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FabricWorkRoom.com > Sheer Drape Measuring
Sheer Drape Measuring
Pinch Pleat Sheer Drapes are can be used on a traverse rod or on a standard curtain rod. A traverse rod is used for opening and closing your sheers. A standard curtain rod is used for stationary sheers. The measuring instructions are the same for either rod. Once you decide which one best suits your circumstances, just follow our simple guidelines below. We recommend that you print this guide and note your measurements. This style drape has a 4" overlap and 4" returns.
1. Simple Measuring (Installing New Hardware)
Measure your window casing-to-casing and add 8" to that width for your bracket extension. The bracket extension will give you 4" on each side. This is where you will mount your hardware brackets. You then need to add 12" for your overlap and returns. Overlaps and returns do not change where your brackets are mounted. This is just additional fabric required to fabricate your drapes that you need to include in your measurements. Pleated drapes are made with a 4" overlap where the drapes meet in the center and 4" returns (fabric from the rod to the wall) on each side for a total of 12". For your finished width, you will need to add the bracket extension, overlap and returns. Your drapes will be finished to a luxurious 2 to 1 fullness so when they are closed for privacy, they will have a nice full appearance.
|
Width |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure window casing-to-casing: |
_______ |
44" |
| 2. Add
Bracket Extension**: |
_______ |
8" |
| 3. Add 12" for
Overlap & Returns: |
_______ |
12" |
4. Add 1., 2. & 3. for your
Finished Width
|
_______ |
64" |
**This is where you mount your brackets. The overlap
& returns do not change the position of the brackets. |
|
Length |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure from the top of your casing to the floor: |
_______ |
80" |
| 2. Add minimum of 4" above the casing: |
_______ |
4" |
3. Add 1. & 2. for your
Finished Length
|
_______ |
84" |
2. Glass Clearing Privacy & Light Control (New Hardware)
If you want your sheer drapes to more or less clear the glass when open, you will need to move your brackets out farther from your casing. This will give you the extra space necessary for your drapes to gather (stack) beyond the glass. Instead of casing-to-casing measuring, you want to measure the glass width on the window or slider. The chart below will give you the approximate amount of inches you should add to your glass width for mounting your brackets. If you are ordering two panels, then split the inches to add on each side for your brackets. If you are ordering one panel, then the inches to add for your brackets will all be on the stacking side. Next you need to add 12" for your overlap and returns. Overlaps and returns do not change where your brackets are mounted. This is just additional fabric required to fabricate your drapes correctly. Pleated drapes are made with a 4" overlap where the drapes meet in the center. The returns (fabric from the rod to the wall) are 4" on each side. For your finished width, you will need to add the bracket extension, overlap and returns. Your drapes will be finished to a luxurious 2-1/2 to 1 fullness so when they are closed, they will have a nice full appearance. Remember this isn't rocket science - it is drapery. Tip: most designers will have the drapes cover the glass slightly on each side to cover the casing and window framing.
Glass
Width
|
Inches
to Add
|
Rod
Length
|
24"
|
21"
|
45"
|
30"
|
23"
|
53"
|
36"
|
25"
|
61"
|
42"
|
26"
|
68"
|
48"
|
29"
|
77"
|
54"
|
30"
|
84"
|
60"
|
31"
|
91"
|
66"
|
32"
|
98"
|
72"
|
34"
|
106"
|
78"
|
36"
|
114"
|
84"
|
37"
|
121"
|
90"
|
38"
|
128"
|
96"
|
39"
|
135"
|
102"
|
42"
|
144"
|
108"
|
44"
|
152"
|
114"
|
45"
|
159"
|
120"
|
48"
|
168"
|
|
Width |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure window glass width: |
_______ |
72" |
| 2. Add
Glass Clearing Amount**: |
_______ |
34" |
| 3. Add 12" for
Overlap & Returns: |
_______ |
12" |
4. Add 1., 2. & 3. for your
Finished Width
|
_______ |
118" |
**This is where you mount your brackets. The overlap
& returns do not change the position of the brackets. |
|
Length |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure from the top of your casing to the floor: |
_______ |
80" |
| 2. Add minimum of 4" above the casing: |
_______ |
4" |
3. Add 2. & 3. for your
Finished Length
|
_______ |
84" |
3. Existing Drapery Hardware Measuring
Existing hardware makes your job very simple. You don't have any brackets or hardware to install. You just have to get your measurements from your existing hardware.
