Home Sweet Home

Formal swag pelmets are draped pieces of fabric which, when attached to a pelmet support board, become a classic draped pelmet. They hang free of the curtain and usually add a classical, ornate appearance to windows.

Here are some rules to remember with swag trimmings: they look best on tall windows in rooms with high ceilings, so be sure that you don’t over-design your room; consider your fabric requirements (swag curtains can take up large amounts of fabric, and this can become a budget-breaker) — plain calico or home-spun fabric is one idea, as the old principle of using fabric generously applies well here. Generous amounts of inexpensive fabric look wonderful next to skimpy quantities of expensive fabric.

Step by step

Fabric: The main fabric for the swag is cut on the bias. Allow one-and-a-half times the finished width, which will be the length of the curtain track plus seam allowances, by two-and-a-half times the finished depth, plus hems. Join fabrics as shown, to create a piece large enough, prior to cutting out the swag. It will make your task simpler if you create a paper pattern of your swag shape. Working on a large, flat surface, cut out the lining first, then use this piece as a template to cut the main fabric piece. With right sides facing, stitch lining piece and main piece together around curved edge only.

Clip seam, turn to right side, press. Pin lining and main fabric pieces together around remaining edges, stitch to secure, neatening edges as you go.

Cut a piece of fabric, probably from scraps, that measures the finished width of the swag, plus seam allowances. Mark the centre, and the finished width. Allowing the straight piece of fabric to lie close to the edge of your worktable, secure it to the table surface. Match `C’ of swag to centre of secured fabric, allowing swag piece to hang over edge of table. Working upwards from `A’, fold in rough pleats until you reach ‘B’. Adjust these folds or pleats until you are satisfied with the way they lie and their evenness.

Repeat for the other side, pleating from ‘F,’ up to ‘D’. When you are satisfied with the lie of the pleats and that the width of the swag matches your straight fabric strip, pin and stitch the pleats to the fabric strip. Trim this fabric strip back to 3 cm in depth.

It is important to estimate fabric quantities accurately; to cut the fabric correctly; and to observe bias cut sections, as these need to fall and drape in deep folds.

Swags: Swags need to be in proportion to the completed length of your curtains. As a guide to depths of finished swags, reckon on the swag finishing at one sixth to one eighth of the window height.

Tails with even vertical folds: Tails are generally a third to one-half the height of the window but, again, proportion is important and you are the best judge of what suits your particular window size. The length of the short inner vertical edge is again up to you but a third to one- half of the outside length is a good starting point.

The width of the finished tail can be estimated by pleating brown paper to approximate the desired size. Use this measurement as the width of the top edge of the tails. Your template should look like a triangle with the inner top corner cut away. When purchasing lining fabric, remember that it will be seen when the tail is pleated. The colour and texture of the lining is important, and can become an added decorative note. Cut out lining piece, then, using this shape as a pattern, cut main fabric piece.

With right sides facing, stitch lining and main fabric tail pieces together, leaving top edge open. Trim corners, clip seams for ease and turn to right side. Press. Following the instructions for pleating the swag, cut a scrap of fabric the finished width of the pleated tail, plus seam allowances. Pleat tail into this width and, when satisfied with lie and evenness, stitch to scrap strip. Trim scrap strip to 3 cm depth. Repeat for matching tail or tails.

Support Board: The most secure way to affix swags and tails is to a support board cut to the width of the curtain track, and to a depth that allows the swag and tails to hang free of the curtains. Cover the board with fabric, secured with tacks, glue or staples, and secure the board to the wall with L-shaped brackets at either end. Tack the top tails and then the top of the swag into place along the top of this board.

Fixing to the support board: First you must bind the edges of the swag and tails with a flap of fabric that finishes at the same depth as the support board. Cut fabric pieces the length of the finished swag and tails plus seam allowances; with right sides facing, stitch one long side of binding strip to swag and each tail piece.

Press 1 cm to wrong side of remaining long side. Fold binding strip to have right sides facing, stitch short ends, fold binding strip to its right side. Press. Hand or machine stitch to previous row of stitching. You now have a flap that is the length and depth of the support board.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Swag Pelmets / Curtains

• Tailored Pelmets
• Window Dressing (Fabric)
• Decorate Beautiful Eye Catch Point: Windows part 1
• Decorate Beautiful Eye Catch Point: Windows part 2
• Care for Windows, Curtains and Blinds
• Decorate Beautiful Eye Catch Point: Windows part 3
• Live House Colour and Pattern Part3
• Decorate Beautiful Eye Catch Point: Windows part 4
• Skillful use of color
• Decorating bedroom—a world of possibilities part 2