argh! curtains - need fabric and meas help

[DeerMother]

I just can't find what I want. Know of any great retailers? I am looking for a fresh, fun, sophisticated print for three windows in the dining room. It is a west wall, white trim, green walls and I have black out material for the summer sun.

I'm just doing straight panels - 2 windows measure 23 X 58, one is 35 x 58 - so I need 4-5 yards?

[Think of Winter]

I love Amy Butler prints. She makes upholstery and quilting weight cottons. I've purchased a lot of fabric from coops in the last couple of years, and the Amy Butler stuff is my favorite in quality and patterns.

I haven't gotten around to ever making them, but according to my book, "Curtains, Draperies & Shades" by Sunset, how much you need depends on a lot of things (how long, how full, the length of the repeat in your pattern, etc.) I think 4-5 yds sounds like too little for the windows you're describing, though. Maybe check your library for a how-to book.

[KristyDi]

On how much to buy I always figure out what dimensions I want the finished panel to be in inches and add hem allowances and any other extras (like room for a rod pocket) then divide by 36 to get how many yards for that panel. If I'm doing simple panels I usually just use whatever width the fabric comes in because I'm lazy.


Other things to consider.
Do you want the curtains to go to the floor or stop at the bottom of the window? Do you want 2 panels for each window or just one?

4-5 yards does sound like too little. My kitchen curtains are simple rod pocket panels that stop at the bottom of the window and they are 2 yards each so 4 yards total and that's 1 window that's around 35x50.

[luv-my-boys]

I have used the following yardage calculator for my own drapes

http://www.denverfabrics.com/pages/s...tain-panel.htm