Draperies: Fact or Fiction?

[susandf]

I just completed a set of Silk Dupioni Triple Pleated Drapes for my son's apartment bedroom. He lives about 2,000 miles away from my sewing machine.

The drapes are beautiful (silk dupioni is very forgiving), but their development was a test of my patience (limited to begin with) and stick-to-it-tive-ness (greatly reduced by ADHD!)

I wanted to share the journey, but thought it would be more fun as a game. Are these fact or fiction?

1. When asked to measure "the window opening", my son (the one with a Harvard PhD), measured the length and width of the window pane.

2. If a cross-country plane flight to measure the actual window opening and four trips to buy/then return/then purchase the "correct" pleater hooks, drapery tape, rings and thread are required to make the drapes, ready-made drapes may have been a more economical option - even if Stash Fabrics are used for the drapes and the lining!

3. The architect that designed apartments and placed the air conditioner/heater directly below every window, never had to sew drapes or curtains for those windows!

4. Measurements such as "around 60 inches, give or take a few inches" are not helpful when making inside mount drapes.

5. Carpenters may say, "Measure twice, cut once," but someone making drapes says, "Measure twice, then measure again. Go have a cup of coffee while checking your sketch - again. Then check your math - again - then measure again. Go workout. Measure again. Then measure again. Add 4 inches. Then cut."

6. Pleater hooks come in an unknown number of varieties and there is no easily available guide in English to explain the uses for each.

7. For some unknown and inexplicable reason, most Fabric Stores carry only Brand X pleater hooks and only Brand Y pleater tape. Both of which are labeled with "For best results use only with [our] brand hooks and tape."

8. "Pull-the-threads" pleater tape is great fun, but does not produce even pleats.

9. Wearing a wet bathing suit while hand sewing pleats may help keep one cool, but silk dupioni water spots shaped like a bathing suit cannot be explained away as a "Designer Touch"!

10. One bobbin will be plenty - there is no need to wind a second one.

Answers:
All Fact, except for #10, which as anyone who sews is aware - no matter how many times we repeat that statement - we know that we will be one step from finishing when the bobbin runs out of thread!!!

I'll be uploading pictures to my website shortly... Before I have to start work on drapes for his Living Room!

[DorothyL]

Sounds like you had a great time.

Dorothy

[MartySews2]

LOL!!! Never trust a guy to measure anything for you. They will get it wrong almost every time. Will look forward to seeing pics of the the drapes.
Marty

[bridesmom]

That is too funny Susan! Sounds like you had quite the time of it!

[Mule]

That is too funny! And no, sewing is not always the most economical option. My husband said this the other evening as he took an inventory of all my machines, equipment, supplies, etc. and then noted I could count all the garments I've made on my fingers (and still have some leftover)!

[icetbear]

Beth is this the same husband who handed you a credit card to buy the coverstitch? Hhhmmm, me thinks he doth protest too much Take care.

NanaBear not looking forward to Monday

[sewingmom]

So hilarious and true . I can sew relate to this and Marty is correct, never ever trust a man to measure for one of your sewing projects!!!!!

[susandf]

.... sewing is not always the most economical option. My husband said this the other evening as he took an inventory of all my machines, equipment, supplies, etc. and then noted I could count all the garments I've made on my fingers (and still have some leftover)!

My only response would have to be, "OK, I like that logic. So where are we going for dinner, and breakfast, and lunch, and every meal hereafter?"

My sister and I were feeling "unappreciated" - we are "home cookers" (I am not sure that is even a term). We bake and roast and peel and (well, I am sure you know) and just wanted to be taken out for a nice meal - mostly so we did not have to clean up after cooking - only to be told that it was just too expensive!

So we calculated the cost of "eating in":
1. the appliances: refrigerator, stove, oven, dishwasher, sink, garbage disposal, etc.
2. the cupboards and the countertop (assuming a new kitchen every 10 years)
3. the dishes
4. the silverware
5. the square footage of the house designated for food preparation and eating
6. the tables and the chairs
7. cost of the food
8. cost of the car (per mile) and the gas needed to go the grocery store(s)
9. utility costs to operate the appliances and heat/AC the portion of the house used for food prep/eating.

We did not even charge for our time.....and the cost per meal was more than a nice dinner out!

We enjoyed the calculation and the resulting "so there!" ...and eventually even got to go out for dinner!

[Mule]

Yes, this is the same husband that handed me the credit card -- I only have one husband! I don't think he really minds all the sewing stuff, but he doesn't understand why, and he definitely likes to give me grief over it. But not as much grief as he gives me over my handbag collection!

Susandf, the one area where my DH is NOT careful with money is eating out! We usually eat out about 3 times a week, and he would go even more frequently if I didn't put on the brakes. He grew up doing that, and for some reason the expense just doesn't seem to register with him. I'm glad you talked your hubby into taking you out -- it is fun to do sometimes!

[MartySews2]

My hubby also doesn't mind my sewing stuff until it begins to grow a life of its own. In over 40 yrs of marriage, he's only mentioned twice that I need to pare down. He makes sure that I have all of the equipment that I need to sew, embroider, serge, knit, crochet, photograph, etc. I even have separate machines (sewing & serger) for classes. He realizes sewing is part of who I am as a person. Once he even took a semester at the university on how to sew so he could understand my passion. He is very supportive & encourages me in many ways. A keeper for sure.
Marty