This is the book I use for making lined pleated drapes. It's very straightforward and you'll make drapes that look professional.

http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Home-Singer-Reference-Library/dp/0394540522

And yes the lining hem is separate from the main fabric.

Do a search on this board - my3dogs once gave some excellent instructions - with pictures.

tina

Anele,
I just happened to see this on my Pinterest feed this morning.

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/10/12/how-to-make-professional-lined-curtain-panels/

I bought fabric to make drapes for my Master Bath, but chickened out. So I'm paying kind of a small fortune (to me) to have them done. Wish I'd seen these instructions first!

Beth P.

I'll second Dawn8b's recommendation of the Singer books.

Dawn and Antique, thank you for the recommendation! I think curtains make such a huge change that it will be good to get "good" at this! I will get the book!

Beth, I have that exact tutorial pinned! However, when I started looking at others, that's when I noticed that her way was different from others. Since she is not an expert, I didn't know if it was the right way. And don't worry-- you will have plenty of chances to make other curtains!

Tina, I will look! I only saw them for unlined, but I will keep looking!

Now, here is another question . . .I am thinking of NOT lining them, but instead just making more panels for a fuller curtain. I can either spend my money on the lining or on more fabric. Not much of a price difference. If I get more fabric for the curtain, then I'm getting about 3Xs the width. If I don't, I only have 2Xs.

Anele - I don't care for the way unlined curtains look with light coming through where the windows are vs dark where the curtains cover solid walls.

Java

Hmmm, I think the only panels My3dogs showed were lined. I have it printed out and tucked away. I also prefer lined panels. They look better and they hang better. JMO!!

tina

Definitely line the draperies, for the reasons cited above. Also, either use the Singer books or continue to look for on-line tutorials. The one linked does not use good lining material and is unnecessarily complex.

Anele,

I just wanted to tell you to look for lining on Ebay. I usually buy it there and save a ton of money.

When buying lining, you buy a narrower width than your fabric. So, I suggest getting the book first and then figure out what you will need before spending the money.

I have made a lot of draperies over the years and this last time ended up using instructions from a pattern company - I think it was McCalls. I thought the instructions were very clear and the drapes came out nicely. I will look up the pattern # and post it later(in case you're interested) as I am running out now.

I agree w/ the previous poster re: lining. Also, while it was very generous of the blogger to provide her instructions, I am pretty sure that is not a professional method.

Lining the drapes will make them look professionally done; unlined - they'll always look homemade. This is advice from a woman who only sews occasionally but wants perfection in the finished product. My motto is that the money I'm saving by doing the labor more than justifies lining & nice fabric.

I live in a 80's era highrise and I think nicely finished custom drapes can add a lot to rooms that might not have a lot of character. I'm very spoied as my Mom made both sets for my little condo. Her lining hangs separate from the drape material (ie I can get my hand between the fabric and the lining). She's away this month or I would ask where she gets the recipe (it's all about the calculations she says).

Java, I know what you mean and I agree!

Tina, the only tutorials I've seen of hers are the valances and then a post about drapes she made that were unlined because they were heavy enough not to need lining, according to her post. I can't find any others!

Andee and Jbrig, yes, I do not think the blogger is a pro at all. I am amazed how people who have done something once post about it and get a huge following. I find that is the problem with Pinterest-- you never really know the quality of what you are pinning.

Dawn, I cannot find narrow lining fabric! I've been looking. Everything is 54". Thank you for the offer re: the pattern-- I will be getting the book, but if it's still too hard for me to understand I will ask you!

Antique, I see your point. My biggest worries are time and space! I rarely have a chunk of time to do projects (I have an 11 week old + other kids) so it will be VERY slow going. Unlined would still take time but would be faster. I also do not have a big work area. My basement is not clean enough for fabric (unfinished) and I can't just leave things out in the dining room. This is going to take a long, long time.

Cary, I love 80s era highrises! Do you live in Chicago, by any chance? How neat that your mom made yours! There is no telling when I will get to these . . .trying to be like the tortoise at least (slow but steady). Just trying to gather all materials and instructions now!

