cornice.

Sewing steps:

As you can see, to sew French curtains, you need the simplest sewing skills and perseverance.

If the awnings are made of dense expensive fabrics, it is recommended to clean the products in a professional dry-cleaner. French curtains should be ironed only when absolutely necessary, using a gentle iron that is not too hot and without disturbing the drapery.

Interior nuances

French chic is welcome in living rooms, bedrooms or offices. Awnings for the kitchen are selected taking into account functional purpose premises. They are sewn from a synthetic fabric that does not shrink with regular washing and is not afraid of pollution.

In order to focus on the French spirit, posters or panels with thematic images are placed on the walls of the room: the Eiffel Tower, cozy street cafes, vineyards.

In addition to being used in home interiors, awnings are used in public places such as museums, theaters, exhibition halls.

room, decorated with curtains in the French style, will never look boring and monotonous, because draperies and pleats give a feeling of eternal celebration. Do not forget to watch the video on how to sew French curtains with your own hands. It's a real masterclass.

For a bedroom or living room in a classic style, it is better not to find a French curtain - this is the option that will always fit into a conservative elegant interior. And if the curtains are made by hand, you can take into account some of the design features of the room where they will be located, which is especially valuable.

Here the craftswoman has a large field for choice - both a fairly dense fabric can fit, and a light airy tulle. An important requirement is that the fabric must be pliable to drapery. The folds will look as the density and texture of the fabric allows.

The choice can be based on the following characteristics:

dense soft tissue - falling waves;
light and rigid fabric - lush folds;
French curtain for the kitchen - translucent fabric, ideal - organza;
the fabric with the pattern is chosen carefully so that it does not “ripple” much and does not get lost in the folds;
a monochromatic version is always good, but a soft floral pattern or ornament looks appropriate;
colored fabric makes the atmosphere romantic.

In a classic way, do-it-yourself French curtains are sewn from fabrics such as chiffon, satin, organza, tulle and silk.

Calculation for sewing curtains

The fabric will need more than it might seem at first glance, since waves and draperies are created precisely by a large amount of material. An ordinary curtain is calculated taking into account the length of the cornice and the width of the window.

The French curtain has an assembly factor of not less than 1.8 of the width of the fabric.

Fabric Calculation Tips:

The length of the cornice, five centimeter seam allowances are taken into account, assemblies are formed from the remaining material.
The length of the finished curtain must be multiplied by two and add seam allowances equal to 3 cm for the top and 5 cm for the bottom.

Curtain scallops are calculated as follows:

with a canvas width of 290 cm, there will be 5 scallops, and the distance between them is 58 cm;
the width of the canvas is 390 cm, there will be 6 scallops, the distance between them is 65 cm;
canvas width 440 cm, scallops - 8, distance - 55 cm;
canvas width 540 cm, scallops - 9, distance - 60 cm;
canvas width 590 cm, scallops - 11, distance - 53.6;
canvas width 640 cm, scallops - 11, distance - 58.2;
canvas width 690 cm, scallops - 11, distance - 67.3;
canvas width 740 cm, scallops - 12, distance - 57.5.

Of course, these data are indicative. With your own hands, you can adjust the calculations, but these parameters are used more often.

French curtain on the “Lift-Electro” system

Patterns of French curtains

Patterns of curtains help to understand the technology of tailoring. But the whole sewing process consists not only in following the drawing, but in a certain sequence of actions. To make a good curtain with your own hands, and not a product with traces of amateur performance, first of all, decatification is done.

Decating is the treatment of fabric in order to prevent subsequent shrinkage. This is done simply: the fabric is soaked for 15 minutes in warm water, after which it is thoroughly wrung out and dried. You can also send the fabric with an iron.

The step-by-step process for sewing curtains with your own hands looks like this:

The edges of the curtains need to be processed (bottom and side). It is more convenient to spread the fabric on the floor, make 1.5 cm bends on the sides of the curtain, hem it.
At the bottom of the curtain you need to bend 2 cm and hem.
Now it's time to mark the drawstrings. The marking is done with a ruler, the gaps must be equal (see the size of the gaps or scallops above).
The drawstrings are formed using fabric cuts, a fabric 3 cm wide is sewn along the marking lines, it is folded inward on the sides.
The French curtain should be adjustable in height with a cord that is threaded into the drawstrings.

Drapery is sometimes formed in rings. On the drawstrings, they are sewn every twenty centimeters. In order for the curtain to be well attached to the cornice in the upper part of the canvas, you need to sew on a sufficiently strong tape.

French curtains must remain perfectly vertical; for this purpose, weights are sewn to the bottom edge of the curtain.

Simplified sewing pattern for French blinds

If you decide to make this type of curtain with your own hands, the algorithm of actions will schematically consist of five points.

So, French curtains are sewn in five stages:

fabric calculation,
scallop markings,
grooves,
curtain tape at the place of marking the scallops,
pulling the laces, uniform drape.

Before performing work, you need to decide what type of curtains you will do - static or lifting. Both options can be sewn by hand. Static, as you might guess, cannot rise and fall, and lifting ones work on a rotary-chain mechanism.

Place for curtains in the interior

Classic style, empire, baroque, classicism - all these areas are combined with products such as this type of curtains. Here they will look convincing.

In the living room, these curtains will create a concise interior, balance its elements. Thus, with your own hands you will create the same stylistic unity.

In the bedroom, such curtains will symbolize romance, in the study - the status of the room, and in the kitchen these curtains can also have a place (especially if your kitchen lacks luxury, elegance).

French curtains in the interior (video)

With your own hands, you can sew a French curtain for any corner of the house, and decorate it with a classic design and an image that has never gone out of fashion. And although at first glance the process is complicated, sewing this curtain takes time and perseverance, and skills and experience play a secondary role.

