Measuring Up for Curtains

Measuring up for your window treatments should be one of the first steps, and probably one of the most important, you make. Get this wrong and no matter how well you sew your curtains the desired effect will not be achieved.
For curtains outside the recess the track or pole needs to be wider than the window frame [4" - 6" (10 cms -15 cms)] to allow for stacking the opened curtains. It should be fixed about 4" (10 cms) above the top of the window frame and should be horizontal.
It is advisable to make a plan of each window and transfer all the measurements onto it for future reference. Never presume that 2 windows are exactly the same size even if they look identical.
Take all the measurements in either inches or centimetres. DO NOT MIX THE TWO.

Measuring Curtain Width. Outside the Window Recess

Measure the width of the track or pole (F) adding any extra for centre overlapping, normally about 6ins (15 cms).
Multiply the track width by 1.5, 2 or 2.5 depending on the heading to be used.
Divide that by the width of the fabric, normally 48" or 54" (122 cms or 137 cms), and round up to the next whole number to give the number of widths required. If an odd number results then one width can be cut in half and added to the outside edge of each curtain.

Measuring Curtain Width. Inside the Window Recess

Measure the width of the window recess (E) and multiply by 1.5, 2 or 2.5 depending on the heading to be used.
Divide that by the width of the fabric, normally 48" or 54" (122 cms or 137 cms), and round up to the next whole number to give the number of widths required. If an odd number results then one width can be cut in half and added to the outside edge of each curtain.

Measuring Curtain Length. Outside the Window Recess

For a pole, measure from the bottom of the ring to wherever you wish the curtains to fall (A, B or D).
For a track, measure from the top of the track to wherever you wish the curtain to fall (A, B or D).
For tab top curtains, measure from the top of the pole to the required finished length (A, B or D). Deduct the length of the tabs (approx. 3" [7.5 cms]) as the top of the curtain must come above the top of window frame. (This may mean moving the pole.)
To this measurement add 8" (20 cms) to the finished length (2" (5 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem) for lined and unlined curtains with attached heading tape or tab tops.
For lined and unlined curtains with cased headings add 10" (25 cms) to the finished length (4" (10 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem).
Short curtains should finish 0.5" (12 mm) above the sill or radiator and full length curtains should fall within 1" (2.5 cms) of the floor.
If patterned material is to be used then each length has to be a full pattern repeat, for example:- With a pattern repeat of 25" and a curtain finished length of 54" you will need 75" for each drop. i.e. 54" + 8" for hems = 62" rounded up to the next multiple of 25" (your pattern repeat). Multiply this amount by the number of widths required and hey presto you have the length of fabric required.
To calculate the amount of lining required (if used) multiply (the finished length plus hem allowance) by the number of widths required. Hem allowance is usually 6” (15 cms), 2” (5 cms) for the top seam and 4” (15 cms) for the bottom hem. Ignore any adjustments for pattern matching.

Measuring Curtain Length. Inside the Window Recess

Measure the length of the window recess (C). Curtains should finish 0.5" (12 mm) above the window sill so they fall correctly.
To this measurement add 8" (20 cms) to the finished length [2" (5 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem] for lined and unlined curtains with attached heading tape or tab tops.
For lined and unlined curtains with cased headings, add 10" (25 cms) to the finished length [4" (10 cms) for the top seam allowance and 6" (15 cms) for the bottom hem].
If patterned material is to be used then each length has to be a full pattern repeat, for example:- With a pattern repeat of 25" and a curtain finished length of 54" you will need 75" for each drop. i.e. 54" + 8" for hems = 62" rounded up to the next multiple of 25" (your pattern repeat). Multiply this amount by the number of widths required and hey presto you have the length of fabric required.
For curtains with heading tape or tab tops, calculate the amount of lining required (if used) by multiplying (finished length + hem allowance) by the number of widths required. Hem allowance is usually 6" (15 cms) [2" (5 cms) for the top seam allowance and 4" (10 cms) for the bottom hem]. Ignore any adjustments for pattern matching.
For curtains with cased headings, calculate the amount of lining required (if used) by multiplying (finished length + hem allowance) by the number of widths required. Hem allowance is usually 8" (20 cms) [4” (10 cms) for the top seam allowance and 4" (10 cms) for the bottom hem]. Ignore any adjustments for pattern matching.

Remember that a lot of fabric calculations can be done at the click of a mouse button with our fabric estimating software. Now priced at only £15.00

Page 2 covers measuring for Blinds and Top Treatments.