Wednesday, June 09, 2010
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By Owner, Window Bonnets
This is probably the most often asked question and one that has a very simple answer and a not so simple answer. So I will take it in stages. When you read the one that covers your situation, and then don’t read any farther. No need to complicate things if you can make it simple.
For our purposes lets say you are making a cornice for your slider window that has verticals on it. The rod the verticals are on is 109” long. So at the very least your cornice needs to be 110” providing a half inch space on either side.
Here is the simplest answer: Add 25” to the 110” = 135” divide that by 36 = 3.75. You will need to purchase 3.75 yards of the fabric for the center and the top/bottom contours if you want to just cut one long strip that will cover from end to end.
You might be asking yourself, why add 25”. The straight part of the cornice is 110” but when you attach the end cap the length of the front of your cornice will expand by 2.5” on each side, the thickness of the end cap in that center contour. Then to cover down the length of the end cap is another 7.5” if using the standard 5” bracket, only 5.5” if using the 3” brackets, so a maximum 7.5 + 2.5 + 7.5 + 2.5 = 20” and 5” for insurance. You will use about an inch on each side to turn under at the end of the end cap.
If your fabric is a solid color, or the pattern is random or a pattern that runs down the length of the bolt, this is generally referred to as a railroad direction.
Now let’s say your fabric has a gorgeous pattern that you want to feature in the center contour but it runs across the width of the bolt. This requires a bit more math. Let’s say the width of the fabric is 54”. For your cornice you need a total of 135”, 135 divided by 54 = 2.5. So for the center section you need to cut 3 strips of that pattern. But that has not quite got us the yardage.
You also need to get the repeat distance for the pattern. Does the pattern repeat every 10”, every 17” every 23”, what is it? If it is not written on the fabric label, then lay it out on the cutting table and measure it. In our example we need 3 repeats, but since you cannot guarantee that your starting yardage is at the very beginning of the pattern, get one more repeat for insurance, get 4. For our example, I am going to say the pattern repeats every 21”—so 4 times 21 = 84” and that divided by 36 = 2.33 or 2.5 yards. Most fabric stores will cut in ¼ yard increments, some in as small as 1/8th.
Various methods of joining the fabric strips are covered in the next blog post.Cheers,Jan
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
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By Owner, Window Bonnets
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,Janhttp://www.windowbonnets.com/html/design_gallery.html
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
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By Owner, Window Bonnets
Sometimes your window treatment needs to do more. In the window featured above, the customer felt the window was rather small for the width of the wall. Any regular window treatment would make it look even smaller compared to this wide wall.However, in this case, she decided to do 4 things that greatly "enlarged" the window to the wall, thus balancing the look and creating an effective optical illusion.
Here is what she did:
1. Made the actual cornice, a full 12" wider on each side of the actual window width. Thus this 48" window opening became a 6 foot wide cornice.
2. The use of the heavier fabric on the top and bottom, a burgundy-red velvet, made the overall cornice seem larger and more substantial than the 12" height that it is.
3. The accent feature of a natural leather piece and concho focus the eye to the center increasing the illusion of a great wide window with the cornice being so wide.
4. Finally, she used the back tuck groove to gather a sheer from the outer edge of the cornice to just over the edge of the actual window. The sheer does not move, but it further disguises the actual edge of the window.
All in all this is a wonderful use of the cornice, fabric and accents to "fix" a design issue that had been a problem. The cornice, fabric, leather and sheers at approximately $165 is significantly cheaper than having a new wider window installed in the room.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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By Owner, Window Bonnets
Their home was burned to the ground. Can you imagine shopping at your local Target store and getting a call as you come out, hearing fire and police sirens off in the distance. The phone, oh yes, get the cell phone, it is your neighbor calling to say your home is on fire, in fact nearly burnt to the ground now! The fencing, the pool decking, hot tub, house, a car in the drive and tragically the two family dogs, are gone. Best news, no human family members at home, hubby, the children, your sister and husband, all safe, because they were NOT at home. Shirley and family had a modest home, but one they had for more than 20 years! Lots of memories for her grown children and all the family. Now they are gone and the rebuilding begins. It took more than 6 months, but now it stands big and beautiful, new and ready to start filling with more memories. In the original home Shirley had beautiful window cornces made and decorated by hers and her sisters hand, customzied for each room. The new home was going to have them again. She found Window Bonnets and the styrofoam based cornice kits they used the first time. We had them in stock and since I was in Phoenix, I personally delivered her order for six windows to her rental home. I got the tour of the new home and the details of their experience.