Creative mood!

French curtains (photo)

French curtains are very beautiful, but at the same time very expensive. In curtain stores you can see a wide variety of models from various fabrics and materials with sagging folds or with more lush assembly options. However, it is much cheaper to make such a curtain yourself. However, this is a very painstaking and reverent business that does not tolerate mistakes.

In order to sew correctly, you first need to make the right calculations, pick up the fabric, cut it, and only then proceed to processing the selected fabric. The tailoring of the French curtain begins with the calculation of the required cut of the material.

When you see the curtains of this model, it immediately becomes clear that a lot of material is needed to make it. Pleats, which greatly shorten the length, look more beautiful if the material was purchased at the rate of reducing the finished curtain in width. This means that knowing the width of the window opening or the length of the cornice, this figure cannot be taken as the width of the canvas. In order for the waves to turn out beautiful, and the distance between the scallops to be sufficient, it is necessary to multiply the figure indicating the width of the desired curtain by a factor of 1.8. It is this coefficient that will allow the folds of the material to lie down beautifully, without giving the impression of sagging fabric.

When calculating the length of the fabric for the manufacture of curtains, you need to multiply the number indicating the length of the desired finished curtain by at least two. In addition, you need to add a few centimeters of material for processing the edges. This means that it is necessary to add another 5-8 cm to the obtained values \u200b\u200bof the length and width of the canvas for processing sections.

Which material to choose

Having calculated the length and width of the material, you need to choose the one suitable for drapery. It should be elastic, and the folds on it should be smooth, even and soft. When choosing a cut in the store, you can try to collect a little canvas in your hand and see if the fold lays down beautifully, whether it forms even waves. If it bends, looks wrinkled or crooked, it is better not to choose this one.

The color of the curtains can be any, the main thing is that it is combined with colors rooms in general. The denser the fabric, the more magnificent the folds will turn out, but they will have more irregularities. At the same time, the thinner the fabric, the more evenly waves will form on it.

What to buy besides fabric

In addition to materials, for sewing a French curtain you also need:

sewing machine;
pins;
scissors;
as well as soap or chalk (for cutting).

How to prepare fabric for cutting

Before cutting and sewing the curtain, it is necessary to process its edges, using a special braid for attaching the curtain. The side and bottom edges just need to be doubled and stitched, and then smooth the seams. The edges must be processed before sewing the curtains, since then they will be uneven and it will not be possible to process them beautifully.

It is also necessary to iron all the material before starting sewing, and if it is difficult to iron, then this should be done two or three times. After sewing the curtain, it will not be possible to iron it, therefore this stage cannot be neglected, but it must be done with high quality. When the edges of the canvas are processed and it is completely ironed, you can start cutting.

How to cut material

To properly cut the canvas, you need to know exactly the width and length of the finished curtain. When determining the width, you can focus on the length of the cornice, you can measure the length by measuring the distance from the cornice to the floor, or to the level where the curtain should end.

Next, you need to calculate the number of scallops and determine the distance between them. The number of scallops for the same width of the curtain may be different, and the finished curtain will also differ in appearance. The fewer scallops, the longer the folds will be, the more there are, the more magnificent the finished curtain will appear.

Below in the table, using the example of several options for the width of the finished curtain (in the absence of the necessary option, you can do the calculations yourself) and the number of desired scallops, the calculation of the distances between them is given.

Having decided on the distance between the scallops, you should make marks on the stretched canvas after a certain number of centimeters. The numbers indicating the distance between the scallops are those centimeters, through the number of which it is necessary to make marks on the panel.

If the required web width is not among those indicated in the table, then it is necessary to determine the number of scallops, and divide the web width by this number. The resulting figure will be the distance between the scallops.

For example: the width of the cloth is exactly 500 cm.

Number of scallops desired = 8.

500/8=62.5 centimeters distance between the marks on the canvas.

When making marks on the canvas, it is necessary to place the fabric on a flat smooth surface, make designations on reverse side fabric top and bottom. A line should be drawn through both of these marks.

Carrying out tailoring

Having processed the edges, ironed the panel, marking the lines along which the braid will be attached, you can start sewing.

phased step-by-step instruction sewing a french curtain:

It is necessary to take a braid that is intended for drapery and cut it into pieces equal to the length of the canvas. With the help of sewing pins, this braid should be attached to each upper and lower mark (to the lines along which the folds will form). All these manipulations should be done exclusively on the reverse side of the material. 2 braids, which will be located at the edges, are placed as close as possible to the side seam. The edges of the braid from below must be ironed and stitched to the canvas;
Next, you need to attach the drapery braid to the panel. A special cord is attached to this braid, which later form the treasured folds;
Next, you need to prepare the drapery cord. The length of one cord should be equal to the length of the finished curtain, and the number of cords should match the number of lines on which the braid is sewn;
Next, thread the drapery cord through the holes in the braid. Tightening the cord tightly, a drapery is formed. The cord must be fastened to the drapery braid so that it does not unravel and uniform folds form.

Then the curtain can be hung. The fact that the width of the curtain exceeds the dimensions of the window opening will allow the folds to sag more freely and, accordingly, evenly.

In the above master class, all stages of sewing curtains in the French style were affected. These steps include calculating the required amount of material, right choice fabrics and list necessary materials which will be useful in the process of tailoring. In addition, the article covers in detail the issue of cutting the purchased fabric and directly sewing the curtain itself. It also explains in detail how to properly prepare the panel for processing.

Based on the information in this article, you can sew a French-style curtain yourself. These curtains are suitable for guest rooms and bedrooms. They give the room a special solemnity and comfort, look very rich and stylish. Also, French-style curtains never go out of date and always remain in fashion.