Cutting and draping

by John W. Stephenson

The drapery can be attached to the board in a number of different ways. For light festoon draperies in which the top of the festoon falls below the edge of the board a good method is to attach a small metal rod to the edge of the board, turning the corners nicely with elbows, or bending it sharply at right angles, and loop the drapery over this. For flat or straight top festoons attach directly to the board and cover the edge with a ruffle or large cord.

Figure [23] illustrates a valance or lambrequin treatment made with a plain scalloped centre and narrow festoons on the sides and ends, with pipes at the intersections of the scallops. The festoons are fastened along the edge of the board and covered by a large cord. The plain scallop in centre does not interfere with the use of the music rest and is sufficiently decorated with an appliqué pattern.

The pipes may either be made separately, as explained in chapter on flat valances, or cut together with festoons, as in chapter on pleated valances or lambrequins. Where appliqués are used, whether of leather, tinsel or lace, the best effect is obtained by using a self-color fabric without pattern or design. Sew the appliqués down flat either by hand or machine before the lining is put in.

Figure [24] is a flat appliqué valance on which the appliqué is allowed to project beyond the edge of the scallops, making an irregular lace edge effect. This makes a very neat and simple arrangement, and is cut as Figure [24A], to allow an overhang on the face and two ends of the instrument.

The overhang X at the end is made the width of the top, so that the front overhang falls close to its front edge and meets the appliqué to conceal the opening at the corner.

This style usually requires two breadths of fifty-inch goods, and is made with an overhang of six or nine inches in front and eighteen to twenty-four inches at each end. After the edging is sewn on it is lined (sometimes interlined) and laid on the piano, where its weight is usually sufficient to keep it in place.

Figure [25] is a festoon drapery looped over the metal rod on the edge of the board or attached to the edge of piano top, as illustrated by small cords and tassels, which are attached to the back of the piano. (See dotted lines Figure [25A].) They may be either straight loops, as left side of illustration, or crossed, as right side of illustration. This style is cut and made up with due consideration of the size and requirements of the space, as explained in chapter on French festoon drapery.

A pretty scheme is sometimes made in soft fabrics by using a drapery that is a composite of the last two, a flat top cover with a pleated festoon effect on the front and end, as outlined by scalloped broken lines on Figure [26]. It is made as explained for Figure [21] in chapter on pleated valances or lambrequins.

After the festoons are drawn out full size and marked for cutting, the pipe for the corner may be added and cut out with the festoon. (See explanation for Figure [19A] in chapter on pleated valances.)

The tail in Figure [26] is planned the reverse way to the method mentioned in a former chapter, but a study of this illustration will show that the principle is the same.