front window curtains help

[bimpy]

Getting ready to make new curtains and using the old ones for pattern. When measuring the front window curtains the bottom measures eight inches longer than the top. I'm assuming this has something to do with the curved shape while allowing the curtains to hang straight. So how does one achieve this at the finished product? The number of pleats is identical on top and bottom and the lines up and down appear straight. I know it must be simple but I have a headache to try to make sense of all this, thought maybe a good seamstress might read this and explain. Thanks to all replies and ideas

[blickcd]

I can't answer your question but if you take any photos of the job, in progress and the final results, I'd like to see them.

My original drapes are gone, as well as the lower tracks with the exception of the front window. I bought new lower tracks and thought about making my own set so I'd like to see how yours turn out.

Christopher

[miker64867]

My wife, who has made 3 complete sets now, says to measure the distance between the pleats. See if the measured distance along the top pleats is the same or different than the bottom pleats.

[bimpy]

The distance is the same. This is why it's so hard to figure out.

[Friday]

If the curtain is a trapezoid, then one part of what you are observing can't be true... the pleats either aren't vertical (if that's what you mean by straight), or they differ in number... that's the math of it. What have described is impossible...

I suspect you have the same number of pleats top and bottom... so if you've got say 20 pleats, and the top of the curtain is 20 inches, and the bottom is 30 inches... on the top you'd want 20/20 or 1 pleat per inch, and the bottom 30/20 or 1.5 pleats per inch. This would give you a constant radial over the whole panel.

If only 1/2 of the panel is affected by the curve, you'd want 1/2 your panel to have equal spaced pleats, and do the remaining division with the remaining length...