TC, I just did this yesterday when I hung my newly made back tab panels that you saw in another post. I'm not sure if I am answering your question, but I'll tell you what I did.

I don't know if I'd call it a return, but I simply put the last tab on the outside on the other side of the bracket than the other tabs. What this did for me was allow me to extend the rod length slightly at each end, and it also holds the panels in place if I want to pull them closed.

See the panel in this pic that I hung just to see the style? When I hung them 'for real', I had the last tab on the right side of the bracket in the pic, rather than all of them to the left of it. Nothing got 'pinched', but again, I wouldn't call it a return. You don't see the right side bracket in this pic, but the panel is pushed up against it on the right side, hiding it.

See how the panel is all the way to the end of the rod in this pic below? The bracket is hidden from a front view, in between two tabs. My tabs are 7" apart.

Thanks for the suggestion my3dogs. I understand what you're saying and would like to try it as that would pull the drapes off the window just a smidge more, which I would really like. Unfortunately the darn architect only left me 7in between the outer edge of the window trim and the wall on one window, so I'm not sure if I can extend that rod any further. It would certainly be worth the couple minutes it would take to try it though.

Thanks,
Totally Confused

TC, I finally 'got' what you were taking about, and got up on my little ladder to try a 'return' on mine. It won't work. I see now that you want to be bring the fabric around to have it go back to the wall when viewed by the side. It DOES get pinched. Good luck!

So I guess it is as I feared. I misunderstood and it can't be done, at least not with backtabs. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

Totally Confused

I think the only way to somewhat hide an exposed bracket, viewed from the side as I too hang my back tabs like M3Ds described, is to paint the bracket to match the wall. I'll be doing that when I decide what color to paint the walls in my "in progress" Ladies Parlor.

You can attach the "return", which if you didn't allow enough extra fabric for the return would be the last section not tabbed, directly to the wall with a cup hook and a drapery pin, if I'm following what you're saying. This would hide the bracket.

Ellen
Nouveau Stitch

whoops couldn't find the message ewigginton. :(
But unless you cut a notch in the panel to go around the rod itself then back up to go over the bracket, there is no way to hide the bracket. Not saying it can't be done. Wish I could have seen your link.

Thanks everyone. There have been some good suggestions.

My3dogs-I was able to extend the rods enough to place the last tabs on the outside of the brackets. It doesn't solve the return problem, but it does let me push the curtains a little further off the window, which in my north facing LR does make a difference. The finial on the rod on the one window only has about 1/2" between it and the wall. Oh why didn't I talk to the architect about not cramming my windows into corners?!?

Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions.

Totally Confused

Totally - I empathize with you. Not only do you see my brackets as soon as you walk into/by my LR door, but talk about *close*, look at my bathroom window!

The plans said there was going to be a soffit over the tub, but did not say it was going to stick out farther than the tub. I had a hard time finding a shower curtain rod that fit, and can't even *put* a window curtain rod up!

ajsmama - Country Curtains makes a mount for your problem. It is not the best, but it might work for you. http://www.countrycurtains.com/product/300+rods+and+hardware/306+accessories+and+problem+solvers/0307r794+kwik-up+curtain+rod+bracket.do?sortby=ourPicks&filterby=

ajsmama-I ended up hanging my bathroom curtain rod on the window frame. Seemed easier than trying to get DH to hang a bracket on the tile :) But I like the way yours look hung inside the frame. If I had stained trim in that bathroom I probably would have done it that way too.

Totally Confused

Couple ideas linked below. Check the other suggestions too. There are also ones without finials.

Here is a link that might be useful: Couple Ideas

justgotabme - those look really interesting. I didn't know they made such a thing. Thanks for the link.

Walmart has those too, though I think only in nickel. I want to see if they'll fit my mom's sunroom windows/doors since they have a steel beam as a header on the end farthest from the house, and no wood in the window jambs - don't know if these will work or dent the vinyl "jambs".

You are very welcome dekeoboe. I've seen that at Wal Mart too. I like the idea linked below too. Did you notice them on the above link?

Shelly, you might have to poke little holes in order for them to work on vinyl. I have used the non-finial style of the twist and turn ones and they need something to poke into in order to stay up.

Here is a link that might be useful: Istand up bracket

I can't spell, the link name was to be Instant up bracket. Sorry.

Finally got to Wally World and took pictures of the rods that will work for you.

These are clickable links.....

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Drapes that return to the wall look so much nicer. And if you don't plan to close the curtain, it doesn't matter if you lose 4 inches to the return. If your curtain rod can be slid in or out for a couple inches, you may have an opening in the support hardware near where the wall. So you could probably figure out a way to attach the drape through that opening, maybe with a curtain hook which are inexpensive. But if there isn't a hole in the hardware, you could attach some cord or ribbon to the curtain with a few small stitches or even a safety pin and loop the cord over and under the rod support right back to the curtain right near the wall. I used to sell draperies and have noticed the "drapery return" is pretty much never discussed even by experts explaining how to hang drapes, maybe many are too young to know about the drapery return. The old traverse rods easily accommodated the return to the wall, but they aren't used much anymore, at least not in the US.