The design of curtains does not end with the selection of color and material; it is equally important to choose a fastener and indicate its functionality. Some options involve partial mobility, others - silent sliding of the curtains - a matter of taste.
Drawstring curtains are the simplest and most versatile way to decorate a window opening.
Such curtains are attached to a standard cornice or round rod made of any material using a specially stitched drawstring pocket.
Description
A drawstring on a curtain is a way to secure drapes, curtains, or tulle to a cornice. It is somewhat different from the usual hooks, because it is a different hanging scheme. Here a stitch is made on a sewing machine, creating a “tunnel” at the top of the fabric. A pipe is placed there, screwed to the wall above the window, or a fishing line.
Since curtains of this type are placed on a cornice or rod without the use of hooks, they are considered the most convenient to install and subsequently maintain.
This looks aesthetically pleasing and elegant, since the curtains are gathered into a beautiful drapery, both at the top end and at the bottom. And if you add decorative elements, you can create a designer product. This fastening method does not limit the design or selection of material; it is suitable for delicate thin fabrics and thick curtains.
As a rule, the width of the curtain is slightly larger than the width of the fastening, which is why soft vertical folds are created on the curtain, giving the design weightlessness and lightness.
The length of the drawstring curtains is selected depending on the features of the interior, the shape and size of the window opening.
What do designers advise?
The material for drawstring curtains can be of varying degrees of density and texture. Only the heaviest fabrics such as velvet, jacquard, thick silk, etc. are not suitable for them.
d. Much depends on the chosen interior style and the functional purpose of the curtain.
Light tulle curtains with thick, even drapery look beautiful. To protect from prying eyes, the rays of the sun or the light of night lamps, curtain fabrics made of satin, silk, satin, etc. are chosen.
d.
The view of the curtains is envy of the task at hand. The drawstring allows you to create both drapery and a straight canvas stretched across the width. Depending on the fabric, trim and related details, drawstring curtains have a different appearance.
The texture with small folds evenly distributed over the surface will fit well into interiors of a romantic, “rustic” character, minimalism and modern style. They are not suitable only for pompous, majestic or prim styles (for example, “English” interior).
With drawstring curtains you can cover the windows of a small living room, bedroom, nursery, kitchen, attic, loggia, and even decorate panoramic windows. This is a good idea for rooms that require permanent window shading. They look very harmonious when decorating window openings in niches. A good solution would be to decorate this model of arched windows with curtains.
Owners of premises with windows of non-standard geometric shapes, for example, sloping, will find a successful way out of the situation with curtains of this design.
With the help of such “sleeves”, short curtains are hung on the lower half of the window - the so-called “cafe” style. The second name for this idea is “grandmother’s window.”
It is very convenient to use such a curtain, since its fastening (string, rod) is located at an easily accessible height. Cafes and bistros with such window decorations acquire home comfort and an atmosphere of privacy.
An interesting solution would be to use napkins and tablecloths from the same fabric.
Shortened drawstring curtains are suitable for any home room and even for a living room in a country or Provence style.
Interior designers suggest using curtains with a drawstring if necessary to highlight a separate zone in the interior space of the room. Such a screen can fence off part of the area for recreation, wardrobe, games or sports.
Expert opinion
Mikhailova Maria Vasilievna
Furniture store manager. Knows everything about comfort and interior design
Curtains with such fastening can act as soft “doors” for open shelves. They can be used to decorate the side of a baby crib.
A glass door in a room can also be decorated with a curtain of this model. In this case, the “gutter” will go along both the lower and upper borders of the curtain.
Regardless of the color, fabric texture and interior design, drawstring curtains are a universal technique for decorating windows. They are easy to clean, quickly remove and put on the bar, are silent when moving along it, and look beautiful at the same time.
Window design options
- The use of a drawstring in an arched window opening looks unusual. It looks sophisticated and tasteful, not banal.
- If you use light translucent curtains in the house, on the north side, where the sun does not shine intensely, then the material will diffuse the existing light and visually distribute it. This will add an atmosphere of mystery and lightness to the interior.
