French curtains are a wide canvas, gathered in lush folds, the edge of which falls in tails. Curtains can consist of several sections or only one. A window decorated with French curtains instantly turns the room into a luxurious space. Usually soft folds of fabric are evenly distributed throughout the curtain. The window opening looks elegant and elegant.
Let's look into history
French curtains originated in the era of classicism. They are distinguished by pomposity, underlined luxury of draperies. They were made from the most expensive fabrics, decorated with a rich finish on the bottom edge. Often - expensive handmade lace. Among our contemporaries, such curtains are primarily associated with rich royal apartments, luxurious interiors of the 18th century. Although they have already existed since the 14th century.
Traditionally, in our time, lush expensive curtains are used in rooms where solemnity is emphasized - most often in public interiors. In private, they are mainly used when it comes to following a certain style. In a classic style, soft smoothcurtain lines are considered the most successful.
Today these curtains are experiencing a rise in popularity. They decorate large halls, cozy bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms. They even decorate the windows in the kitchen!
Different types of mechanisms
Despite their lush appearance, French curtains have an ingeniously simple design. For their manufacture, a single canvas is used. Cords are threaded through the rows of loops on the wrong side. If you pull on them, the fabric itself folds into soft folds, forming scallops at the bottom.
Curtains can be:
- Static - fixed motionless. They do not move to the side, do not rise and fall. Such curtains are usually sewn from chiffon, organza and other translucent airy fabrics. They are for decoration only and replace tulle.
- Lifts carry a functional load. They are designed to shade the room. With the help of the lifting mechanism, they can be lifted and secured with a latch. At the same time, the curtains gather even more into lush folds, hanging down in beautiful “clusters”.
Do not confuse French curtains with Austrian ones. The models are really similar with lush folds, the principle of the lifting mechanism, and a solid canvas. French curtains have beautiful folds - along the entire length of the canvas. Even if you lower the curtain to its full length, it will retain its folded splendor. Austrian curtains are pleated at the bottom.
French curtains in the kitchen
Luxurious curtains with flowing scallops decorated the front halls and bedroomsFrench court nobility. A spectacular technique was used in the design of theater premises. And even after almost three hundred years, French curtains give the impression of success, respectability. And in our time, they decorate not only living rooms or romantic bedrooms, but also cozy kitchens. To decorate a window with such a curtain, it would seem, not in the most solemn place of the house, there is more than one reason:
- Short draperies provide easy access to the window. And thanks to soft scallops, they look much more respectable than Roman blinds or roll designs.
- Perfectly combined, if necessary, with other window decor - long curtains, narrow lambrequins.
- Due to the plasticity with which the curtain changes the splendor of the folds, it looks great both on a small narrow window and on a rather wide window opening.
- Luxury folds perfectly close the room from prying eyes, so it can be used even in the kitchen on the ground floor without blinds or thick curtains.
French curtains in the kitchen are an ideal addition not only to expensive styles (respectable classics, artsy baroque, harmonious renaissance, pompous empire style). They will perfectly fit into the interior of the kitchen in country style, light Provence, aristocratic English style.
What is a French window
Panoramic glazing - from floor to ceiling, called a French window. It makes it possible to admire the world outside the window.
If the apartment is on the first floorhigh-rise building, and even its windows overlook the neighboring house or garages - there is simply no point in such a window. In addition, such redevelopment will require permits from several organizations.
But if you have built a house where you can implement various ideas, then French windows can be combined with access to the terrace.
Interior designers suggest different curtains for French window:
- blinds vertical or horizontal;
- roller blinds;
- interesting pleated curtains;
- an alternative to all the above types of curtains - Roman blinds;
- French curtains.
The type of curtains is determined by the style direction of the interior.
Sew by yourself
If you want to decorate windows with spectacular curtains, sewing French curtains with your own hands is quite simple.
Before you start, you need to prepare everything you need. Prerequisite: we create decor only on a sewing machine. To sew a French curtain you will need:
- Fabric. How much is needed is calculated using a simple method.
- Decorative trim. It can be braid, lace, fringe. How to sew French curtains, consider the example of an awning. It will take 180 cm of finishing.
- Threads suitable for the selected fabric.