I have sewn lots of drapes. I used to use 48" lining for 54" fabric. If I couldn't find it I would just cut it down. Not fun but doable. I'd sew them together and flip back out and press them so that there was equal amount of fabric on either side of the lining. Press. Instant panel! I often didn't even bother to sew the bottom if I were doing puddled drapes or sometimes I'd just do a straight stitch all the way across since it wasn't going to show anyway. But if you are going to need perfect hems, look for weighted chain to add to the bottom and slip that in there. I never did pinch pleat or anything complicated. One look I loved was leaving 5 inches of header above the rod pocket and when shirred on painted fat wood rods with big finials would give a very nice professional look to the panels. I didn't have time to look up all the links so this may have already been shared. Kind of like sewing a pillowcase.

You're right - it seems that 48" lining has disappeared! I think I bought it a couple of years ago. In any case, you should be able to get the 54" lining for no more than $2.50 a yard online.

I was going to say the same thing Gr8day said that sewing drapes with lining is like sewing a pillowcase. To me it's actually easier than making unlined drapes. You will just have to cut the lining and then hem the bottom but you would have to hem the sides of the drapes if you didn't use lining. So don't worry, it's not bad!

Let us know if you get stuck!

The Singer books are excellent, as is Sunset's Curtains, Draperies, and Shades. On-line instructions are available at www.alternative-windows.com.

Anele, I can totally relate. I made panels last year for my living room. Let me start this by saying that I do not sew. My mom who is quite skilled at sewing, tried to teach me in my youth, but I never made it past learning how to sew on a button. A couple of years ago, my 12 y/o got a sewing machine for her birthday (a really nice one, not a kids' machine). She uses it for making fun stuff like purses, pillows, etc. Well, I decided that I was going to try to make panels - I mean, how hard could it be to sew rectangles?! A friend of mine offered to assist - she was making some panels herself. I had the fabric already (had fallen in love with a fabric I saw online then stumbled over it on clearance at a local fabric store so bought it and saved it, thinking I'd have someone else make my panels for me). Anyway, my friend walked me through it - helped me measure the fabric and the lining, then showed me how to pin. I have to say, the hardest part was all the pinning! Making sure that the hems were all evenly pinned took forever. If I remember correctly, I hemmed the bottoms of the panels and lining (separately) first, then laid the lining onto the panels and sewed then sewed the side and top hems into place over the lining so at the bottom, my lining hangs loose at the bottom but is sewn into the panel at the top and sides (not sure I'm making any sense).

As a mom of four, plus a dog and cat, finding a convenient place to lay everything out was a pain. My kids are all in school (youngest was in kindy at the time) so I had to do it while they were at school. I only had one space in the house that was wide and long enough where I could fully lay the panel out to do all the cutting and pinning then I just draped them over my dining room chairs until I had time to do the sewing. I just did them one by one but it took me months! Mainly b/c I didn't set aside the time to do it, not b/c it was time consuming. I then used my kitchen table (I have a large farm table) for the actual sewing.

All in all, it was a fun project. I was so proud of myself that I decided at some point, I want to take a sewing class. Unfortunately, I haven't taken out the sewing machine since, but I do plan on making a couple of pillows (nothing fancy) soon. And I have to say, my mom was SHOCKED when she came over and saw the panels hanging and I told her that *I* made them. She couldn't believe it, especially when she saw that I took the time and lined them!

Here is an old picture. The panels aren't hanging nicely here and have since been fixed, but you can get the idea of my finished product! Good luck with yours!

At my last house, when money was much tighter, I went the lazy person's route by buying lined but unattractive (and therefore inexpensive) curtains from the Big O and then attaching a fabric I loved (on sale) as a third top layer. Inserted a stiffening material into the rod pockets to support the drapery pins and hung the curtains from wooden rings (found at a flea market) on a wooden rod (a closet rod purchased at HD). Provided treatments for 2 windows--one 100 inches and one 120 inches--for a little less than $300. We needed heavy-duty draperies over those big windows in the winter!

