How to Line Sheer Drapes
The translucency and lightness of sheer fabrics is what makes them a desired window treatment. Sheer drapes softly filter natural light and add a soothing, relaxing feel to the room. The downside of sheer drapes is that they do not insulate the windows and they offer very little privacy. The correction to this problem is to line the sheer drapes with a light to medium weight fabric that hangs well and offers a little more warmth to the window. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Paper
- Pencil
- Seam ripper
- Liner fabric
- Scissors
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Matching thread
Instructions
-
-
1
Match the sheer drape with a liner fabric. Determine the desired thickness and weight of the fabric. Lightweight fabrics give the drapes an extra layer of sheerness that becomes slightly opaque without losing the light and airy feeling.
Choose a medium weight fabric to add thickness and warmth to the window treatment. Avoid stiff fabrics because they do not flow smoothly with the sheer fabric and may look awkward. Select a liner that is a soft polyester-cotton blend fabric that does not shrink and that has a similar color tone to the sheer panel.
-
2
Measure the width of the sheer curtain from end to end. Measure the length of the sheer curtain from top, just below the curtain rod slot, to bottom, just to the folded-up edge of the hem. This measurement does not include the hem. Record these measurements on paper.
-
-
3
Undo the bottom hem. Carefully take out the stitching with a seam ripper to avoid unnecessary damage to the curtain. This edge will be sewn to the bottom of the liner. There is no need to undo the drape’s top hem where the curtain rod is inserted.
-
4
Cut the liner fabric with scissors. Use the width and length measurements recorded in Step 2 as the measurements for the liner.
-
5
Lay a sheer drape panel on a work surface with the right side facing up.
-
6
Lay the right side of the liner fabric face down on the sheer drape. Line up the bottom edges of the fabrics, pin them together and sew across using the sewing machine. Both sides of the drape are left open.
-
7
Fold the bottom hem up 3 to 4 inches, while the liner and sheer drape are still on the wrong sides. Pin each side together with straight pins and stitch from the bottom fold -- the hem fold -- up along the sides to the top of the panel.
-
8
Press the seams flat with an iron and ironing board, turn the panel inside out and then press the edges and hem flat.
-
9
Hem the top of the liner to the back of the curtain rod hem. Fold the edge of the liner fabric inward, press it flat with an iron and pin it in line with the curtain rod stitch across the top.
-
10
Stitch the liner across the top to close the top side of the liner.
-
11
Complete all of the sheer panels this way.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
