This blog will give you some tips and tricks about measuring and calculating your required fabric strips for the design you have chosen.
You will be using fabric strips to cover each contour of your window cornice.
To determine the length of your fabric strips
Smooth look:
Take the width of your Window plus 27”.
Gathered look:
Take the width of your Window plus 27 and multiply that by 2 to 3 depending on how “full” you want the look to be. NOTE: 3 times the width works best with thin materials. Thick materials work best at 2 times.
Pleated look:
Take the Window plus 20” and multiply by 3. Pleating takes more fabric than the other looks.
To determine the width of your fabric strips
Check the Diagram below for the height cornice you have purchased to determine the width of your strips.
In addition for a ...
Smooth look:
When using a very light-weight fabric you may want to cut it adding 1 1/2” even 2” to the asurement so when you tuck it into the groove it makes for a tighter fit. With heavier fabrics (i.e. upholstery or drapery fabric) the 1” should be wide enough. Sometimes you will need to trim that down just a little also. But do any extra trimming of the strip after you have it tucked into one side of the cornice.
Gathered look:
Add up to 3” to the measurement shown on the applicable cornice diagram depending on how puffy you want the gathers to look.
Pleated look:
Add only 1” to the measurement shown on the applicable cornice diagram.
Fabrics with patterns If you are using fabric with a pattern preventing you from cutting strips the length of your cornice, either “match” the pattern or use a decorative touch to cover it.
Fabric Strip Hints
To match lightweight patterned fabrics use the fusible tape and overlap 1/2”, press to fuse so the seam does not come apart. To match heavier patterned fabrics, take a piece of lightweight material, cut 1 1/2” length and the width of the pattern material. Place this piece on an ironing surface, and cover with the fusible tape. Now trim the patterned fabric edge cleanly and “butt” fit the two pieces together over the lining material. Press carefully to fuse. Once up these seams will be invisible.
Other Bits & Pieces
When decorating your cornice, cover the top and bottom rolls first, the middle second, and the back last if covering that part. Generally speaking it is a bit more difficult to work with very thin fabrics as they do not hold tight in the tuck groove. In the center tuck grooves the double material thickness usually holds both tightly. But where the material seems loose (in the back tuck groove), get some cording at the hardware store that is a bit thicker than the tuck groove. After tucking the fabric, push the cord into the groove to hold it tight.
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