Drapery Fabric and MaterialWindows drapes can be made of many different
fabrics. One of the first questions to ask yourself before
choosing what type of fabric you want for your window drapes
is how heavy do you need the drapes to be? Thinner drapery
material can include cotton/polyester or light silk. Thicker
materials include heavier cotton and polyester blends.
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Overall, there are a variety of materials for window drapes.
Commonly used fabrics include cotton, silk, cotton / silk blends and
cotton / polyester blends. Cotton is a natural material that lends
itself well to draperies and curtains. One thing you should note is
that you should make sure the cotton drapes are pre-shrunk so that
the drapes do not shrink if you were to wet wash them. The benefits
of cotton drapes include the fact that cotton is widely available,
reasonably priced and relatively easy to maintain. Your cotton
drapes can also take on many different textures.
Silk is a
widely used material for draperies. Satin curtains are usually made
of silk. Silk drapes have a sheen and glimmer that cotton curtains
don¡¯t have. When you look at the silk drapes from different angles
you can see the light reflect colorfully. For that exquisite look,
silk drapes are what you need. However, silk will fade under heavy
sunlight. Therefore, it is best to have some lining behind the silk
to protect the material. A blackout lining is the usual choice in
this case.
Cotton and silk blends create a curtain that has
the sheen and glimmer of silk but with sturdiness and thickness of
cotton. However, this type of fabric is more difficult to find. A
more common fabric is the cotton and polyester blend. Polyester
allows for a less wrinkled look and brings in more of the free
flowing properties of silk without the price of silk.
Sometimes it is both economical and advantageous to make
your own drapes. If you have access to a store that sells fabrics
you can pick out the right fabric you like and make your own drapes.
Remember to think about how you want to use your drapes before
choosing the fabric. Decide if you need a blackout lining or darker
colored drapes to block out the light. If you plan to wash your
drapes in the future, think about the type of material that will
withstand this. In general you will only want to dry clean your
drapes if necessary. Although silk is a beautiful choice, make sure
you take into account the chance of it fading. Although the Internet
is good for browsing around, you should always go into a local store
to make sure you look and feel the fabric before you buy.
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