Cutting and draping

by John W. Stephenson

Figure [100] illustrates an opening between two rooms, presumably a drawing-room and dining-room, where a treatment is desired that will admit of the opening being either completely or partially closed at will. This is accomplished in this case by a pair of portières that traverse freely on a pole placed at X, the spring of the arch; or if this is considered too high the pole may be placed lower and the upper treatment brought down to meet it. It is not wise, however, to leave an opening less than six feet six inches in height beneath the pole. The upper part of this arch is filled with a frame made as illustrated in Figure [100A] and covered with the same material of which the curtains are made. This is fastened beneath the arch by mirror plates (see Figure [100B]), which are barely visible, and hold the frame securely in place. If the curve of the arch is an unbroken line and the portière curtains are desired to completely divide the rooms, the bottom of the frame will look well straight, as illustrated, and the curtains are suspended directly beneath it, as Figure [100C], showing side detail of frame and curtain.

If the pattern of the fabric, the motif appliqués, or the irregular curves of the opening suggest an irregular curved bottom line, as Figure [101], and perfect division is desired, two frames are used, as Figure [100D], with the curtains traversing between them, and the pole placed high enough to be invisible, or if one room is less particular than the other, the pole may be placed high enough on the back or least particular side so as not to show from the other room, and a single frame be used to fill the opening from the front room. For arches which have large projections, as Figure [101], the frame is not usually made to fit into all the little irregularities of the plaster, but these little irregularities are usually included in graceful sweeping curves, which follow the general outlines of the projections, giving almost as good effect as if it were made to fit closely. Of course we do not mean that it is permissible to leave conspicuous openings between the plaster and the frame, but as it will be found extremely difficult to fit all the little projections in plaster ornamentation, we suggest the advisability of including the lesser ornamentation in this way rather than nicking out the edges so that it is neither square nor curving.

If, as frequently occurs, there is more light on one side of the arch than on the other, and little points of light sift through, showing up any irregularities from the dark side, a little chinking with a strip of the same material will overcome this difficulty; but it must be neatly done, and unless the frame is a very bad misfit it should not require enough to be at all visible from either side.

In measuring curved openings for any purpose there is no method so satisfactory as an accurate full-sized pattern, which may be marked, cut, and tried into the opening before leaving the house. Figure [102] illustrates a splendid way of taking the shape of a plaster detail where an exact fit is required. The pattern paper is held behind the object, and with one point of a pair of dividers following the outline the other point will tick off the corresponding points on the paper by pressing it through the paper or marking with a lead pencil, and when cut and fitted the detail may be attached to the rest of the pattern in the proper position.

Fig.126B

The portière curtains may be attached to a pole as above mentioned to secure complete division, but if the object is rather decoration, with partial division, the method (illustrated in Figure [101]) of suspending the curtains from chains will be found pretty and effective, the chains equalizing the irregular curves and keeping the tops of the curtains straight. Portières can be hung in a shallow arched opening by using the chains to equalize the sweep and allowing the curtains to hang straight on a line with the spring of the arch. The chain used should be of a fairly large pattern, and of metal and finish to harmonize with its immediate surroundings. It is attached to the arch or frame by cup hooks, and being in one continuous length (as illustrated) is easily adjusted to the proper length before fastening permanently.

Figure [103] illustrates a round top opening treated with a pair of shaped curtains shirred on a rod so as to leave a small heading all around the curve, and is a very pretty way of treating a window or doorway where the top of the curtains may remain fastened and need not be disturbed for ingress or egress. The space left for the rod should be made small enough to fit quite snugly to the rod and prevent the weight of curtain from dragging the fullness down to the outside corners; or if the material is very heavy a shirring tape is sewn in separate from the rod, and stitched to the goods to keep the fullness in shape, after which it is run on to the rod and placed in position.

Figure [104] is another variation of the same principle, showing a double festooned curtain, which is very effective and largely used in arch draperies. The lace curtains shown in this illustration are hung on a separate rod, and so arranged that one does not interfere with the other.

To plan the top of a shirred round-top curtain, lay out the full size of your arch on a blackboard (as Figure [105]), dividing it in the centre by an upright line, as X—B. Locate the point where the curved top leaves the straight side line, and mark it (as A in illustration). The distance from this to the centre line, B—X, is the width of half the space, and, therefore, the proportion of the space covered by one curtain or width of goods, and the circling line from A to B represents the shape to which the curtain is to be shirred.