| There's more to shopping for curtain fabric than | | | | curtains are worthlining, and even some of the thinner |
| seeking out the perfect print of the weave those | | | | softer cloths, which drape well look very limpunless |
| complements the color scheme to perfection. | | | | they are lined. |
| Furnishing fabrics are not all suitable for every situation. | | | | The after-care of made-up curtains also needs some |
| With the wide range of weaves and weighs of cloth | | | | though when choosing fabric. |
| available, make sure the one you buy will do the job | | | | Unless a fabric is labeled and sold as pre-shrunk of |
| you have in mind. The two most important factors to | | | | fixed-finished, shrinkage havebetween five and six per |
| bear in mind when looking for curtain fabric are | | | | cent is considered normal. Fabric needs to be flexible |
| resistance to fading and the weight of the fabric. | | | | enoughto roll around a wooden dowel. All |
| Light resistance curtains, being so close to windows, | | | | medium-weight fabrics can be used, but look fortightly |
| take a lot of punishment fromsunlight. Make sure to | | | | woven cottons for really reliable results. If curtains are |
| close fabrics that are resistant to fading and rotting by | | | | going to need regularwashing it is sensible either to |
| the sun'srays, particularly for rooms which get the sun | | | | pre-wash the fabric, lining and tape, or to make |
| throughout most of the day. Look at theweight and | | | | curtainwith detachable linings. |
| quality of the fabric. In general, all but the lightest | | | | |