How to Make Drapery Puckers

Drapery puckers have a three-dimensional appearance created by the molding and manipulation of fabric. This free-hand form of embroidery is one way to add intricate detail to your window treatment. Save money and get the look you really want by making your own drapery puckers. You can pucker any light to medium weight fabric and attach it to old or new drapery panels.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Drapery
• Pliable fabric
• Elastic thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Steamer
• Paper-backed fusible webbing
• Iron
• Ironing board

Instructions

Making Fabric Puckers

1. Measure the drapery panel width and height with a tape measure. Depending on how puckered you want the surface of your curtains to look, multiply the size of your drapery panel by 2.5 to 3 times the existing yardage to determine how much fabric you will need for puckering.

2. Choose a soft, pliable fabric to pucker. Make sure the color compliments or match your drapery panel.

3. Decide on the pattern for your drapery puckers. Scribble and zig-zag patterns are two examples of patterns you can follow to create your drapery puckers.

4. Set your sewing machine for straight stitching with standard thread tension. Use a spring darning needle on the machine. Leave one inch of fabric at the edges so you have some fabric to hold onto as you stitch.

5. Keep the machine on a slow consistent speed. Use both hands to guide the fabric along your planned pattern.

6. Stitch in circles or semi circles. Without a hoop to brace your fabric, it will pull, pucker, and bubble onto accordingly. The closer the stitches the tighter the puckers will be.

7. Place your puckered fabric on the ironing board front side down. Keep the iron an inch away from the seam and steam the fabric along the stitching. The fabric will tighten at both sides and shrink after steaming.

Attaching Puckered Fabric to Drapery Panel

1. Cut the puckered fabric to fit your drapery panel leaving four additional inches of height and width.

2. Place the puckered fabric front side down. Bond the back side of the puckered fabric with paper-backed fusible webbing.

3. Peel the paper backing off from the fusible webbing. Apply your puckered fabric onto the back of your drapery panel.

4. Fold and press the edges of the puckered fabric over the back of the drapery panel. Sew all four edges of the puckered fabric to the drapery panel.

5. Hang your puckered drape.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice sewing puckers onto a piece of scrap fabric.

• If the fabric gets pulled down into the throat plate, stop right away and pull the fabric back up.

References

• "The Complete Book of Curtains, Drapes, and Blinds: Design Ideas and Basic Techniques for Window Treatments" Wendy Baker, 2009