Step 8: Insert the Buckram
PREPARE TOP OF CURTAIN
- Clamp the bottom of the curtain to the table, lining side up.
- Smooth out the layers so they are totally flat and sitting straight on the table.
- Measure up from the bottom of the fabric hem "the finished curtain length" and mark with a pencil in approximately 4 places across each width. Draw a line joining the marks together.
- Cut a piece of single sided fusible buckram 20cm longer than the width of the fabric panel and lay it glue side down above but touching this line. (leave 10cm protruding out each side)
- Iron the buckram in place.
- At each end fold the buckram in so it now finishes 0.5cm in from the edge of the fabric panel.
- Fold the fabric down from the top to enclose the buckram. Iron this fold in place
- Tuck any excess fabric up under the bottom of the buckram and pin in place.
This video shows you
- How to mark and measure the top of the curtain
- How to attach the buckram
- How to make a tidy fold
- How to make sure your ends are tidy
"I just love your videos and am following them at the moment to make my first pair of curtains. I did an evening course, but find your methods really easy to follow and straightforward so thank you"……Anna-Marie
"I love your videos they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds"....Julie
"I have absolutely loved your videos for curtain making, I have learnt so much from you".....Charlotte
"Once again, I should say that I think the video tutorials are extremely well done. Although I've been sewing for years I've learnt lots of techniques that are new to me and that give a much more professional finish"........Heather
"The videos really are super"……Anna-Marie
"Once again, I should say that I think the video tutorials are extremely well done. Although I've been sewing for years I've learnt lots of techniques that are new to me and that give a much more professional finish"........Heather
"I have absolutely loved your videos for curtain making, I have learnt so much from you".....Charlotte
"The videos really are super"……Anna-Marie
STITCH THE BUCKRAM IN PLACE
- Slip stitch along the bottom of the buckram (fabric to lining making sure that you do not go through to the face fabric).
- Ladder stitch closed the buckram fold ends.
This video shows you
- How to slip stitch in detail
- How to ladder stitch in detail
- Where/how to start and finish your stitches
"I just love your videos and am following them at the moment to make my first pair of curtains. I did an evening course, but find your methods really easy to follow and straightforward so thank you"……Anna-Marie
"I love your videos they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds"....Julie
"I have absolutely loved your videos for curtain making, I have learnt so much from you".....Charlotte
"Once again, I should say that I think the video tutorials are extremely well done. Although I've been sewing for years I've learnt lots of techniques that are new to me and that give a much more professional finish"........Heather
"The videos really are super"……Anna-Marie
"Once again, I should say that I think the video tutorials are extremely well done. Although I've been sewing for years I've learnt lots of techniques that are new to me and that give a much more professional finish"........Heather
"I have absolutely loved your videos for curtain making, I have learnt so much from you".....Charlotte
"The videos really are super"……Anna-Marie
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Questions & Comments
Hi, Could you possible let me know where you got your set square from, mine is just not the full ticket! Thanks
Have a look here Tools Guide - Set Square
If you wanted a more informal look to your double pleated curtains, could you do the heading without the buckram? And in your opinion might this be how these curtains have been done?...
You could certainly make the heading without buckram for a more informal look or potentially use a lightweight buckram.
As for the image, it looks like interlining is giving the pleats a soft look, I couldn't say for sure if they have used buckram or not. Cindy
I have been asked for my passcode and I have lost it. I can't find my email, the address was not sew helpful and I can't remember what it was. Can you resend it to me.
Please see your email
I am making an unlined linen curtain. What type of Buckram is recommended. And to determine length of Buckram needed is it just the width of the sewn together panels?
I would recommend a buckram designed for sheers (a translucent buckram). This will sit invisibly in the fold and give you the correct firmness for the pleats.
The length of buckram will be flat (unpleated) curtain width plus approx 14cm per curtain for side folds.
You should be able to buy this online easily.
Regards
Cindy
Thank you for your tutorials they are very helpful. I live in Spain and I can’t get hold of any fusible buckram, they only seem to have a translucent type which is very short in width. Could I sew 2 widths together and then sew them into place?
Can you get non fusible buckram? If you can just tack it in place and fold over? If you can’t get either then I guess you have no other option than using the translucent one. Have you tried looking on line for it? If using the translucent then joining them together and folding them into header looks like your only option. Good luck!
Have just completed my first ever pair of pencil pleat curtains & am so impressed with the professional finish, far better than any ready-made curtains I have bought- all thanks to these great videos!
Now want to make some with a double pleat heading using buckram but have a few questions:
Are videos 1-7 for double pleat the same as for the pencil pleat?
Are there any differences in fabric/lining qty req apart from that due to the different fullness ratio?
Is the bottom of the fabric the end nearest the roll or farthest from the roll?
Is the right side of the fabric on the outside or inside of the roll?
The fabric and lining heading allowance is more for the hand pleated curtain as more fabric and lining is folded over at the top than the pencil pleat (this will increase the fabric and lining req).
Ref the videos: Yes the (lined curtain) method up to step 7 is the same.
The bottom of the fabric should be obvious if there is a pattern (it will depend how it has been wound onto the roll which way up it is). With a plain fabric you'll have to make a judgement if there is a top or bottom due to sheen grain etc, it is more important to make sure you get all the drops the same way so they match.
The right side of the fabric is the one that will face into the room (the face side).
Hi, is there any particular reason to use fusible rather than non-fusilbe buckram?
Would using the latter make any difference to the making up of this type of curtain?
The method we use for a lined curtain is to stick one side of the buckram to the curtain and then fold over, this holds the buckram in place very nicely (see videos for more detail). If you were to use non fusible buckram you will need to stitch it in place, this is not as easy.
Does buckram come in different weights, if so what should I use for a medium weight curtain and where can I get it?
Yes Buckram does come in different weights. The thicker it is the stronger and holds the pleat better but it is harder to sew through. For a lined fabric curtain we would tend to use medium weight.
When ironing in the fusible buckram do you think it's best to have the adhesive side facing the fabric or lining?
All demonstrated in the videos.
would you recommend buckram that is fusible on both sides
No because you can't then iron the buckram (using our method of making)
I'm making up sheers (medium muslin weight?) with double pinch headings...what weight of fusible buckram should I use? Or what do you suggest just to give some structure to the heading?
You need a special Sheer translucent sewin buckram for sheers
I am using quite heavyweight velvety fabric. Is there a different method for this? Once I fold the buckram in, the material becomes extremely thick and hard to pin and sew.
Thanks so much. Your tutorials are brilliant.
You could make it a similar way to the interlined curtain. You would need to tack the buckram in place though as you have no interlining. Then after making remove the tacking stitches.
When I slip stitch right across the top of the curtain to enclose the buckram do I slip stitch through the lining and only the fabric fold enclosing the buckram heading OR do I slip stitch through the lining, and the buckram itself and coming up near/through the fabric fold?
Enjoying the videos.......
Just the lining and fabric, if you nick into the buckram that won't matter.
Thank you so much for putting in all the effort to get instructions and videos done for all your tutorials they are great. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has been especially looking forward to this tutorial! :)
Anyway, my question is about buckram. In general, I've found that there are different types of stiffness for buckrams - do you use a light, firm or extra firm buckram on the curtains?
For lined curtains we use single sided fusible cotton buckram (That is what we use in the videos it only comes in one weight from our supplier). For a lighter interlined curtain we would use a medium weight sew in cotton buckram (not fusible) and for heavier interlined curtains we would use heavy weight sew in cotton buckram (not fusible).