Cutting and draping

by John W. Stephenson

The pleats are stretched tightly from top to bottom, and the usual allowance for fullness is twice the width of the space to be covered, which may vary according to the density of the material.

It is natural that the ground floor windows should be more densely dressed than those of the upper floors, not only to impart a sense of privacy, but as following the general construction of ordinary buildings, the ground floor windows usually being larger and more heavily trimmed, and as the treatment ascends from floor to floor permit the curtains to be less weighty in character and expose a larger area of uncovered glass. By lace curtains we mean that class of furnishing familiarly known to the trade by that name and comprising all of the various styles of net and patterns.

The sizes usually carried in stock run 2, 2½, 3, 3½ and 4½ yards long, and vary in width from one to two yards.

Where the decorator has not the necessary equipment for making special sizes and designs he is compelled to employ more or less of these ready-made furnishings. Briefly stated, these for the most part consist of plain or fancy nets, scrim or muslin with a pattern of lace or muslin appliquéd thereon or woven in with the net, and the edges finished with bound or overlock stitched scallops, a lace, or a ruffle of the same material.

The method of hanging these curtains depends to a great extent on their surroundings, and on the nature, style and use of the room in which they are used, and while it is not possible for us to give positive rules that will guide the decorator in every case, we illustrate some of the effects that may be produced by the different methods, and suggest their adaptability to various requirements.

In the absence of special reasons to the contrary, it is a safe rule to hang any style of lace curtains in the way that will best display the beauty of the pattern or fabric; thus a heavily worked border and body pattern would show best hanging straight, while plain bodied goods with a small pattern would look well either way.

Setting aside for the moment all thought of the size and shape of the window, long curtains hanging straight to the floor, as Figures B [60] and B and C [67], appear to curtail the floor space, while curtains looped back or caught up with rosettes, as 61, 62, 65 and 66, apparently increase it, therefore in small rooms it is usually an advantage to tie up the curtains, and in extra large rooms to allow them to hang straight to the floor, subject, of course, to other considerations equally desirable.

If sash curtains are used it is usually a good plan to hang the long curtains to be the opposite of the sash curtains; that is, if the sash curtains hang straight loop the long curtains, and vice versa. In this way the treatment will balance, and a neutral effect be obtained, as Figures [59] and 60. Bear in mind also in this connection our former statement that long curtains hanging straight reduce the width and increase the height of the window, while curtains looped or caught up with a rosette reduce the height and increase the width.

Curtains reaching only to the sill, or just below it, as Figure [68], have a tendency to shorten the window, and if looped or draped this effect is increased.