Making Curtain Tieback Instructions
Adding
tie backs is a way of holding the stacked curtains back against the
wall allowing more light into the room and protecting the edges of the
fabric from damaging sunlight. They can be used to hold the curtains
in a sweeping arc which disguises the straight lines of the window frame.
Lengths of decorative cord with tasseled ends can be used as tie backs.
Wide ribbons tied into large bows can create a focal point when used
on sheer curtains.
They can be made in contrasting or coordinating fabrics and colours
to those of the curtains and have buttons and cords added as finishing
touches.
Simple tie backs can be made from straight strips of fabric which
match the fabric of the curtains. Alternatively they can be made in
a plain colour to coordinate with a patterned fabric used for the curtains
or made in a patterned fabric which matches other items in the room
and used on plain curtains.
For a more decorative finish, tie backs can be shaped to mould around
the curtains. Banana shaped tie backs are the most common but this can
be enhanced further with scallops, points, bound or piped edges to create
a crisp tailored effect.
Children’s bedrooms and playrooms can be decorated with fun
tie backs in a range of brightly coloured fabrics adorned with bells,
pompoms and streamers.
Tie backs can add a softer more feminine look to curtains by stitching
frills, gathers, pleats and ruching into the fabric. Padded tubes of
different fabrics can be plaited together to coordinate a multi-colour
scheme. The list is endless.
Tie backs are hung with curtain rings or D shaped rings which are
stitched to each end. The rings are placed onto decorative hooks which
are screwed each side of the window at the required height.
Traditional tie backs are a crescent shape of stiffened fabric made
to match the curtains. They are stiffened with buckram which can become
wrinkled with time and wear making them unsightly. However, as fashions
change, less formal styles are becoming more popular which are softer
in appearance. These softer styles can have iron-on interfacing in between
the layers of fabric instead of the traditional buckram.
Whatever style you choose, the design should complement the window
treatment and be the correct length for the number of widths of fabric
in the curtains so that they do not squash the fabric too much but hold
them in place.
The following tiebacks are featured in our free instructions section.
Another 12 styles are detailed in our E-Book.
- These simple Gathered
Tie Backs can be made from a single rectangle of fabric so there
is no need for a template. However, by adding a second, narrower rectangle
in a contrasting, coordinating or matching fabric, a layered look
can be achieved. A length of elastic threaded through a channel in
the centre gathers the fabric to the required length.
- Curtain tiebacks made from Heading
Tape give a pleated effect, are very easy to make and need no
template. They need 2.5 times the finished length and the pleats can
be enhanced with hand stitching to create a smocking effect.
- Traditional
Tie Backs stiffened with buckram create the most tailored style.
They can be embellished with cord, tassels, covered buttons, braid
and fringing in matching, contrasting or coordinating colours.
Remember that our Just
Curtains and Tiebacks e-book contains many more detailed projects
which go much further than these web pages will permit. All the ebook
instructions are interactively linked to the comprehensive Sewing Guide.
50 curtain projects, 15 tie back projects with over 340 colour diagrams.
Each E-Book is priced at only £10.00 with fantastic savings
(up to 60%) when purchasing the bundle/package.
Basics