Her sister was there to help with the cornice assembly and decoration, the day I delivered the kits, they had just purchased the last of the material. Their cornices are beautiful. I took these pictures during their open house celebration. So many neighbors, friends and strangers helped them in their time of need. This was their way of saying "thank you."
Take a look, the open house was days before they started moving in so there is no furniture, but I think you will easily admire the design, workmanship and beauty.
All the cornices are 15" high. Shirley had the ceilings raisedjust over a foot, so they look great. Catch the close-up. Pleats, I had not seen such great pleats in any so far. I had made one myself, but not near as good-looking as these. The medium weight Jacard fabric is easy to work with, very professional look. 
The guest bedroom, first down the hall to the left. This cornice is very similar to the living room, pleats with cords embellishing the center segment. Neutral colors for the greatest design flexibility. The top and bottom fabric is a faux suede. Very elegant, very nice. It will be appropriate for years to come and many different color combinations.
This bedroom is designed for a baby's room, the playful color combo of blue and lavender and the eyelet lace design also gives it that "fun" appeal.
Shirley's master bedroom also sports pleats in the center, with contrasting cords at the top and bottom. Shirley's sister is truly the master of pleating.
Now last but not least is the Kitchen. As with all their cornices, the kitchen one is 15" high, pleats and cords.
Contrast these lovely designs with the others in our Gallery of Homes:
http://www.windowbonnets.com/html/gallery_of_homes.htmlBuy one yourself and see how easy it is to create a beautiful window treatment!Jan Klatt
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
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By Owner, Window Bonnets
This last week, a new customer, Shirley, contacted us that the website was not working for them to purchase their new window bonnets. I tried it myself, and sure enough an error appeared. Well, I solved the error post haste but she asked if I could just take her info and run the sale manually. No problem, glad to assist. She wanted to purchase not 1 or 2 window bonnets kits, but 6 ea. 15" window cornice kits! Even with our sale prices that is a significant purchase. As it turned out I was working only 15 miles from their home so I decided to deliver them personally. On Wednesday evening, 8/3, I packed my little PT Cruiser with 6 large boxes, and 6 smaller boxes and off I went. I had called before leaving and talked with Shirley's husband that I was on my way, 7PM or so. When I knocked on the door, a woman's voice yelled to come on in. I announced myself and Shirley's husband came round and said, "Oh, honey, I forgot to tell you but Jan is coming by to deliver our Window Bonnets." As I looked around, there were boxes, bags, blankets, etc all about. Just then, Shirley came from around the kitchen counter walked straight up to me and gave me a big hug and "thank you."
Shirley introduced me to her husband, her sister, brother-in-law and I just said hello to a bunch of others in the backyard. The house and patio had all sorts of people. She enlisted their aid and we unloaded my car and added to the already crowded floor space. Shirley and her sister had finished purchasing all the material for her bonnets just that afternoon. She was very excited to get things going.
Then in the mists of all this I was invited to dinner and then to go see the "house." It was just a block or so down the street. You see, Shirley's home had burned down, every inch totally destroyed including the yard fence, the hot tub, pool decking destroyed, all posessions gone, even a car burned in the drive and their 2 dogs died. All they had were the clothes on their backs. It was the largest and most devastating home fire in the city of Chandler. And as a result this very nice couple became surrounded by friends, neighbors and strangers all willing to help. The local TV had a charity drive to help them, the neighborhood school pitched in as well. And here I arrive 18 days before they are to have the OPEN HOUSE for their newly rebuilt home. I am given a warm welcome, a personal tour of the new home and yes, an invite to the open house.
Shirley and hubby had every reason to be angry and depressed by their tremendous losses. Oh insurance covered the rebuild, the hottub, the car, etc. But they were just so happy and grateful that so many people--friends and total strangers had come to their aid and now they want to give back in the form of this open house. They are truly warm, grateful and gracious people.
I will be attending the open house, September 21. I will be getting pictures so everyone can see the house. Shirley said her sister had created such beautiful designs in their old home and she was anxious to get new ones up in their all new home. WOW, what a story!! I will celebrate and bring the pictures home to this blog and also as a feature on our website, http://www.windowbonnets.com/. Keep watch. The picture at the top is of a 15" window bonnet. Shirley will have 6 of these bonnets, so keep a watch here.
