Step 5: Make up the Lining Panels
Printable Worksheet
CUT THE DROPS
The number of widths of lining needed is the same as the number of widths of fabric.
- Cut each width of lining the length of the LINING CUT DROP calculated in step 4.
- If you are working with an odd number of widths each curtain will contain a half width. Cut down one of the widths to split it into 2 equal halves.
This video shows you
- How to measure and mark your cut drops.
- How to cut your cut drops.
- How to split a width in half.
- How to make sure you use the correct sides the right way up later.
If more than one width is required per curtain, join the the lining panels with a plain seam.
JOINING WIDTHS
- Lay lining panels to be joined right side together (make sure the panels are the same way up) align bottoms and edges.
- If you are working with an odd number of widths each curtain will contain a half width. The half widths should be on the outer edges of the curtain. Join the selvedge to selvedge.
- Join the appropriate lining widths with a plain seam.
- Press the seams open
- Check the bottom of the joined panels are straight, if not trim.
Eg: A pair of curtains requiring 3 widths, each curtain fabric panel is 1.5 widths (half widths on outer edges).
This video will show you
- How to make sure you are joining correct sides and the right way up.
- How to sew a plain seam.
- How to press a plain seam.
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Questions & Comments
Thank you for this tutorial. Should I cut the selvages off the fabric before beginning? Also do you hang the fabric for a time before completing the header?
This is covered in STEP 6 where we press the fabric before cutting and how we deal with the selvedge is in the STEP 6 videos when we join the fabric.
What size and brand of sewing needle do you use in the videos for these curtains?
We generally use size 5 and size 7 needles. The 5s are bigger than the 7s. See the picture below.
How much narrower is the lining than the curtain panel?
This is covered in STEP 7 when you join the fabric panel to the lining panel. You trim the lining (or sometimes the fabric) so the lining panel is 10cm narrower than the fabric panel (the lining sits in 5cm from each fabric side when laying on top of the fabric, before the fabric and lining side turns are made)
Is it ok to press a 1.5cm lining seam to one side and stitch them down, 1cm from the joining seam so the seams lie nice and flat. I make all my curtains this way.
Yes you can do that (we do it with blackout lining)
When the curtain fabric has a pattern and is not see through I iron the lining seams to one side and then top stitch them approx. 1cm from the first seam, which is similar to a flat felled seam, instead of having open seams. Is that ok to do? It works really well, especially on large curtains. It looks neat and seams sit nice and flat.
Yes you can do that (sounds good). We've never had problems with open seams on cotton linings though.
Thank you very much for your help and well done on the tutorial videos, Love it and very grateful to learn by watching an expert. Brilliant!