If you need to decorate a tall or standard window, it is customary to use floor-length curtains.
- In a children's room, curtains and tulle with drawstrings will be very useful, as they provide greater practicality. Hooks tend to break, pop out and become deformed, but here everything will remain intact for a long time.
- Stylistically, the drawstring is suitable for kitchen curtains, especially it has a hint of Country style. With the right choice of color and material, it can turn out very lively, stylish and fresh.
When decorating small windows and windows of non-standard shapes, curtains up to the window sill are most often used.
In any case, this option can only fail when trying to recreate strict English classics. After all, assembly and drapery are about lightness, comfort and coziness, but not about impeccably clear lines.
As for the materials for creating drawstring curtains, everything depends on the style features of the interior and the functional purpose of the curtains.
Choosing a method for fixing tulle
Having finally decided on the option of curtains, you should think about their fastening. The overall appearance of the composition and the entire interior will largely depend on this. How to hang tulle
so that it is convenient and aesthetically pleasing?
To begin with, it’s worth pointing out that you can attach the fabric sheet not only to the cornice. There are alternative solutions. For example, if the wall material cannot withstand loads and crumbles during drilling, metal (plastic) hooks are used. Several pieces of fittings are installed above the window opening with the same spacing. And you can hang tulle on them using loops or rings. The same approach is appropriate when decorating arched windows. It turns out very aesthetically pleasing, original, and most importantly – practical.
If the choice is made in favor of cornices, you should first of all pay attention to universal models.
Curtain rod holders
String cornices
Hang tulle on them
you can use:
- rings;
- eyelets;
- loops;
- hooks;
- magnets;
- drawstrings.
Also often used for these purposes are baguettes and ceiling profiles. It all depends on the style of the interior and personal preferences. Manufacturers offer fasteners of various shapes, colors and sizes, made of metal, plastic and wood.
Features of drawstring curtains with comb
Window openings are often decorated with drawstring curtains, but this is not the only way to decorate a window. There is a similar method, which consists of an additional machine stitch that forms a comb over a pipe, fishing line, or wire. This name is not due to the association from the visual image, but rather from the schematic appearance of the pattern.
If curtains must provide a reliable barrier from the sun's rays or a screen from prying eyes, it is better to choose products made from dense materials.
Drawstring curtains come in a wide variety of design solutions.
Many housewives prefer this addition because it looks more complex and of better quality, especially with simple-looking fabrics. The main thing is just not to make a mistake with the indents and length of the canvas if you do it yourself.
If necessary, drawstring curtains can be combined with other textile products - curtains, curtains, thick drapes, lambrequins, etc.
How to sew curtains with your own hands.
2. Calculation of the width of the drawstring and the height of the frill. Using a tape measure, measure the diameter of the rod or rod and add an additional 3 cm (B). Decide how tall the frill will be and multiply that number by 2 (C).
3. Calculation of fabric consumption. To determine the overall cut length of the curtain (D), add together A, B and C and add 11.5 cm for seam allowance. By multiplying D by the number of panels used, you calculate the total amount of fabric consumed.
4. Cut and sew curtains. Cut the required number of panels according to the total cutting length D. Sew the curtains, making a hem 10 cm high.
5. Marking the drawstring and frill. Turn the top raw edge over to the wrong side 1.5 cm and press. From the fold line, use pins or tailor's chalk to mark the width of the drawstring (1/2 B) and the height of the frill (1/2 C). Fold the fabric along the frill line and iron.
Design options
- Decorating a room in a Provencal style is an ideal way to use a comb drawstring. Harmonious folds and appropriate colors can be an excellent design solution.
- Bedroom design for a girl, if you come up with a combination of pink shades, use a comb (preferably even a double one), ruffles and tulle, you will get a fabulous bedchamber. The baby will be glad to be in a room where fantasies arise naturally.
- This type of fastening will definitely bring romantic notes to the atmosphere, so if you want something new, fresh, “unhackneyed,” then you can simply hang the curtains differently.
Very often, designers decorate the upper part of the curtains with the so-called “comb”, which hides the drawstring pocket.
