Many years ago I saw this extended tie top drapery in a magazine I believe, and I have created it twice now and just love it. The elongated ties add interest at ceiling level and for extra long draperies they help break up the long vertical feeling.

This close-up will give you a better idea of what I mean by elongated ties.

Materials List:

• Fabric of your choice
• Lining fabric
• Soft flannel-like inside liner fabric
• Coordinating thread for each fabric
  Wooden drapery rods, hardware & finials
• Fiber fill
• Weights for ends of ties (I used bronze jingle bells)

Tips:

Start by determining where the rod will be located on the wall. I like to actually install the rods before I make the draperies so I am sure I have my measurements correct. For these particular draperies, I used a short rod to create a stationery panel. Because I knew I was tying the draperies on the rod, I measured from the bottom of the rod to the floor to determine the length of the panel. If you want your drapery to float just above the floor, subtract ½” from the measurement. For extra long draperies, subtract one inch to account for the change of seasons when fabrics absorb moisture or dry out.

To make the same draperies I made, you would use a lightweight fabric that requires a soft inner lining to give it body in addition to the regular cream or white lining material used in normal drapery construction. Mine was soft like a flannel but not as heavy as a felt.

Instructions:

1) My first step was to cut out my panels the length I had measured plus 1” at the top for a seam allowance and 5½ inches at the bottom for a hem. I cut my light flannel inner lining to the same dimensions minus 5½ inches. I then cut my lining panels 3” narrower than the drapery panels and 6” shorter than the length of the drapery.

2) Pin the inner lining to the top and sides of the wrong side of the drapery panel and machine baste along the sides only.

3) Hem the lining material by folding up ½” then 1 ½” and slipstitching or hem stitching on the sewing machine. (Make sure to fold in the sides of the lining panel ½” and catch the sides in the hem.)

4) Pin the wrong side of the lining material to the wrong side of the drapery panel along the sides and sew the seams together, stopping about 6 inches short of the lining hem.

This will help later when hemming the drapery panel. Keep the inner lining pinned to the drapery panel across the top. Set panel aside to cut out ties.

5) I cut out 9 ties per drapery panel, the width of the fabric and 5 ½” wide. I then folded the ties in half lengthwise, tapered the ends to a point, sewed the ends and one side closed, leaving enough of an opening to turn the ties right side out.

6) Once they were turned right side out, I then ironed the ties flat and lightly stuffed them with fiber fill, then sewed the opening closed.

I made sure to leave the opening in the middle of the tie where I knew it would fall around the rod and be hidden.

7) Next, fold over the ties, some directly in half, others off center by a couple of inches to vary the lengths of the ties. Pin the ties at the fold to hold in place. Determine the placement of the ties across the top of the drapery panel. (Drapery panel is wrong side out with inner lining and drapery facing up and lining facing down on the table.)

Open the drapery panel at the top between the panel and the lining, and insert the ties, pointed ends stuffed down between the panel and lining. Line up the fold of the tie with the top edge of the panel and inner lining, and the regular lining, pin in place and stitch the top edge closed, catching all of the ties along the top edge.

8) Turn drapery panel right side out and iron. Fold up drapery panel hem 1 ½” and then 4” and hand stitch through inner lining and front side of panel.

Lay lining over the new hem in drapery panel and pin the remainder of the lining sides to the drapery panel and hand stitch in place.

M

y final touch was to sew dark brown sleigh bells to the ends of all the ties. Amazingly this took almost longer than making the draperies! Then of course the last step was to climb the ladder and tie the draperies in place. And, just take a look at the before and after…..what a difference!!

before                        after

Shari

Comments (1)

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written by Judie, November 02, 2011

I love this idea and plan on using it. Thanks for the great tutorial. I, also, love the fabric. Can you tell me where you got it and/or the manufacturer?

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