A Coverlet fit for a Queen

We love to see how our products are used to create beautiful soft furnishings.  The luxurious bedding ensemble shown below was shared by Artesanas Interior Design, designer Christy Bejarano and Custom Window Treatments, Inc of Charlotte, NC. 

See below to learn the special techniques used to create this coverlet.

 

 

The Details:

Custom painted fabric was used on the bed pillows.  The largest size pillow shams have a pleated flange and self covered welt cord in the edges.  The pillow in the middle features pleated velvet fabric, contrast velvet welt cord and decorative trim.  At the front of the pillow grouping are two rectangular button tufted shams, with brush fringe sewn in the seams.

Custom Window Treatments Inc. used a unique method to create this beautiful coverlet.  Two duvet inserts from Rowley Company were used,  a Down Duvet #DU74/S was sewn to the back of the pleated velvet fabric used for the top of the coverlet, and a Polyester Duvet #DU38/S was sewn to the fabric for the backing.  Contrast welt was added around the edges and the front and back were then sewn together.  Sharon Coppede, with Custom Window Treatments, Inc. shared that they have "...a great machine from the 1920's that will sew anything for us".

After the coverlet was sewn and turned right sides out, it was tufted with covered buttons on the front which were tufted through the duvet filler from front to back with heavy upholstery thread, which was tied off on the back, leaving tails of thread as a design detail.  The tufting holds the coverlet together and gives a luxurious, soft dimpled finish.

 

Thank you for sharing!

 Artesanas Interior Design

 704-663-5091 

Artesanas Interior Design on Facebook

Custom Window Treatments, Inc.
4600 Lebanon Rd., Suite H-2
Charlotte, NC 28227
704-573-8989
704-573-1656 Fax

Custom Window Treatments Inc on Facebook

Updating Ripplefold Draperies

Ripplefold draperies are not just for hospitals and hotels anymore.  This clean and contemporary style of traversing drapery is a hot trend in upscale residential interiors.

 

Ripplefold is created by sewing a stiff, snap tape to the top of a flat drapery panel.  Corresponding snap carriers, which fit into tracks, are spaced to allow for several different amounts of fullness.  When the drapery is snapped to the carriers it creates a smooth, wavy heading that traverses with ease.

The photo shows the Ripplefold snap tape snapped to the carriers on the track.

When using this style, keep in mind that the drapery must hang below the rod, leaving the hardware exposed. This isn't always the best option in residential interiors, where a more finished look may be desired. 

There are two options to cover the tracks; install under a top treatment or fit the track into a painted pr upholstered routed pole rod.

Ripplefold toile drapery is installed under a custom painted wood pole fascia with matching finials.  www.FinestraDecorativeHardware.com

When using a routed pole rod, choose the two or three inch 4003/unfinished square or round wood poles and the 4003 series track with M-393 brackets available from Rowley Company.

To upholster the pole rods, simple staple fabric with tack strip starting at the front edge.  Wrap the fabric to the back and staple along the edge that will be placed next to the wall.  If using thin material, like silk or faux silk polyester, you may want to add interlining under the material.

After the brackets are mounted to the wall, the upholstered pole is screwed in place and then the track is secured into the brackets.

  

The drapery panels are snapped to the carriers under the upholstered wood pole.

Custom painted finial matches the fabric.

To learn more about making Ripplefold drapery view our recorded webinar "Clean and Contemporary Ripplefold Panels" which can be found in the recorded webinar area of our website.

Cornice Board for Teen's Room

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Looking for a top treatment idea for a teenagers room?  This cornice is perfect for any age but the bright pink painted crown molding, trendy dot fabric and crisp white buttons with matching pink borders makes it "way cool". 

The cornice box was made from plywood and painted white. This is one way to finish the inside of a cornice board, lining material can also be attached to the back.  The holes have already been pre-drilled for the buttons... more on that in a moment.

Crown molding is nailed to the top of the cornice board and painted pink. A coordinating twist braid is glued next to the crown molding.

The fabric is placed face down next to the decorative cord and tack strip is used to keep a crisp edge as the fabric is stapled.  Tack strip is a great little industry secret!

In this photo you can see how neat the join is between the fabric and the twist cord. Cornice board padding or interlining can be added to the face of the board depending on the desired look: flat or soft and poufy.

Button borders from Finestra Decorative Hardware are painted to match the crown molding.  Covered buttons are glued into the borders.

After the cornice board was covered the buttons were tied to a cord which was threaded from the front to the back with a long upholstery needle.  The pre-drilled holes make this step easy!  The cord is stapled on the back to secure the buttons.  Note the pink gimp braid trim which was used to cover the trail of staples on the back.

The finished cornice!

It's All About the Details

Window treatment designs will turn into one-of-a-kind creations with the addition of custom touches.  
From pattern placement to hand pleated ruffles and other embellishments: it's all about the details.

Seam together fabric and lining, matching patterns.  Cut valance to shape and place face up on lining which is face down on the work table.
Detail: Pattern matching and pattern placement.

Sew bias banding to the bottom edge and press neatly with an iron.  Turn banding to the reverse side and fold under, hiding the seam.  Finish the banding by sewing or using an adhesive product.
Detail: Beautiful finished edge and mixing stripes and prints.