Standard Curtain Rod or Traverse Rod
If you have an existing curtain rod or traverse rod, your width measurement is your existing bracket-to-bracket width.
|
Width |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Existing Bracket-to-Bracket Width: |
_______ |
70" |
| 2. Add 12" for
Overlap & Returns: |
_______ |
12" |
| 3. Add 1. & 2 for
Finished Width: |
_______ |
82" |
|
Length |
|
|
| 1. Measure from the top of the rod to the floor: |
_______ |
84" |
| 2. Deduct floor clearance |
_______ |
1/2" |
| 3. Deduct 2. from 1 for your
Finished Length |
_______ |
83-1/2" |
4. New Hardware Installation Tips
New Hardware:
Hanging drapes is actually a fairly easy project. There are a few tips that will help your installation go smoothly. You should allow for about an hour for the first one. It can go much quicker, but this is one of those projects where most people double and tripe check themselves. If you have multiple windows, the subsequent installations will go much faster.
| 1. Since this is a new installation and you are not experts, you should start by putting the drapes on the rod |
| 2. Place the rod on the floor running parallel to the window in about the same position as if were hanging on the wall |
| 3. Spread the drape to the closed position on the floor as if it were mounted on the window |
| 4. Once you have the drape in that position, place the brackets on the floor. Measure the distance from bracket to bracket and write that down. This is your width position |
| 5. Using a pencil, mark those two points on the wall above the window making sure you have equal distance from the center point of the window. Don't worry about the height just yet; we are only interested in getting the width position right now |
| 6. This next step is a little tricky, but it's fool proof. Raise the drape off the floor (it will take 2 people with two step stools). If you have a very large drape or heavy fabric, you can just slip one panel on the rod |
| 7. Lift it to a point where you want the bottom of the drape to be relative to the floor. You can be a ½" off the floor or just kiss the floor, slight break or puddle the drape. It's all based on how you ordered your drapes |
| 8. While holding the bracket in position, mark one of the screw holes on the bracket. This mark is for the height only; we'll get to the width in a second. Now you can set the drape down. Then you will intersect the width mark with the height mark for one bracket only |
| 9. Take a small finishing nail and using a hammer, gently drive the nail it into the sheetrock at your intersecting mark. If the nail goes in easily to a hollow, you will need anchor bolts. If the nail hits something hard, that is the wood framing around the window and you can just use wood screws. You will need a power drill to create the hole for the anchor bolt or to create a pilot hole if you hit wood. The anchor that you use will have instructions on the drill bit size required. A pilot hole is a very small drilled hole that guides the screw into the wood. The pilot bit needs to be much smaller than the screw so you still get a strong bond |
| 10. Set the first bracket firmly in place with two screws or toggle bolts |
| 11. Now you need to attach the second bracket. There are two ways to do this. One is to measure the installed bracket from the floor and transfer that to the second bracket. This is not fool proof, especially if you have an old house where the floors have settled. We recommend that you take the drape off the pole (yes it's a pain) and set it in the installed bracket. Using a carpenter's level to make sure the pole is level, mark and then attach the second bracket just like you did the first |
| 12. On long spans or telescoping rods, you will need a center bracket to keep the center from sagging. That is the last bracket to install |
| 13. Put the drape back on the rod and set in on the brackets and you are done! |
| 14. If you are putting up more than one set of drapes, the next ones will go quickly |
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