When choosing patterned curtain fabrics always consider the size of the design in relation to the length of the curtains. Full-length curtains take to large-scale patterns more happily than would sill length curtains. There is however, a simple rule regarding large designs that can be relied upon to be aesthetically correct in almost every case. There should be no less than four designs repeats and not more than seven in each length of curtain, Keep to this rule and you won't go wrong. With small scale design repeats this rule does not apply. It is also good planning to have a complete design repeat at the bottom of the curtain. This may result in having cropped-off motifs at the top, but this does not matter very much because the design is usually lost in a pleated heading or hidden by a pelmet and won't be so noticeable here.
About Stripes and Checks
Evenly spaced stripes and checks pose no problems, but if the design consists of varying widths and colors, more care is needed to see that they join up correctly. Such patterns have "direction" and are described as "one-way" or "two-way" designs. The direction of "one-way" stripes can be "read" by following the sequence of their different width and color graduations, both vertically from left to right and horizontally from top to bottom. With a "two-way" stripe the direction has a central starting point. With horizontal "two-way" stripes the sequence runs from the center to the top and bottom of each repeat and vertical ones it runs outwards to the left and right selvedges. In both cases there is often a break between repeats. When joining "one-way" panels see that they are all running the same way up, as this maintains continuity of design. It only takes one panel placed upside down to ruin the sequence of the stripes or checks. However with some one-way stripes or it is often more interesting to make one set of a pair of curtain upside down so that when they are hung as a pair, the stripes will converge to the center in a matched sequence, thus creating a central focal point.
About "set" and "drop" patterns, striped floral and matching patterns
A Set Pattern has main motifs that recur at set intervals across the width and along the length of the fabric. Cut each succeeding panel by placing the first cut length over the fabric to match exactly the design underneath.
A Drop Pattern has main motifs recurring at regular intervals along the length of the fabric but at staggered levels throughout its width. When cutting several panels for a pair of curtains, the first two cuts will differ from each other, then each succeeding panel will be cut alternately to match each of the first two panels. If six panels are to be cut, three of them will be cut from one point and the other three from a second. When each panel is joined alternately to another the design will flow continuously with the motifs running diagonally across the fabric, as they are meant to do.
About Striped Florals
Striped floral prints or weaves can have pattern direction as well as a "set" or "drop" pattern repeat. Treat them as outlined above.
About Matching Patterns
This must be done perfectly at all seams of patterned fabrics, so that the design will flow in a continuous line across the item you are making whether it is a bedspread or a pair of curtains. Extra fabric is always needed for pattern matching, even though this often results in unavoidable wastage. Buy sufficient material to allow one extra pattern repeat per curtain panel.
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