How to Measure Fabric to Make Pleated Drapes
Pleated draperies are a timeless approach to dressing a window. They usually denote a window treatment that is lined and floor length, which is a formal style, suitable for conservative interior designs. However, pleated drapes may also fall just at the window sill, below the sill or may fall to the floor. The shorter lengths are more informal. Pleated drapes are usually mounted on a track or a pole with decorative hardware on the ends, called finials. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Measure the width of the pole or track that the pleated drapes will be mounted on. This hardware usually extends beyond the window by several inches. Let's assume this number is 60 inches.
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2
Multiply the width from Step 1 by two to get the required fullness to accommodate the pleats. Note the measurement on your paper. For our example this would be 120 inches.
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3
Add 1 inch for each side seam allowance. In our case this would be 4 inches, so our total width for the two drapes on either side of our window will be 124 inches.
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4
Determine the width of the fabric you intend to purchase. Fabric usually comes in widths of 45 inches or 60 inches. We'll use 45 inches for our example.
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5
Divide the total window width by the width of the fabric. Our example would be 124 inches divided by 45 inches, which results in 2.75 widths. Round this to 3 widths.
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6
Determine the finished length for your drapes by measuring from the hardware to the window sill, below the sill or to the floor, depending on your preference. Add 4 inches to allow for hems at the top and bottom of each drape. For our example, we'll assume 80 inches of length plus 4, for a total of 84 inches of length.
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7
Multiply the number of fabric widths by the total length of the finished drapes. For example, 3 widths times 84 inches = 252 inches. Divide this by 12, the number of inches in a foot and you have 21 feet total for 2 drapes. Of course, there are 3 feet in a yard, so 21 divided by 3 is 7 yards. Purchase 7 yards of fabric.
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Tips & Warnings
Measurements should be done in inches rather than feet for the best accuracy.
Remember to get the same amount of lining fabric if you intend to line your drapes.
Add more fabric if you have stripes or plaid patterns that must be matched.
