Buckram or no buckram

13 years ago

I have four glass sliding doors in a sun room. We are doing sheer curtains with a liner. The curtain has a cream and tan scroll. I've been told by a designer friend not to do buckram with the European Pleat we are doing bc the curtains will stack too thick. My dilemma-the woman helping me with my curtains insisted I do the buckram or else the pleat will "fall". What should we do?

Featured Answer

Elizabeth Miller

11 years ago

Suzen, yes, 4" wide buckram is the norm used in drapes. There are different buckram. Some are stiffer, some less. With blackout, I'd go with the stiffer. Blackout adds weight, and you don't want ur pleats to start falling after a time.

One big thing to remember about blackout lining. It is not self healing. Fabric, put a pin thru it and take it out... there's no hole. Self healing. Blackout will have permanent holes from pins or if u have to take out a pleat or hem and resew so make sure of ur measurements before sewing. In some instances, if using a thinner fabric, and sunlight coming thru, the holes can be seen thru the fabric.

When pinning the bottom hem, side hems, put the pin where the machine stitching will sew. Along the edge. The machine stitching will cover the pin holes. I'd suggest to make decent size pleats. 4.75" - 5". Blackout lining adds bulk and u probably wont be happy with the look of narrow pleats.

Check at the library for instructional books on professional drapes, how to measure, how much fabric, etc. Good luck

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Comments (35)

User
13 years ago
That material is not suited for pleated drapes..

Who lines sheers?
marakatz
Original Author
13 years ago
We are lining the sheer bc we need to help with the cold room. Lots of glass. I had no idea that you should not line a sheer?
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PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
13 years ago
Aja is right that you defeat the purpose of sheers by lining them. It's like wearing glasses with tape over them.
marakatz
Original Author
13 years ago
Aja-what is this material best suited for? My window person had this sample fabric with all her curtains samples.
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
13 years ago
However, your fabric does not really look like a sheer inasmuch as you cannot see through it. Or at least that's how it looks to me.
PRO
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
13 years ago
Most drapery people keep their regular drapery fabrics along with their sheers.
User
13 years ago
Sheers.
Sheers are a type of curtain.

Google the definition of

1. Drapes

2. Curtains

and compare.
houssaon
13 years ago
As far as the buckram goes, one web ( http://www.beautyofheartandsoul.com/product.php?product=39) states that these are done with buckram. "Highly recommended for panels that will be opened and closed regularly, this cascading finish is both sleek and modern. Panels are backed with buckram and mounted with discrete metal hooks that allow you to decide how much of the mounting pole is visible."

I love the pleat!
User
13 years ago
Drapes Vs. Curtains
Drapes and curtains may seem to be the same thing for most people, but technically they are different. Read the following article to find out the similarities and differences between the two.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/drapes-vs-curtains.html
lizpb85
13 years ago
I've seen sheers with drapes over them, but not drapes with sheers on the outside. Is that what you are doing? Common practice in colder areas. I'm assuming so that one can have the drapes open during the day when you want light/ sunshine to warm the room and drapes to shut out the cold air as needed.
marakatz
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm having the lining attached to the above sheer material. It has a pattern so I thought it would be ok. Yes-we live in Chicago and the room where these are being hung is in our sun room. Lots of windows. Lots of cold. Here is a picture. Our entire house is light in color and with a coastal theme. Here is a picture of the room. After one of the above comments I've decided to do the buckram for a nicer looking pleat :)
marakatz
Original Author
13 years ago
Lizp--Also -the lining is just as light in weight as the sheer. That's why it made sense to to me.
PRO
Wow Great Place
13 years ago
Go for it! The only reason that fabric is considered a sheer is because you can see through parts of it, but it is not like a typical sheer that is super silky/slippery like a voile. Many many fabrics that can be classified as sheers can be lined, in fact, I often line these types of fabrics so you can see the pattern of the fabric in the day, as without a liner, the light can wash out the subtle pattern, only making it visible at night.
I would also go with the buckram, it is just a band sewn into the top 4" of the drapes to hold the pleats "upright" so your pleats don't flop over, and keeps them looking crisp.
Stay with your initial instincts, they were bang on!
PRO
Durpetti Interiors
13 years ago
Yes, the lining will help hold the pleats as the fabric alone is too thin and light weight. I am in Chicago too, so I certainly get adding elements to keep warm!
User
13 years ago
marakatz,

You need a thermal window treatment made using a fabric that will block the cold and heat
making them energy efficient.

Insulated self-lined or cloth-lined drapes will meet your desired purpose.