- Tailor's scissors, pins, for measuring you can take a centimeter tape or just a long ruler.
First of all, you should calculate the right amount of fabric.
Calculation of footage
How to sew French curtains with your ownhands? Step-by-step instructions are given for curtains in the kitchen. Using the principles of the methodology, you can calculate and sew curtains for any window. Even in French.
For example, let's take a window size of 100 x 170 cm, where the height is 170 cm and the width is 100 cm. cm does not reach the windowsill.
The required amount of fabric is calculated:
- web width 120 x 1, 5=180 cm;
- height 150 x 2=300 cm.
We carry out the calculation further. The curtain is planned to be assembled on a drawstring. Therefore, another 15 cm will have to be added to the resulting cut width. The final width turned out to be 195 cm.
If you want to take a gathering tape, then you do not need to add 15 cm.
The calculation of the fabric is proposed for the curtain, which will be gathered into soft folds according to the "marquise" model.
The awning is called a French curtain, consisting of one festoon. On the window in the example, we will make two scallops. Their number can be determined independently at will, given the width of the room window.
Since the awning model will consist of two scallops, three drawstrings must be made on the canvas: two along the edges and one in the middle. For a wide window, you can plan more scallops - three or four. Then the number of wings will also increase.
Choosing the right fabric
In order for the folds to lie beautifully, and the curtain turned out to be light and slightly let in light, it is better to choose a soft translucent fabric. It must be taken into accountfor which room curtains are sewn.
The choice of fabric and model of French curtains depends on this. Curtains with many frills or flounces look romantic in the bedroom. In this case, the fabric is preferred in a pastel color and should be soft enough to drape easily.
The living room harmoniously combines light draperies and heavy curtains. But awnings for the kitchen can be sewn from translucent organza. Creases should be kept to a minimum. When everything you need is ready, let's get to work.
Sewing instructions
If the fabric may shrink, dampen and iron it before use. Can be treated with a steamer if it is not thin natural silk. After such a procedure, you will be sure that after the first wash your curtains will not become smaller than the window.
Start cutting. You need to cut out a rectangle. We have already calculated its dimensions.
So, we create French curtains with our own hands. Step by step instructions:
- Cut a strip 15 cm wide along the entire length of the fabric. Make three drawstrings from it. To do this, cut the strip lengthwise into three pieces of 5 cm wide. Bend the long edges of each resulting strip inside out by about 0.5 cm and smooth it with an iron. Fold in half and stitch. Everything, the drawstrings are ready.
- Finish the bottom of the curtain. Fold the edge 2 cm and sew.
- It's the turn of drawstring pockets. Sew pockets along the entire length of the curtains at the edges and in the center. For a pocket in the middle, fold the curtain in half lengthwise. Facialside should be facing inward. Sew back from the 1 cm fold. Sew along the entire length of the curtain, not reaching the edge by 2.5 cm. This will allow you to sew the fringe to the bottom edge of the curtain.
- Now decorate the side pockets. Bend the edges of the curtains on the sides by 1 cm and sew.
- Decorate the bottom of the curtain with decor across the entire width. You can sew fringe, lace, decorative braid.
- To decorate the top of the awning under the cornice, fold the top edge of the fabric 5 cm, sew.
- Use a safety pin to thread the drawstrings into the prepared pockets.
- Put the curtain on the cornice, tighten the drawstrings to the desired length. Instead, you can adapt a regular household cord.
Sewing such a curtain is easy and pleasant. With your own hands you have made a stylish element for the interior of your kitchen. Now the principle of tailoring is clear. You can take on larger curtains for the bedroom or living room.
French curtain style
This decoration of window openings is appropriate in a classic style. French curtains are used in rooms of pompous Empire style, in luxurious baroque, neat and expensive neoclassicism.
In the living room, awnings represent we alth, in the bedroom they bring a touch of romance, to the study they give respectability, and to the kitchen - comfort.
French curtains will accentuate the interior of spacious rooms. A room of modest size will not allow to reveal all their beauty.
It's nice to emphasize well-being,prestige and solidity are just textile decoration of windows. Curtains will also demonstrate the impeccable taste of the owner of the house or apartment.
