Follow these 3 steps to calculate exactly the length of fabric needed to make a pair of curtains.

 

1. How many Widths?

Measure the width of the track or pole in cm, then multiply this by the 'fullness' (fullness is usually x2 for pencil pleats and eyelets, but x2.5 for pinch pleats). Then divide that number by the fabric width and round up to the next whole number.

For example: assume our fabric is 137cm wide, and our pole is 200cm wide. So 200 x 2 = 400 cms, divided by 137cms = 2.91, rounded up gives 3 - so we need 3 widths in total. From this we will have one pair of 1 and 1/2 width curtains.

Note - the width of curtains is not that critical, so if the calculations for the number of widths comes out at just over a whole number, e.g. 5.1 or 5.2, most curtain makers would say round down to the lower whole number e.g.5, as otherwise too much fabric is wasted.

 

2. Work out the 'Drop Cut Length'

The drop cut length is the length of each of the fabric panels that will be joined together to make the curtains (where there is more than one panel per curtain).

The drop cut length has to take into account of 3 things: the actual length of the curtain drop, the additional material for the hems and, finally, the pattern repeat.

Start with the curtain drop. This is the distance from the top of the pole or track to the bottom of the curtain. If the curtain has an upstand (for example on eyelet curtains there is about 5cm above the top of the pole) add this on. Now we have the 'drop'

Next, add on 30cm for hems.

If the fabric is a plain fabric, then we have now calculated the 'drop cut length'. 

 

If the fabric does have a pattern there is one more stage to get the drop cut length. Curtain makers work in multiples of vertical pattern repeat, so whatever the drop+upstand+hems figure was, we still need to round this up to the next whole number of vertical pattern repeats.

For example, if the drop+upstanding+hems figure is 235cm, and the vertical pattern repeat is 25cm, then we would need 10 vertical repeats which would give us a drop cut length of 250cm. 

 

3. Multiply Drop Cut Length by the Number of Widths.

So if we need 5 widths, and the drop cut length is 250cm, then we know that we need 5x250=1250cm of fabric - in other words 12.5 metres.

If in any doubt call us on 01477 270828.