Curtains with this method of fastening look harmonious in absolutely any room.
Interesting! Close to the idea of drawstrings is another hanging method - curtains with ties (see photo below). It consists of securing a non-stretching tape along the top edge of the fabric, attaching ribbons or belts to it. Then, with their help, the curtains are tied to the pipe and cornices.
Curtain rods for tulle
With the help of cornices, tulle is hung and secured, or decorated in a room. In the first case, molding is used to hide the cornice.
Cornices are divided into those attached to the ceiling - strings, and those attached to the walls - tubular. The profile and baguette are suitable for both the ceiling and the wall.
The classic ceiling cornice, on which curtains and curtains are hung regardless of size, is inexpensive. This cornice is a plastic single, double or triple niche, where hooks move along the guides.
The cornice is attached to the ceiling (also suitable for walls) with screws. The product is flexible and comes complete with fittings - corner pieces, plugs and other decor.
The cornice is a telescopic pipe. It is most often found in the bathroom, but is also suitable for insertion into a window opening. In this case, the tulle covers only the inner glass part of the window. This cornice is also suitable for bay windows.
The profile cornice is controlled by a remote control or a special light sensor. The cornice details are a durable aluminum profile that will hold a heavy fabric composition.
In a string cornice, tulle hangs on hooks that move along stretched strings. If desired, use a decorative strip to cover the strings. The fastening is not complicated, but the tighter the strings are, the greater the load on the fastening, which gradually weakens and pops out. Therefore, such a cornice is not suitable for heavy curtains.
Baguette cornices with tulle are often used to decorate rooms rather than to be used purely for practical purposes.
The trend is wooden, metal or plastic baguette cornice. This design has a wooden plank behind which the internal parts are hidden.
More: Rent of containers and cabins for workers at a construction site
A common type of cornice is tubular. This is a wall-mounted cantilever structure with rings placed on a pipe with a diameter of 1-4 cm. The rings are equipped with special fastenings for curtains.
Advantages and disadvantages of curtains and curtains with drawstrings
Curtains with drawstrings, including those with scallops, are a popular way to get out of the situation when a regular curtain rod is too heavy for a plasterboard wall structure. Then they take the pipes more easily and lighten the load as much as possible. Or the cornice is fine, but you need to give the room a special charm and elegance.
Most often, such curtains are purchased for a spacious room.
The following factors can be considered as the advantages of this method of fastening.
- Cool look. Suitable for most environments, it can refresh the interior and add mystery.
- Ease of execution. Tailors do not charge much for such work if the fabric is not too difficult to process. And it’s not a problem to do it yourself; it’s quite possible to do it even with your hands without a machine.
- Practical. It is easy to remove and string, which is important when the house has many windows with curtains that need to be washed.
Drawstring curtains are becoming the best option for those who also want to decorate the windows in their home in an original way.
Some types of material are not slippery enough - this is a minus. But in this case, you can buy garters or make them yourself and, instead of opening the curtains, tie their edges in the morning.
The crossbar can have any shape, height and length, which helps you experiment with the design of the room in any direction.
The art of drapery
Drapery - one-sided, counter or bow folds on the curtain. Few folds are made on thick tulle, and thin fabric is draped with frequent and narrow folds, and work done by hand lasts longer.
Using tiebacks, staples, rings, and sometimes thread, horizontal and vertical draperies of bizarre shapes are created.
Tip: when planning drapery, you will need to take fabric 1.5-3 times wider than the length of the cornice and purchase a special ribbon with loops in 2-3 rows.
To drape the bottom of a light curtain, the edge is raised in 1-3 places to the desired height and fastened to the canvas.
To create a classic wave, 1-2 sags are formed on the inner edge of the curtain.
More: Discover the benefits of Nolte Küchen kitchens!
If you intercept the middle of the curtain or the top and bottom, you will get an elegant “column” or “vase”.
By draping in one-way folds, the vertical waves of the fabric are laid to one side.
To create counter folds, every two folds face each other.