The ends of the valance are gathered or small pleats can be used.  A horn is created in the "up" portion of the scallop shape along the bottom of the valance.   The valance is ready to mount to the board.
Detail: The fabric design is highlighted in the style.

Box pleated ruffle is stapled to the front of the mounting board.
Detail: Hand pleated ruffles add texture and interest along the top of the valance.

A welt cord detail is added.
Detail: Repeating the stripe fabric and creating a beautiful join between the valance and ruffle.

The valance is placed face down and stapled with tack strip.  When it flips over, the welt cord and ruffle will be above.  Detail: Using an upholstery technique to create a beautiful finish.

Rosettes are made from leftover pleated ruffle and stapled at the top of each horn.
Detail: Rosettes add drama!

A piece of shade lift cord is stapled in the center, and a button embellishment is threaded onto the cord.
Detail: Buttons add a couture touch.

Tie the cord tight to hold the button in place.  Detail: Custom painted buttons from Finestra Decorative Hardware.

The proportions are perfect for this tall window with a transom.
Detail: A scale drawing was created to ensure good proportions.

Our Newest Cord Shroud for Shades

Rowley® Company is proud to share the newest 

innovation in cord shrouds for soft shades.

Introducing Sure-Shade™ Encased Lift Cord Shroud Tube.  This new cord shroud combines a knitted tube with lift cord.  It is easier to tack to the shade, stacks tighter and is less noticeable.

 

The new cord shroud tube encases the lifting cord, keeping it from being 
pulled out and away from the back of the shade.  
This prevents a hazardous cord loop from being formed. 

Unique to our cord shroud tube is a small tacking-strip, which allows you to sew the tube directly to the shade.  No more columns of rings!  This is quite a time saver. Simply tack the shroud tube to the shade every 8" or less and add one shade ring at the bottom to tie off the cord.  At the top, slip the cord from the tube and thread it into the system.

The Encased Lift Cord Shroud Tube has a small sewing strip which is hand-tacked to the shade.  
This keeps the knitted tube stable and secure with no worries of the tube unraveling.

At the top of the shade, the cord is fished out of the tube and threaded into the lift system.  
The EZ-Rig™ shade system is shown here.

A Roman shade on the worktable with Encased Lift Cord Shroud Tube
tacked to the shadeand threaded into the lift system.

Combined with our broad selection of shade operating systems, workrooms now have endless options for meeting the 2010 ANSI Standards for Corded Window Coverings and can be used for any shade style such as plain or ribbed Roman shades, relaxed Roman shades, balloon shades and for creating Italian stringing in draperies.

Use cord shrouds when making styles that incorporate Italian stringing, like this pretty, swagged treatment.

The new Sure-Shade™ Encased Lift Cord Shroud Tube is patent-pending, independently tested and approved and competitively priced.  Currently available in white, with .9 or 1.4mm lift cord or without lift cord for workrooms that wish to thread their own cord into the tube. Coming soon we will offer the cord shroud tube in  ivory, khaki and medium brown to match popular lining and sheer colors.  

Thai Pleats on Brass Hardware

The Thai pleat creates eye-catching texture, and in this sample showcases the stripe pattern in the sheer material. This pleat can also be used for lined or interlined draperies, or as a heading for pleated valances on decorative hardware.

To create Thai pleats, make a drapery panel with a double-fold heading at the top. The amount material used in each pleat needs to be twice the depth of the heading, for example; if using a 4" double fold heading, allow for 8" in each pleat. Fold-in the pleats and sew the bottom half vertically, stopping at the bottom of the heading.

The photo above shows that the top half of the pleat is "open",  and not sewn as you would with other pleats; which are sewn all the way to the top.

Gather or pinch at the base of the pleat and tack, using a doubled thread

After the bottom of the pleat is tacked, stab the needle through the top of the pleat, at the center, and pull the thread to bend the top of the pleat down.

Stitch to secure the top edge of the pleat at where it meets the bottom of the pleat.

This stripe sheer drapery with Thai pleats is shown hanging on Aria™ hardware from Finestra® Decorative Hardware.  The photo at the top of the blog features brushed brass pole rod, rings and ball finial.  The photos at the bottom of the blog features brushed brass pole rod, rings and plain end cap. 

For easy installation, clip-on rings can be used.  The clip will be hidden inside the pleat.
 

www.FinestraDecorativeHardware.com

If rings with eyelets are used, drapery pins can also be inserted into the back, stitched-are of the pleat.

www.FinestraDecorativeHardware.com

Simple Storage Solutions

Here are a few of our favorite storage tips for the drapery and upholstery workroom.
 

Staple cloth tool belts to the frame of your worktable to store commonly used items like scissors, tape measures, pencils and seam rippers.

John Quine, Brook Design in Lancashire, UK shared this clever idea.  John recycled thread cones into a neat and tidy scissor storage area.

Use potholders to store large upholstery needles.  The little hanging loop will allow you to keep them handy at your work area.

Gather up fabric on shirring tape and staple to the wooden frame, or sew rod pocket panels and add 3/8" brass rods with brackets to your utility tables to keep supplies hidden and free from dust.

To keep cardboard tack strip neat and tidy, add an X of hot melt glue or masking tape across one side.  No more tangled tack strip.

Use small storage bins with compartments to keep button forms, small sized grommets and hardware components organized.  Plus you will be able to see when stock is getting low at a quick glance.