SEWING TECHNIQUES
INTERLINED CURTAINS
For extra weight, lined
curtains may be interlined. For interlining, you will need a panel of fabric
for each curtain, the same size as the finished (ungathered) curtain, or
slightly longer if you want to pad the hems for a fuller look.
Calculate the total quantity
by dividing the total width of the curtain by the width of the interlining
fabric, and multiplying the number of drops required to make up the panel by
the finished length of the curtains. Interlining should be joined with a lapped
or abutted seam. Join interlining to the curtain fabric with lock stitch (p.
196), so that the interlining is centered on the panel of fabric for the
curtain. Treat the curtain fabric and interlining as a single piece of fabric
to finish the curtain.
FINISHES & TRIMMINGS
There are many purchased
finishes and trimmings used in home sewing. Ribbon, lace and braid are suitable
for any seam which is straight but for curved seams and a truly professional
finish, use bias-cut fabric.
CUTTING BIAS BINDING
To find the bias of the fabric, fold it so
that the selvedge is parallel with the weft or crosswise grain (1). Press this
fold to give yourself the first cutting line. Now cut all the remaining bias
strips parallel to this line to the desired width (2). To join strips, position
ends together as shown, right sides facing, so that the edges of the strips
match at the stitching line (3). Press seam open and trim away points of fabric
after stitching.
MITRING CORNERS To turn up a hem at a corner,
you need to mitre the corner. Turn up the hems along both edges of fabric to
the same width and press (1). Insert a pin at the edge of the fabric where the
two hems intersect and open out again. Fold in the corner diagonally to meet
the pins at both sides. Cut across the corner about 6 mm (i in) from the folded
edge (2) and turn in the hems again, Slipstitch the corner edges together and
finish the other hems with your chosen method (3).
This works with hems of
unequal width, for example, on curtains.
