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I am currently making a fairly large pair of curtains. Ive done lots in the past but I am keen to do things the right way from now on. I measured up for the curtains by using the Alternative Windows site and also the Home Furnishing Workbook by Maurren Whitemore, which came well recommended.
The method I used was:
Drop + 20cm for top and bottom hem/turning allowance + pattern repeat (in this case 79.5 cm) x number of drops (no trouble in working out the number of drops, drops are not a problem).
I worked out the following - finished length 214cm +20cm +79.5cm x 5 drops = 15.675 metres, rounded up to 16 metres (perhaps you would like to work it out too and see if I have made a mistake).
So, I have had the fabric delivered and I have been working on these curtains all day. I cut them out = 214 + 20cm = 234cm per drop. I measure them out, taking into account the pattern repeat and, hey presto, 237cm gives me the beginning of the pattern repeat each time. 237cm x 5 = 11.85 metres. I have 4.15 metres left over!! At £20 per metre this is no joke. How come it went so wrong!
I know there is likely to be some wastage, especially with such a large pattern repeat, but this is a bit too much! Have I done something wrong - would you have done it a different way.
Now I have a dilemma. What to do with the left over fabric. Should I give it back to the customer - telling her that it is left over and risk her thinking that I don't know how to measure up for curtains. Or do I keep schtum and sell it on ebay. What would you do?
The method I used was:
Drop + 20cm for top and bottom hem/turning allowance + pattern repeat (in this case 79.5 cm) x number of drops (no trouble in working out the number of drops, drops are not a problem).
I worked out the following - finished length 214cm +20cm +79.5cm x 5 drops = 15.675 metres, rounded up to 16 metres (perhaps you would like to work it out too and see if I have made a mistake).
So, I have had the fabric delivered and I have been working on these curtains all day. I cut them out = 214 + 20cm = 234cm per drop. I measure them out, taking into account the pattern repeat and, hey presto, 237cm gives me the beginning of the pattern repeat each time. 237cm x 5 = 11.85 metres. I have 4.15 metres left over!! At £20 per metre this is no joke. How come it went so wrong!
I know there is likely to be some wastage, especially with such a large pattern repeat, but this is a bit too much! Have I done something wrong - would you have done it a different way.
Now I have a dilemma. What to do with the left over fabric. Should I give it back to the customer - telling her that it is left over and risk her thinking that I don't know how to measure up for curtains. Or do I keep schtum and sell it on ebay. What would you do?
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