Ready Made VS Custom Made Window Treatments

Apples and Oranges?


Today's market is bombarded with ready made window treatments. You can find them everywhere! From a department store to the dollar store. But? What really is the difference? They all have the same basic function. To cover or decorate a window opening. In all honesty the difference is tremendous! It's like apples and oranges.

What Ready-Made is......and What it's NOT!

Ready-made window treatments are easily available. Their price range can be anywhere from
$15- $90+ a panel. They come in select sizes. Usually finding anything more than 84" long is difficult. Which limits where to hang your hardware. There are many available colors and patterns to choose from at different stores. Although shade choices can be challenging. Ready-made window treatments don't have many header choices. Usually you can get a flat panel, a rod pocket, or a tab top. These treatments are usually made of fair fabric and are seldom lined and never interlined.

Custom window treatments give the client an unlimited amount of choices. There basically aren't any limits. From color, to function, to material. The biggest advantage to custom made is the materials used.

Lining and Interlining - Generally, Ready-Made Drapery is not lined, or if it is, the lining is of very poor quality. Custom Drapery is always lined with top-quality white or ivory satin lining. Quality lining gives drapery treatments greater body, and also extends the life of your drapery fabric. Interlining, or Bump, is best used with silks and more delicate fabrics, as it gives fine fabrics more fullness, and also acts as insulation in cooler climates. You will never find interlining in Ready-Made Drapery.

Panel Widths - Ready-Made Drapery comes in single-width panels. If you wish to cover a larger window, you will need multiple panels and they will not be attached to each other. If the panels have a pattern, the pattern will most likely not appear in the same location on each panel. Custom Draperies are made to order, so no matter what width you need, your panels will be sewn together, and patterns will seldom be interrupted or broken.

Workmanship - Besides the differences mentioned above, Custom Draperies will meet the following criteria:

4" Double-turned heading with crinoline for shape and stability

4" Double-turned bottom hem, blind stitched for added body

1 1/2" Double-turned side hems, blind stitched for smooth edges

Weighted hems when needed

But most importantly, when you purchase Custom Draperies, you also receive the services, knowledge, and expertise of a Window Professional.

Drapery

Like I said earlier, I have had my share of sewing in many different fields. Currently I am a drapery seamstress, and love it! I am very fond of the calculations it takes to master home decoration. It can be very creative, as in the fabrics you choose but, is very precise all the same. I am in love with constructing silk Dupioni drapery panels. I have definatly learned a few tricks of the trade along the way.

I remember growing up in my grandmothers house. She had a 1950's Singer. She used to try and sew all the time. She would make my sister and I dresses. God! I hated them. I always felt so stupid. She thought it was ok to hem a pair of jeans with a straight stitch with white thread. Hahaha.
She also made all the curtains in her house. She had a different set for every season and holiday. She really did take pride in what she did. As a child, I really didn't know the difference. Today, although is a different story. I look at her windows now and it really inspired me to master the craft. The idea of sewing on one setting and with one type of thread for all materials is just baffling. Of course I compliment her for all of her projects always trying to give advice. She likes to do it her way!

Etsy

In the next few weeks I will be launching a shop on etsy.com. I am very excited to begin this project. All though sewing is not new to me, blogging and online selling is. As I grow this blog I hope that you will enjoy what's to come. I intend to express my creativity and help a few a long the way. Sewing is a passion for many of us and educating ourselves throughout is not only rewarding but fun! I can't wait to share my tips as well as my successes and failures.