COMBINATION DRAPERY.
The drape shown in the first illustration consists of cheesecloth and is constructed in the following way: Take a thin bendable strip of wood, perhaps ¼ to ⅛ by 1½ inch, fix the lengths according to the size of your window, puff it with cheesecloth, bend it into the shape of a semi-circle, and place it in the center of your window. You may place it horizontally, vertically or slanting, to suit your fancy. If your window measures 3 yards, take from 9 to 12 yards of cheesecloth and allow 1 to 2 yards extra on each side to hang down. The festoons as shown in the sketch require about 3½ times as much cloth as the distance from one rosette to the next one. If you desire to drape deeper, allow about four times as much cloth instead of 3 or 3½ times as much for the festoons. Take the piece of cloth, divide it in two equal parts and pin it up at the middle by the edge, on the center of the semi-circle. After this form the festoons one after the other, one to right and one to left. The rosettes are made in this manner: After the cloth is pinned up and divided as indicated, take hold of it at about one foot below the pins, fold it into many pleats, each about 1½ inch wide, lift the cloth up to the pin and drive a second pin through the pleats, thus pinning it against the background. This leaves a bunch of cloth for the rosette, which you turn inside out, pull it apart and form it into the shape of a rose. After you have made the second rosette the festoon has formed itself almost to perfection, and if not your fingers must help out and complete the process by pulling and pushing the folds into proper shape, which is then easily done. The other part of the drape in our first sketch is like the one No. 3, and will be treated later. The sections No. 1a and No. 1b are made of separate pieces of cloth thrown over a short piece of curtain pole, which is projected about a foot from the background. These sections are more adaptable to silk drapery and require a square piece of very wide cloth, not narrower than 36 inches. To construct No. 1a this piece of cloth is laid upon the counter in diamond shape—like a napkin—and the cloth turned over from either end into wide pleats to and fro until the extreme points are thus folded. No. 1b is the same with the only difference that the diamond shaped piece of cloth is folded or cut into triangle shape and folded only from one side. These pieces, thus prepared, are folded again in the middle and thrown over the fixture, showing only one-half of their entire length. If you wish to have them reach down lower take a longer piece of cloth, cut the ends into diamond or triangle shape and proceed the same way. The effect of this style of draping is greatly increased by trimming the edges with tassels or fringes.
Drape No. 2 is one of the most effective, and consists of two pieces of cheesecloth, silkaline or light silk. Two contrasting but harmonizing colors are very desirable. It is the plain festoon and rosette drape projected from the wall by heavy knitting needles. These you drive in first and start with pinning up your cloth at one end (right end first) and continue with it until the left end is reached. When commencing with the second bolt of cloth do not unroll any more of it at the time than necessary to push the bolt alternately through the loops of the first piece. After you have thus covered your background, proceed to form the rosettes; pull, push and pat the folds of the drape into proper shape and you have produced a pretty and artistic effect.
Drape No. 3 can only be constructed with heavy plush-velour or rich drapery silk or any goods with two right sides—as both sides are shown—unless you cut the goods. It consists, like No. 2, of two pieces, and an endless variety of different designs may be formed with this style of drapery. The sections No. 1a and No. 1b are very appropriate with this drape, and separate rosettes, heavy silk cords, tassels and fringes will greatly enrich it. To put up this drape requires more skill and taste than the former two, as, unless it is executed to perfection it is unattractive. Throw your goods over a curtain pole projected from the background and let the first end drop down to the floor. Then fold the goods carefully into about 4 to 7 folds and form the loops as shown in illustration without ever letting the folds become uneven or irregular, something which is more difficult to avoid than the sketch exposes.
All in all, draping is easily learned, and no ambitious amateur will rest until he has acquired full ability to put up an artistic drape.