Bow folds are formed by folding two folds inward from the outer sides.
Distributing the fabric in uniform vertical ridges, the curtain is decorated with pencil folds.
Complex Flemish folds. A braid with two rows of loops is taken and the upper and lower threads are simultaneously pulled together, creating a knot similar to a V. The bottom of the resulting fold is strongly pulled together, maintaining the expressiveness of the upper gather.
The weighted bottom of the curtains will help maintain drapery.
For this use:
- weight tape;
- embroidery at the bottom of the curtain with rhinestones, threads, sequins or beads;
- lace inserts.
Conclusion
Fastening curtains with drawstrings is an almost universal way to qualitatively transform or create an interior. If there is little light in the room, you can come up with a combination of a pair of curtains that diffuse light; the preferences of darkened areas of the room can be catered for with curtains.
Thanks to the ability to choose the width of the curtain pocket, you can easily achieve the desired effect.
Therefore, it is not always necessary to follow the sliding functionality, although you can simply make a sliding pipe or purchase silk (or other) fabric for the curtain.
It is important that the curtains are in harmony with the main palette of the house and smoothly fit into the interior without overloading or standing out from it.
Decorating a light curtain
Using decorative elements it is not difficult to turn a tulle curtain into a room decoration:
- grabs and clamps;
- decorative cords;
- satin and nylon ribbons;
- lace, artificial flowers, bows or beaded threads are sewn to the loops;
- Glue multi-colored pebbles and beads to hairpins and magnets and create patterns;
- decorate with fringe;
- tie up the curtain with chains, ribbons with tassels and pom-poms, or a leather belt.
Colors
The advice is standard: in a calm interior, curtains can be a bold dominant feature (in color and pattern). If there are already bright spots in the room (furniture upholstery, carpet, walls, bed linen, pillows, bedspreads, etc.), drawstring curtains should in no case “shout out” them. Let them support (duplicate) existing textiles or be neutral.
Please note: the color of the fabric on the window will not be as rich as on the counter. The looser the fabric and the less draped it is, the more washed out the tone of the hanging item will be.
Textile
How to sew curtains with a drawstring and not make a mistake in choosing the material? After all, in addition to decorative properties, there is also composition, density, elasticity, direction of the lobe, etc. What should you pay attention to?
When purchasing fabric, look through it and hold it up to the light to determine transparency. Crunch it into your fist and let it go - it will become clear how much it crumples. Study the composition: not all fabrics (mainly natural and textured ones) can be washed, and dry cleaning (especially frequent) is not a cheap pleasure.
And further. The more formal the room (living room, office, library), the more solid the material required (velvet, jacquard, heavy silk, linen, wool). If you create a cozy, relaxed atmosphere, choose cotton, satin, chintz, viscose, tulle, organza. If you are decorating a room with problematic temperature conditions and humidity changes, use synthetic materials that do not require special care.
Length
What influences the choice of length when creating drawstring curtains with your own hands? There are few factors:
Interior style
Functional purpose of the curtain Amount you are willing to pay for the fabric Level of skill of the author. If you don’t have a lot of sewing experience, you shouldn’t try long fabrics. The smaller the cut, the easier it is to process. Start with an economical and democratic, but very relevant option - a shortened curtain for the lower part of the window. This idea is often called "granny window" or "cafe style". This solution is perfect for a kitchen, nursery, living room in Provence style and any not too formal room. In operation, this curtain is much more convenient and mobile than a long one, since its cornice (rod or string) is located at an accessible height.
More “advanced” craftswomen can afford drawstring curtains for a full window (the length of the window sill), and virtuosos of sewing art can easily cope not only with the classic “floor-length” curtains, but also with the fashionable trend of elongated (“creeping”) curtains. Their length, as a rule, is 5-15 cm longer than usual. It looks very elegant and sophisticated, but requires constant care and attention. Of course, flowing fabric will perfectly hide uneven floors and add charm to the interior. But consider whether you're willing to re-decorate the drapery every time you vacuum, get too close to a window, or have your pet use the edge of the curtain as a bedding area.