Fourkids4us - Your panels are beautiful and the colors go so well with your walls, flooring & shades.

Your description of the process sounds just like my experience. Having a lot of space for cutting and pinning was of high importance for me.

The book I used was Windows With Ease : 50 fresh and easy ways to dress your windows by Creative Publishing International. I think I purchased it at Jo Ann's Fabric store.

Laurie

gr8day, you've made me feel much better! When you said you sewed them together, and just pressed-- did you just do the top? Not totally following. I am not going to need perfect hems . . .most of the curtain will not show at the bottom (will be behind a loveseat). I would love to do a header, but my mom (LOL) keeps complaining it is too hard to use my current shirred curtains. She wants me to get rings!

Dawn, it's very annoying that there is no 48" anymore! I wonder why??? RE: hemming the sides w/o the lining-- don't I have to hem the sides with lining, too? I am confused!

Clt3, that is a great site! I checked out the book, too. I like Sunset books!

Fourkids, your curtains are really lovely! Don't you wish you learned to sew earlier? I do! My mom is not an expert but tried teaching what she knew, and I didn't like it back then! I have made curtains before (unlined) and like you said, it is really quite a great feeling. I read on some blog that then mom said making curtains was something that couldn't be "undone" like so much of what we do! My older 2 kids are in school, but I have 3 (ages 11 weeks, 2, and 5) are with me all the time, so no chance to do it during the day. I am finally quitting my job (I work online at night) so that might give me a little time! Anyway, thank you for the confidence and also for sharing the photo of your gorgeous room! (I am also thinking of taking a sewing class-- our Hobby Lobby has one for $10 for 2 hours.)

Probookie, that is a GREAT idea. I am storing that for next time! Very insulated that way, too!

Laurie, thank you for the book idea! I love that these books are so cheap used, too!

I have ordered the lining fabric. One crazy idea I have, because my space is so limited, is to think of something I can use that I can cut to the right length, and then use it as my guide to make sure I am making all the panels the right length. Does that make sense? These panels are going to be about 90" and double width so a lot of fabric . . .wish I could have found drapery lining that was wide, too.

Anyway, THANK YOU again for all of the confidence. I had fun making my last curtains, but I did not line them last time!

Anele
Wishing you luck! Hope things go smoothly! It will all be worth it at the end!
Probookie,
Would love to see pictures!

Anele, These are the directions I used. I found the instructions easy to understand. I did not do the added valance at the top so I adjusted the measurements accordingly. I do not sew. Custom draperies are not financially feasible for me but I was picky as to what fabric I wanted.

The one thing I would add though, before the final stitching on the top, hang them from the curtain rod so that you can adjust the final length. It will save you some time with the seam ripper. One of my panels, I need to go back and adjust and it is a pain in the patootie. The best price I have found on the drapery lining is using a coupon at Hobby Lobby, although my next option would be to just purchase black-out liners at Wal-Mart and attach it to the curtain lengths (costs just a bit more but would save me some work).

Here is a link that might be useful: About.com Making Drapery Panels

Anele,

In answer to the question you asked me. No, you sew the lining and fabric together and then turn it right side out so the seams go on the inside. There is no measuring, pressing, under the sides and then hemming. Hope I'v explained it clearly!

Tish, that is a great tip re: hanging!

Dawn, OH-- now I get it! That sounds very easy! In that case, the lining and curtain fabric are the same width, yes? THANK YOU! Oh, and when/how do you hem the bottoms?

You want the lining narrower because then it "pulls" the face fabric around the back of the drape so you can't see the edge of the lining when they are hanging up. You'll see when you do it, it's hard to explain.

There will be instructions in the book for hemming. I hem before sewing the fabric to the lining because both pieces are hemmed separately. The lining is hemmed shorter so that it does not show on the bottom.

Just get good instructions, measure carefully, and measure again before you cut!

Dawn

Dawn