SEWING TECHNIQUES
INTERLINED CURTAINS
For extra weight, lined curtains may be interlined. For interlining, you will need a panel of fabric for each curtain, the same size as the finished (ungathered) curtain, or slightly longer if you want to pad the hems for a fuller look.
Calculate the total quantity by dividing the total width of the curtain by the width of the interlining fabric, and multiplying the number of drops required to make up the panel by the finished length of the curtains. Interlining should be joined with a lapped or abutted seam. Join interlining to the curtain fabric with lock stitch (p. 196), so that the interlining is centered on the panel of fabric for the curtain. Treat the curtain fabric and interlining as a single piece of fabric to finish the curtain.
FINISHES & TRIMMINGS
There are many purchased finishes and trimmings used in home sewing. Ribbon, lace and braid are suitable for any seam which is straight but for curved seams and a truly professional finish, use bias-cut fabric.
CUTTING BIAS BINDING
To find the bias of the fabric, fold it so that the selvedge is parallel with the weft or crosswise grain (1). Press this fold to give yourself the first cutting line. Now cut all the remaining bias strips parallel to this line to the desired width (2). To join strips, position ends together as shown, right sides facing, so that the edges of the strips match at the stitching line (3). Press seam open and trim away points of fabric after stitching.
MITRING CORNERS To turn up a hem at a corner, you need to mitre the corner. Turn up the hems along both edges of fabric to the same width and press (1). Insert a pin at the edge of the fabric where the two hems intersect and open out again. Fold in the corner diagonally to meet the pins at both sides. Cut across the corner about 6 mm (i in) from the folded edge (2) and turn in the hems again, Slipstitch the corner edges together and finish the other hems with your chosen method (3).
This works with hems of unequal width, for example, on curtains.