From just OK to just perfect: Banding and Drapery Panels

Here's a one width panel, beautifully done with cartridge pleats, lined in a napped sateen and ready for installation. Nothing wrong with this linen-looking fabric---has great color and texture. However, the room that will eventually house these drapes needs just a little more punch, and this window treatment will do that.



To the rescue: a decorative flat trim, a good measuring tool, needle and thread (and a few hours of sewing time!).


Since these are currently hanging in our workroom, not the customer's home, you can't see the full effect. But, keep looking for the "after" shots. These are due to be installed this week, and we are anxious to show you the finished product. You can already see the "punch" the trim gives these drapes.



Here's a close-up of another type of banding. This one has been made from a coordinating fabric and applied to the leading edge and wrapped around to the back making the hemmed edge.


Here's a different view of the drapery panel. You can get a better idea of how banding really adds a tailored detail to a more decorative fabric. In this case, the tiny check helps break up the busy look of the floral fabric. You don't have to use a solid to use banding. It has also given us an opportunity to include the coordinating fabric in the pillows, as you can see in the chair.



One more example of banded panels. This one has the coordinating fabric used as banding on the leading edge and the outside edge. That is the same fabric on the euro shams. The banding was cut to take advantage of both the dark and light stripes in the fabric.


Whether the banding is cut from another fabric or purchased as a pre-made trim, it really can turn your drapes into just the perfect frame for your windows.