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When that “to die for” fabric requires you to join multiple pieces together there are a number of methods you can use. Which method is usually determined by the type of fabric, the thickness of the fabric, the pattern on the fabric or any combination of the three! As I describe each method, I will give examples that I have used.
Method 1: Joining the strips for a gathered look is definitely the easiest. As you complete the first gathered strip, leave ½” from the end and tuck it flat on the cornice form. On the next strip fold under the raw edge and tuck it up tight next to the last gathered area. It will overlap that flat piece and no one will ever know.
Method 2: The iron-on fusing tape is your friend when joining. This is great for vertical or horizontal strips or even a pattern that has a spot where you can cut down the side of an object or design. The key here is to make a nice clean cut, and handle the fabric as little as possible so the edge does not fray. On the ironing board lay one side down that has the “extra” bit of fabric from the area the next strip is to match to, lay the fusing tape on the edge. Now take the piece with the clean cut edge and lay it in place over the fusing tape matching up at your marked spot for the join. Iron well and it will become “invisible” once up on the cornice.
This method works well on cottons thru medium weight fabrics. Thicker fabrics are better using the next method.
Method 3: If your fabric is very thick, or even an upholstery fabric, or maybe one of those really knobby fabrics, this method might be better. Select the “joining” area of the pattern if applicable, then on an ironing board, place a 2” wide strip of a really thin, lining type of fabric on the board, and lay the fusing tape down on top of the lining material. Next lay each of the two strips together on top of the fusing tape. I recommend using some pins to hold it down, but the key here is to create a tight fit between the two edges. Press and steam to melt the fusing tape.
One note here, some fabrics especially upholstery fabrics will melt under such hot and steaming conditions, so test your fabric before doing this.
Method 4: If your fabric will melt under the heat and steam of the above method, then likely as not it will be just fine if you tuck the one piece down on the cornice and then tuck the joining piece pushing it very tightly next to the edge of the other one but without making it pucker. Again once it is up you will find it hard to see the join.
Method 5: Another perfectly acceptable method is just to fold over the end of the fabric and lay it down over the spot you have marked in the pattern that matches and looks good. In this method, I would strongly suggest that you make this type of join in a symmetrical fashion. Let’s say it is going to take two strips to cover your cornice. Center the first strip on the cornice and tuck it down. Then cut the second strip and do the fold over at the ends of the centered strip. I would not recommend putting the join in the center of the cornice. The other hint I would give is make sure the join happens either just before the corner, no closer than 1” before the edge or at least 3.5 inches after the edge going down the end cap. Any closer to the edge of the end cap makes it a bit trickier to tuck down nicely.
Method 6: This is my last method. If the other methods are not really acceptable to you or your fabric is such that no matter what you do it is going to show and you do not want it to, then simply create a “design feature” that covers it up. Here are a few examples, including some pins from Wal-Mart and the kokopellis from a mobile that had broken on my back patio. Think creatively for this one—any goes.
Cheers,
Jan
http://www.windowbonnets.com/html/design_gallery.html
Method 1: Joining the strips for a gathered look is definitely the easiest. As you complete the first gathered strip, leave ½” from the end and tuck it flat on the cornice form. On the next strip fold under the raw edge and tuck it up tight next to the last gathered area. It will overlap that flat piece and no one will ever know.
Method 2: The iron-on fusing tape is your friend when joining. This is great for vertical or horizontal strips or even a pattern that has a spot where you can cut down the side of an object or design. The key here is to make a nice clean cut, and handle the fabric as little as possible so the edge does not fray. On the ironing board lay one side down that has the “extra” bit of fabric from the area the next strip is to match to, lay the fusing tape on the edge. Now take the piece with the clean cut edge and lay it in place over the fusing tape matching up at your marked spot for the join. Iron well and it will become “invisible” once up on the cornice.
This method works well on cottons thru medium weight fabrics. Thicker fabrics are better using the next method.
Method 3: If your fabric is very thick, or even an upholstery fabric, or maybe one of those really knobby fabrics, this method might be better. Select the “joining” area of the pattern if applicable, then on an ironing board, place a 2” wide strip of a really thin, lining type of fabric on the board, and lay the fusing tape down on top of the lining material. Next lay each of the two strips together on top of the fusing tape. I recommend using some pins to hold it down, but the key here is to create a tight fit between the two edges. Press and steam to melt the fusing tape.
One note here, some fabrics especially upholstery fabrics will melt under such hot and steaming conditions, so test your fabric before doing this.
Method 4: If your fabric will melt under the heat and steam of the above method, then likely as not it will be just fine if you tuck the one piece down on the cornice and then tuck the joining piece pushing it very tightly next to the edge of the other one but without making it pucker. Again once it is up you will find it hard to see the join.
Method 5: Another perfectly acceptable method is just to fold over the end of the fabric and lay it down over the spot you have marked in the pattern that matches and looks good. In this method, I would strongly suggest that you make this type of join in a symmetrical fashion. Let’s say it is going to take two strips to cover your cornice. Center the first strip on the cornice and tuck it down. Then cut the second strip and do the fold over at the ends of the centered strip. I would not recommend putting the join in the center of the cornice. The other hint I would give is make sure the join happens either just before the corner, no closer than 1” before the edge or at least 3.5 inches after the edge going down the end cap. Any closer to the edge of the end cap makes it a bit trickier to tuck down nicely.
Method 6: This is my last method. If the other methods are not really acceptable to you or your fabric is such that no matter what you do it is going to show and you do not want it to, then simply create a “design feature” that covers it up. Here are a few examples, including some pins from Wal-Mart and the kokopellis from a mobile that had broken on my back patio. Think creatively for this one—any goes.
Cheers,
Jan
http://www.windowbonnets.com/html/design_gallery.html
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