Curtains in the Arts & Crafts Home

Fabric choice
An open weave Scrim or Casement fabric will allow much light to pass through, while a more tightly woven fabric will provide privacy and insulation. The type of fabric also determines what type of design technique (i.e. stencilling, embroidery, appliquŽ or hemstitching) may be applied if any is desired. Curtains of any of the more tightly woven fabrics may be lined. Factors in deciding upon lining are whether additional opacity or insulation is desired, protecting the decorative fabric from the sun, and the appearance of the curtains from the outside.

The choice of pattern, while sometimes dictated by existing designs in the room, is a matter of personal taste and the option of no design upon the curtains should not be overlooked. This is often most appropriate. Also simple sheer hemstitched curtains are very much in keeping in the Arts & Crafts home. Stencilling is less expensive than a design with hand embroidery since less labor is required but is not of lesser quality, and in fact, is much more typical of what would have been found in homes of the period.

With few exceptions, the same fabric should be used on all openings in a given room, although some windows may require two sets of curtains while other openings in the same room may require only the sheer - as on French doors; or only the overcurtains - as for some small casement windows. Portieres may be of a different fabric but each side should coordinate with the room it faces.

Top Treatment Options

Casing with heading Casing

Top Hidden Rings on Rings

Stitched Tucks on Rings

Once the fabric has been determined, there are considerations of the style of curtains and how they are to be mounted. Just as with furniture, remember, simplicity and usefulness are the keynotes with curtains. The simplest style of curtain merely has the top of the curtain turned down and stitched, forming a sleeve or casing which the rod slips through. A variation of this has a fold of fabric which extends above the rod, usually about one inch. This is called a "heading" and is particularly suitable for lighter weight fabrics when mounted outside or cafe-style curtains. Another simple method of hanging the curtains is to attach rings at the top, the rings then slid onto the rod. These curtains are easier to open and close than a casing top and when pushed open they stack into a smaller amount of space. The rings can either be sewn on or a drapery hook can be inserted on the back and the small loop on the ring slipped in. Other options include rings sewn onto the back at the top so they are not seen from the front (hidden rings), and for formal rooms a simple stitched tuck with rings attached may be appropriate.

Generally, curtains in the Arts & Crafts style are not extremely full* to allow the pattern to be seen. We assume 1.5X fullness except for the sheerest of fabrics. In deciding the amount of fullness consider: - some fullness must be allowed, even if the curtains are to appear flat so not to leave a gap at the edges, - curtains of a lighter weight fabric (cotton casements & linen scrims) may look better with more fullness: 2X to 3X, than those of a heavier fabric: 1.5X to 2X, - the amount of light allowed in and visibility is effected by fullness, - fuller curtains will require more stacking area at the sides of windows when open.

* The fullness refers to the amount of fabric that is gathered onto the rod. For example, for a rod 40" long , to achieve a 2 X fullness, the total width of the curtains when flat should be 80". This can be 2 panels of 40" each if you wish to have a pair which opens in the center.

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