Curtain Fabrics & Materials

Curtain Fabrics & Materials

All of our designer fabrics are suitable for making curtains. The 100% Linen and Linen Unions will create beautiful made to measure curtains that will drape beautifully and maintain their shape. Natural linen fabric is also perfect for curtains since it is highly durable, won't fade in south facing windows, and provide a neutral foundation for any room scheme to be built on.

Linen fabric is made from the fibres of the flax plant so it is a natural product but is laborious to manufacture, therefore it can be more expensive than some other fabrics. Flax is a tall, reed like plant which grows all over the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. It has been made since about 1000BC in Egypt and was one of the first fibres to be made into cloth.

Linen fabric gives a relaxed natural look and is great for use in a shabby chic or country style interior. Linen curtains can keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

To get the best curtains for your home, here is how to choose from the different types of curtains styles and materials. 

How do I calculate how much fabric I need for curtains?

To get started, you will need to know the width of the pole or track (If on a pole, this will be the width between finial to finial), the finished length of the curtain (from the top to the bottom), and finally the pattern repeat of the chosen fabric. It is always a good idea to put the pole or track up first, so if not in place, please mark this out with a pencil beforehand.

Our website will automatically calculate the fullness in accordance to the designated heading, eg 2.2 for Pencil Pleats x the width of the pole, as well as adding a 30cm hem allowance for each drop. I.e. 25cm for the bottom hem and 5cm for the top hem that’s hidden by the header tape etc. You will simply need to work out how high you want to hang the curtains on your pole if you want them to cover the pole or hang beneath it etc.

If you have a curtain track, you will need to hide the track, so measure 1 cm above and add this to your finished length. As your width increases you will need more than one width of fabric in each curtain; please continue reading to learn how to calculate the amount of fabric required.

To find out how much fabric you will need for your curtains, there is a dedicated area on the website which calculates this automatically for you. Simply click on the fabric of your choice, select 'Curtains' underneath 'Use this fabric to make'. This will take you to another page where you can add in your curtain measurements, heading options etc, then click 'Confirm or Print', and the pop-up will tell you how much fabric you need next to the line 'Length required'. Please note that this automatically calculated quantity is what we would supply directly to our makers, so if you have a seamstress making them for you, we would highly suggest confirming the final quantity with them before ordering. Please keep in mind when ordering fabric, that we can cut in increments of 10cm; minimum fabric order is 1 metre.

We have a very helpful Made to Measure video that walks you through the process of measuring for curtains and blinds.

What curtain heading options are available?

We offer five different headings, one of which has two depth options. The summary of each is as follows:

- Cottage Pleat - This comes with two depth options: 5cm and 10cm. As its name would suggest it is a perfect choice for cottages. It has a gathered heading and comes on a 1" tape.

- Pencil Pleat - This is a very popular choice. Made on a 3" tape, it doesn't just look stylish, but it gives you the option to move the curtains higher or lower if needed.

- Double Pleat - A great option for a contemporary setting, and look just as beautiful interlined as they would do standard lined.

- Triple Pleat - This is the most formal heading option available, best suited for dining rooms or study areas.

See images of these different headings on our made to measure curtains page.

What type of fabrics are your curtains made from?

The printed linen unions are a mixed Linen with Organic Cotton fabric. These are so easy to work with and create a soft yet strong, printed Linen Union fabric. They drape beautifully once made into curtains; it is made with 60% Linen and 40% Organic Cotton.

Whereas pure 100% Linen can crease slightly more, (which is fine if you are creating a relaxed look). By mixing it with cotton you can get a more tailored look whilst keeping the luxury of linen. Interlining is a good way to plump the curtains, provide insulation, and act as draft excluders for both types of linen; suitable all year round.

Personally, we love 100% Linen with its informal natural look. Natural Linen fabric is also perfect for curtains since it is highly durable. Natural and eco-friendly curtains are made from linen. Linen curtain fabrics are made from flax and need very few chemical fertilisers and fewer pesticides than cotton.

Linen fabric is noted as the fabric of luxury and it symbolizes comfort and elegance. It has a beautiful texture; perfect as curtains and against the light on the window. It is also possibly the world's oldest fabric and is antibacterial and antifungal. Linen fabrics do not cause irritation or allergies when used in furnishings and curtains, and they provide protection against UV radiation.

Our contemporary 100% Linen and Linen Union fabrics come in a range of prints & colours, suitable for any modern interior. From bold curtain fabric to understated and plain, there’s a vast choice of fabrics for curtains to help you transform your home!

Here is how to measure your window for curtains to get the perfect fit.