Measuring for Privacy and Light Control

These measuring instructions are for drapes in that you plan to use as operating drapes for privacy and light control as opposed to stationary or decorative drapes (panels). A Two-Way draw splits the drapery and the fabric is drawn to the left and right with a center opening. A One-Way draw is a single drapery panel stacking all the fabric to the left or the to the right. One side stacking is common on sliders and French doors.

Step One Width Measuring

If you have existing curtain rod, measure the width from bracket to bracket. This is your ordering Width. If you are installing new hardware, first determine where the drapery hardware brackets are to be mounted. We recommend that you add at least 4″ beyond the outside edge of the window frame on both sides and 4″ above the top of the window frame. If you want to expose more glass when the draperies are open, extend the brackets farther from the side of the window frame. If your drapery is to stack to one side, then you should add a minimum of 8″ on the stacking side. Once you locate the brackets, measure from the outside edge of one bracket to the outside edge of the other. This is the “Bracket to Bracket” or “Width” that you will need to note. Also remember to check that you have wall clearance to accommodate the rod and the decorative finials. If your Bracket to Bracket measurement is 52″, you would select 52″ from the Width pull down on your drapery product.

Step Two Length Measuring

Standard or Traverse Rod Length Measuring For draperies using a standard curtain rod or a traverse rod, measure from the top of the bracket or rod to the finished point that the draperies will hang. If the drapery is going to the floor, deduct 1/2″ for floor clearance. This is the Length. If you are replacing an existing drape and are happy with the length, then measure the existing drape and order the same length. Decorative Hardware Length Measuring For draperies using decorative hardware (rod and rings) measure from the top of the rod to the finished point that the draperies will hang. Then measure the outside diameter of your ring and deduct that amount. This is the Length. Do not make a deduction for floor clearance. For hardware using thin metal rings measure from the top of the rod to the finished point that the draperies will hang. Then measure the outside diameter of your ring and deduct that amount. If the drapery is going to the floor, deduct 1/2″ for floor clearance. This is the Length If you are ordering draperies with our decorative rings sewn on, measure from the top of the rod to the finished point that the draperies will hang. If the drapery is going to the floor, deduct 1/2″ for floor clearance. This is the Length. We will make the allowance for the rings.

“Take-up” for Rod Pocket & Tab Style Drapes

Measure from the top of the rod to the finished point. If the rod pocket drape has heading, add this to the length. On these styles, you will need to add an allowance for take up which is caused by the rod width. Add the take up to your drapery length based on the rod you are using and the guideline provided below. This is the Length. If you want the bottom of the drapery to rest or “puddle” on the floor, you can create a break at the hem by adding 2″ to 3″ to the Length. For a full “puddle” effect, add 8″ to 18″ depending upon the amount of puddle desired.

Rod Type Drape Pocket or Tab Size Take Up Amount 1″ Sash Rod 1-1/2″ 1/2″ 1-3/8″ Pole 3″ 1″ 2″ Pole 4″ 1-1/2″ 2-1/4″ Pole 5″ 1-3/4″ 2-1/2″ Flat Continental Rod 3-1/2″ 1/2″ 3″ Pole 6-1/2″ 2″ 4-1/2″ Flat Continental Rod 5-1/2″ 1/2″

Stacking Considerations (Approximate)

Stacking is the width dimension of a drape when it is in the fully open position. To create a drape header style, the fabric is gathered to form a pleat. The workroom uses materials such as buckram to stiffen the header to form and maintain the style. When the drape is opened, the header does not compress or gather the way a shower curtain would. Therefore, if you want to clear the glass of the window when the drapes are open, you need to add additional width to your casing to casing measurement. The chart below will give you approximate stacking amounts for a range of window widths (casing to casing). Here are a couple of examples: 1. Casing to Casing Width = 60″ Stacking Amount = 20″ (10″ each side) Width to Order = 80″ (60″ + 20″) 2. Casing to Casing Width = 100″ Stacking Amount = 33″ Width to Order = 133″ (100″ + 33″) Casing-to-Casing Width Drapery Stacking Approx. Width to Clear Glass 24″ 8″ 32″ 40″ 13″ 53″ 60″ 20″ 80″ 80″ 28″ 88″ 100″ 34″ 134″ 120″ 40″ 160″ 140″ 48″ 188″ 160″ 54″ 214″ 180″ 60″ 240″ This chart does not apply to relaxed drapery styles such as the Flat Panel Drape. The header is not pleated and therefore the drape will stack more like a shower curtain.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 3rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm and is filed under Drapes, Measuring. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.