Make the pleated drape [with buckram] using a medium weight drapery fabric of your choice
and line them with a second fabric which has a thermal grade rating.

Sheers will go behind the drapes on a separate rod..
User
13 years ago
Sheers are used to filter the light, not to block out the cold!
PRO
Wow Great Place
13 years ago
Yes, Aja, but when you line them, they will help a bit with the cold.
Ideally, a heavy weight fabric with a thermal lining will do wonders for keeping out the cold, but in this case, a lightweight fabric with a cotton lining will be better than just a sheer. I don't think marakatz wants a heavy look, as she has very big windows, and heavy drapes would make the room feel closed in, so this may be a nice compromise. :)
User
13 years ago
Wow Great Place,

A lightweight fabric with a cotton lining may be better than just a sheer, but will do little to save on energy costs.

A pinch pleated drape is a bit formal for a sunroom in the first place.
PRO
Wow Great Place
13 years ago
I agree with you about the fact that the energy costs won't be affected by these light curtains. While they will help just a little with keeping drafts off your neck, they won't make the room feel warm. I disagree that the Euro pleats are too formal, as I have used these often in less formal settings, and they look fantastic! That's just a difference in taste, as I don't think I've ever seen a Houzz dilemma get complete agreement from all responders! It's what makes Houzz so fun!
marakatz
Original Author
13 years ago
Wow-" great place" you hit the nail on the head. Aja-thanks for all your insight! I originally started the project with a double rod scenario -curtain on top and went against it Bc of too much material.
lizpb85
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
marakatz thanks for the clarification! I just think the term 'sheer' was throwing me and a few others. Lovely room!
User
13 years ago
Wow Great Place,

I never said " too formal"!!
User
13 years ago
marakatz,

Thank you for the clarification!
PRO
Wow Great Place
13 years ago
Hi Aja, sorry, I thought that is what you meant when you wrote "A pinch pleated drape is a bit formal for a sunroom in the first place"
Maybe you meant doing heavy drapes would be too formal? No matter, she is happy with what she is going with, and that's all that counts!
Elizabeth Miller
11 years ago
I work in a professional interior design drapery workroom in Denver Co. For the record, we do ALOT of lined sheers. the sun is hard on fabric here, Mike high city, and that seems to the latest thing interior designers are doing alot for high end clients. I work on a 24 ft long table and have tabled up to 8 width r more sheer panels with lining. They look wonderful. And some have another lined drape over, some do not. It's the clients preference.
FYI to the poster that has all the answers and usually wrong, Drapes are the professional term to use. Curtains are used in the kitchen.
Elizabeth Miller
11 years ago
Oh and pinch pleats can go anywhere. Good luck with ur lovely sunroom!
Elizabeth Miller
11 years ago
These drapes are a sheer fabric with embroidered design and lined. Pleated. The other is an embroidered silk that is interline and lined. French pleat.
Andrea Bechore
11 years ago
you don't need buckram if you are doing a top tack . the only reason.you will want buckram is if your doing a regular pleat on a traverse rod . line them of you want your the one that is living in the house . do what you want and be different .
Elizabeth Miller
11 years ago
At the Drapery workroom I work at, We use buckram for all drapes, unless pocket rod, unless specifically told otherwise by the interior designer. Circumstances being their client wants a more relaxed, bohemian look. Unless otherwise stated buckram goes in all headers with grommets, pleats or flat panels. Standard (2 or 3 finger pleat), Parisian, Inverted, Goblet, Tuck, Cartridge, Box and other pleats we construct use buckram. On rings, ripple-fold, accordianfold, flat but with drapery hooks, etc.
suzenleigh
11 years ago
Hi, this question is a little late but hopefully Elizabeth or someone knowledgable can point me in the right direction. I am a novice sewer but have done pretty well with some piped pillows and pocket rod drapes. Two years ago I spent a fortune on some high end drapes which I truly love and now have a project in which I would like to do myself... I have a light/mid weight polished cotton and plan to line with blackout lining but my question is will I use buckram in addition to the lining to create pinch pleats? I appreciate any guidance.
rouxb
11 years ago
Pleats do best with structure so yes to the buckram IMO.
hayleydaniels
11 years ago
This is from 2012.
rouxb
11 years ago
The post I responded to was 2015-1 hour ago.
suzenleigh
11 years ago
Thank you for the responses... I have chickened out and am going to go with some custom drapes from Restoration Hardware that I can receive in 2 weeks... I will continue to work on my skills though... Your abilities are inspirational!