I have several clients working on drapery panels or contemplating the next step..it is a delicate dance of “do i augment ready made panels, or find someone to make them, and then how do I find that person at a reasonable price, OR do I break down and make them myself!?”…I currently have people at all stages, including Big Mama….SO I was very excited when I saw these wonderful drapery posts over at Isabella & Max.  This blog is packed with some great ideas and wonderful pictures..be sure and dig around and enjoy! 

{image from Isabella & Max}

Janell gives great tips including starting off at the very beginning with cutting the fabric … It can be so hard to make that first cut when you have splurged on fab fabric because of all of the money you have saved by making them yourself and then you realize “oh my, I have to cut in to this beautiful silk, what if i RUIN it” or whatever kind of fabric it is that you suddenly don’t feel worthy to sew…read her post, you will feel more confident.

She also covers the debate over ring/clips and/or pins (this one is big).  Read it, you will finally understand and she shows a picture of the pins so you will know what to look for when at the fabric store.

And of course,  HEMS & LINING… remember with lining it is like a big pillow case basically and you just want the lining to be shorter so it doesn’t sag or hang down.  And honestly, if you have blinds, you may not need lining.  There I said it.  BUT I will also say, all of mine are lined.

And dont forget to “train your drapes“ not that I ever have but it looks like a clever idea… just proves that you don’t have to sew pleats and you CAN skip the complex construction and still get a fairly tailored and beautiful  look…use more rings (10 approx for a 50″ wide panel) for tailored and less rings obviously for a more casual “swoopy” look.

Thanks Janell for sharing all of this wonderful information with us and taking the time to lay it out in such an easy fashion.  And y’all remember, if I can make lined panels YOU CAN..seriously…hopefully my home economics teacher will leave a comment…she will tell you, I am NOT talented in this area but really it is very simple, especially when you do NO PLEATS…repeat after me NO PLEATS, LET THE FABRIC BE THE STAR not the construction!

Oh and if the sewing machine truly scares you, you always have the mistreatment option…of course the Nester has some fab examples…and Katie at Harrington House does too!  check it out.  Arent you glad I resisted using the phrase “sew easy!”???

Stay tuned next week for some PAINT COLOR TALK..I am getting recommendations from some of my favorite designers, bloggers and friends..you dont want to miss!