About Curtain Fabrics
Curtain fabrics can evoke so many different things, depending upon its type. Certainly, brocades and tapestries are rich; velvets and wools are make a room feel warm, where lace and cottons give a light and airy feel. Whatever the fabric, it should be of good quality so that the curtain will drape smoothly, pleat well, and have more body. Yarn quality depends on how tightly it is spun, how many strands of fiber are used, and the length of the fiber.
The more you know about how a particular is is made, the fiber content of its yarn, how the cloth was dyed, and they it has been treated with a special finish will help you to select the right one for your window treatment.
The weight of a fabric also contributes to overall effect of a window treatment. And that sheers soften the shape of treatment and allow in light, while opaque fabrics give an arrangement form and add warmth to a room? Patterned fabrics do affect the way you see the proportions of a room.
Purchase samples, which will only cost a few dollars or they can be free. After you've checked how the samples look in at what you have had in the past in your home, it will give you a better idea about your choices.
Heavyweight fabrics, such as brocades and velvets whether they are light or dark in color, create feeling and keep out the sun.
More about window treatments can be found on this page.
There is a difference between decorator fabrics and clothing fabrics. Decorator fabrics have a higher thread count and are more tightly woven, so they will hold up better. Most are 54 inches wide, whereas garment fabrics are 45 inches wide. The wider the fabric, the less yardage you'll make your window treatment. But decorator fabrics are more expensive and so you may not notice any savings.
To make fabric, yarns are then woven on a loom. Yarns used lengthwise on the loom are called warp; yarns that run widthwise are called weft. The same type of yarn can be made into a number of different weaves. For example, cotton can be woven into a damask or a canvas. For a plain weave, the yarns are alternated over and under each other, from side to side, and from top to bottom. This is the most common type of weave.
A basket weave uses two yarn for each row in a plain pattern. A twill weave results ringbone pattern. A satin weave has a shiny smooth surface. A pile produces loops that are then ate a soft surface; velvet is a good example of this weave. A Jacquard weave requires a special loom do combinations of weaves, plain, twill, and satin.
Mixing patterns can be intimidating, in part because it's subject to experimentation, judgment, and "eye." responding to this fear, manufacturers provide an abundance of coordinated fabric collections, available through in-store design services.
Such collections selected by professionals, can save you a lot of legwork and still leave scope for your own input. If you prefer to mix your patterns, try to match the scale of the pattern to that area over which it is to be used.
The general rule is to use large prints on the largest parts of a window treatment such as the curtain panel; medium prints on medium pieces, such as a cornice or a valance; and small prints on accent pieces, such as borders.
To experiment with mixing patterns, start simply. Geometric patterns often mix well together, stripes with checks, plaids or dots. It is always easier to mix patterns that contain one or more common colors or have a similar level of intensity between the prints.
A solid-color companion that pulls out a hue shared by two prints provides another connection.
Exact matches are the backbone of manufacturers' coordinated collections. But to arrive at your own personal mix, you can interpret the principle loosely and experiment to see which pattern combinations work for you. Designers develop a knack for picking eye-catching combinations—and through experimentation you will, too. Look through magazines for ideas.
Remember, however, that it is important to give your eyes a place to rest. Be sure to add a solid-color fabric or trimming into the mix, as well.
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fireplace mantles
Posted by: fireplace mantles | October 18, 2006 01:59 PM
