HOME DECORATION.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVI, Issue 43, 31 May 1935, Page 3

HOME DECORATION.

LINED CURTAINS

Lined curtains are sometimes desirable. They break draughts in windy rooms or at badly-fitting windows. They enable a uniform look to be obtained outside the house, since the same lining may be added to all the curtains, whatever their colour. Also an inexpensive liningwill give dignity and grace to flimsy material, and by taking most of the wear and grime it saves good fabric.

A cheap casement cloth is a good lining choice. For light washing curtains, in the country, unbleached calico often serves very well. If the two layers in lined curtains are not caught together down the width they will balloon in windy weather and each layer will hang separately, with ugly results, instead of falling into the same graceful folds. For this reason they should never be seamed together, like cushion covers. The correct method is quite simple.

Cut out the curtains, allowing rather smaller turnings than for unlined ones of the same type. Cut the linings one or two inches shorter than the curtains. Place lining and curtain selvedges exactly together and slash both at once at several places down the selvedges. Spread the two layers out flat, wrong sides touching, and tops, selvedges and seams (if any) matching exactly. With both hands smooth the two

layers together without a wrinkle anywhere. Fold back lengthwise onethird of the lining, without disturbing the flatness of the curtain. Then catch this fold all down to the single layer of curtain beneath by means of an ordinary buttonhole stitch; but make the stitch every three or four inches with a very long thread between the stitches. This is called locking. If you match your cotton exactly to the curtain, the tiny stitches will not be visible on * the right side. Afterwards fold back similarly one-third of the lining from the other side edge and lock here again. Double-width curtains will need a third locking down the seam. This should be done first of all. Replace the two layers quite flat. Turn in the sides and bottom of both to face, but turn more deeply on the lining, so that its edge is well inside the curtain edge. With a long slipstitch secure the two folds together. Finally, finish the top with curtain tape.

You will note that lined curtains must be made entirely by hand. *

When buying curtain material for I a bedroom or bed-sitting-room, consider the bed or divan. Many of these have little or no head to give them dignity and height, and in this case, especially in a lofty room, it is an artistic plan to buy a few yards extra of the furnishing material and hang a tall curtain behind the bedhead. As such drapery remains stationary, it may be merely gathered at the top and drawing-pinned to the picture rail, the pins being hidden by a valance of coloured American cloth shelving. This is easily kept clean, and when seen from below gives almost the appearance of satin.