Adding a fabric over the white? You already said they are heavy--3 layers so far. and another fashion fabric? Getting heavier! If you can trim for your decor, I think that might be the way to go...or deconstruct maybe, and start anew. MHO. Sounds like you got a terrific bargain...96" sounds like custom made to me. It's not easy to find draperies that long. I have to make mine (95'' long).

Go for it...for the price, you don't have much to lose...

I don't know how you would "add to" the current drapes, but you could certainly deconstruct them and re use the interlining and lining. Cutting the fabric apart would be much less time consuming than picking apart all the stitches-- depends on how much fabric you need.

I don't know how you would "add to" the current drapes, but you could certainly deconstruct them and re use the interlining and lining. Cutting the fabric apart would be much less time consuming than picking apart all the stitches-- depends on how much fabric you need.

I vote for the edge trimming, although you may need to undo the edge hem to do it properly.
Diane

At $5 a panel ... I'd unstitch them and recycle the lining, interlining and header tape at the least.

Adding another layer would be clunky and difficult.

Cheap enough to experiment with dying them if you want color, and adding trim.

I would not advise to add another layer unless that layer be some type of very lightweight sheer overlay. You did not say if they are pleated drapes. If there are pleats, that complicates how you might attach an over layer.

A sheer overlay could be artistically tacked onto the finished drapes, but anything else might be problematic and too, too heavy. Some type of sheer with vivid colors will show very well in front of the white fabric. It could be a very artistic approach to your problem.

I have white linen curtains in my bedroom. What I did was to add a trim along the edge as you have considered. My trim and my curtain are both finished apart from one another. I attached the finished trim by using some large, antique mother of pearl buttons from great grandma's button box. I used maybe 6 or 8 large buttons down the length, spaced evenly with the top button being at the very top of the edge. Sewing the buttons onto the trim through the fabric of the curtain allowed me to attach the trim to the edge.

One thing that I like very much is that this gives me an element to my curtains that can be easily changed when I tire of the color, or change things around. I can make another button secured band in a completely different fabric and not have to remake the entire curtain. And, it requires so little fabric.

There are many other things that you could use instead of large buttons and many other manipulated fabric bands that you could create. Google "manipulated fabric" and you will find artistic creations of all manner. And, there are other ways to attach a decorative band to the edge of the curtain besides buttons. The band does not carry any weight and it does not have to be structural. You can really have an element that lends itself to many different expressions as long as the basic curtain is to your liking. Ideas are abundant for such!

One piece of advise if you are going to do this is that I felt that my finished band needed some real body in it. I interlined it. It is only about 5 inches wide, but having some stability to the edge of the otherwise lined curtain did seem to give me nice results. That would not preclude you from using some type of decorative band make from twisted and manipulated sheer fabric, for instance. Only you might find it good to run that band on some type of firm backing material before attaching it. Really, the design possibilities are endless! and inexpensive.

I am very pleased with my results and my linen curtains are an investment. Of course, I sewed them myself. I pay attention to protecting them from the direct sun by using wooden blinds behind them. A direct exposure to hot sun can eat a lining fabric.