Without buckram to stiffen them, your curtains may sag at the top. Hanging your curtains on a traverse rod lets you open and close them by pulling a cord. Traverse rods have tracks filled with carriers, plain or disguised as rings. To hang curtains on a traverse rod, you attach drapery hooks to the curtains, and then slip the hooks through holes in the carriers. When you pull the cord, the carriers move along the track. The key to making your own traverse rod curtains is choosing a style that looks and functions right with the carrier system. Header Styles The header is the top of the curtain. When you're making traverse rod curtains, the header style you choose is crucial. Tab top, tie top and rod pocket headers do not work with traverse rods; the headers are designed for pole rods. Smocked, shirred and pleated headers work well with traverse rods. All three styles are narrowed at the top, which makes the bottom look full even when the curtains are closed. Smocked headers are pleated all along the header.

Some of the pleats are tacked open to create diamond-shaped, decorative patterns. Shirred headers have rows of gathers, which creates a soft, folded effect. Opting for a pleated header gives you the most options. French, knife and box pleats have a classic look that works with almost any decorating style. Butterfly, fan and goblet pleats have an opulent, romantic look. For a contemporary space, consider Euro or pencil pleats. Header Construction No matter which header style you choose, line your header with iron-on or sew-on buckram. Buckram is a cloth liner that stiffens the header and keeps it from drooping between hooks. It also enables you to create crisp pleats, and it provides a stable foundation for inserting your drapery hooks. You can smock, shirr or pleat your curtain header by hand, or you can use a specialty tape that does most of the work for you. You sew the tapes to the back of the curtain header, and then pull a series of thin cords to narrow the header into your desired style.

Fullness Make your traverse rod curtains to the right fullness to ensure a luxurious, professionally made look. Don't try to keep the fabric cost down by reducing the fullness. Choose a lower-priced fabric instead. If you use sheer or lightweight fabric, plan to make the make the total width of both panels in a pair three times as wide as the traverse rod. wooden curtain pelmets manchesterIf you use medium to heavy fabric, make them 2.5 times the width of the rod, unless your header styles requires more width. flexible curtain track argosSome styles, such as box pleats and five-finger pleats, look best with three times the width in any fabric weight. jeana curtainsLining and Interlining Unless you're using sheer fabric to filter light without blocking it, line your curtains. modern lifestyles hartman curtains

Lining adds weight and body to the curtains, which makes them look and hang better. Lining also protects the curtain fabric from the sun, and it ensures privacy when you're using a lightweight or loosely woven fabric. For even more sun protection and privacy, use an interlining between the curtain fabric and the lining material. vymura curtainsIn addition to adding more body to the curtains, interlining has thermal qualities. curtains 66 x 54 argosWhen the curtains are closed, interlining helps keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. target hippo shower curtainHems Use double-folded hems in your traverse rod curtains to hide the raw edges, and then stitch the folds in place by hand. Miter the corners where the side and bottom hems adjoin.

Add disk-style drapery weights to the mitered corners, and use chain-style weights in the fold of the bottom hem. The weights cause the curtains to hang straighter, and you won't have to fluff them each time they're opened or closed. Hand hemming also looks better from the front, and it prevents damage to delicate fabrics. References Real Simple: Your Guide to Curtains and Window TreatmentsSouthern Accents: Curtains UnlimitedThe Design Directory of Window Treatments; Jackie Von TobelThe Ultimate Curtain Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Your Own Window Treatments; /Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionArched Roman with Side Panels Learn the steps to fabricate and install an arched fabric / sheer Roman and pleated-to pattern panels. Bed Corona with Sheer Panels and Coordinating Window Treatment Follow these steps for creating a crib corona and sheer panels with welted contrast banding and coordinating window treatments for the perfect add-on nursery sale items. Color-blocking is an easy way to bring additional color to a room and can be used to add length or width to your window treatment.

Learn how to add a top and bottom band of color, as well as a band on the leading edge for width. Contemporary Layered Ripplefold Window Treatment Contemporary layered Ripplefold takes less fabric length than a traditional pleated panel since it only uses 1" in the header. Learn to replicate this popular look to wow your customers with this how-to guide. Creative Breakfast Nook Window Treatments Learn the steps to fabricate a flat, functional Roman shade and stationary double pleat panels. Decorating the Cabana with Sheers & Panels Follow these steps to add shade and privacy to your cabana by installing decorative pinch pleat panels and sheers designed with outdoor fabrics. Double Layered Treatment for a Single Rod Discover how we’ve created a double treatment to fit a single rod, taking into account the corner and window specifications, then calculating bracket placement accordingly for a designer window treatment. Drapery with Square EZ-Set™ Grommets

Get the instructions for creating lined, single width panels with square grommets that are super "E-Z" to set in place - giving your classic panels a modern twist in just a few quick steps. Euro Pleat Drapery Panels Learn how to fabricate this clean, tailored pleat that is pinched at the top and open at the bottom, allowing the fabric to flow seamlessley from the top of the drapery to the floor. Follow along with step-by-step instructions for creating these custom panels. Fabric Laminated Crown Molding Get step-by-step instructions on how to construct a fabric laminated crown molding that adds a beautiful custom detail to many styles of window treatments. Grommet Panel for Sliding Door A grommet panel, anchored by Grom-A-Links™ and a convenient front baton is the ideal treatment for a sliding door. Follow this guide to fabricate such a panel, set off by contrasting fabric in the header. How To Make Perfect Drapery Pleats A drapery pleat style can set the tone for any window treatment.

This how-to guide lays out the steps for a wide selection, including pinch pleats, goblet pleats, Euro pleats and more. Indoor / Outdoor Grommet Panels with Fun Tiebacks Create a unique band for panels using grommets and contrasting fabrics, and make one-of-a-kind tiebacks with even more grommets. Inverted Pleat Drapes with Color Blocking Banding Inverted pleat drapes create a flat yet slightly folded drapery header which showcases window treatment fabrics with intricate patterns. In the Master Bedroom Roomscape, we’ve designed and fabricated pleated panels with a color block banding which adds color and texture to the bottom. Italian Strung Living Room Panels Take a traditional window treatment and make it modern with these step-by-step instructions for fabricating 2-width wide Italian strung panels with grommets and box pleats in the header. Discover embellishment tips that will take your treatments to the next level. Get step-by-step instructions for creating a 3-layered window treatment with lead edge details and interlining.

Also discover tips for selecting the perfect drapery hardware and accessories to complement your designs. Medallion Hung Arched, Pleated Panels Learn how to fabricate and install an arched drapery treatment on medallions from the AriA Antiquities 1 â…œ" metal collection and use finials to create custom holdbacks using the new Finial Wall Mount Adaptor. Learn how to create this no-sew shaped tieback for window treatments, traceable pattern included. Pattern-Matched Panels with Center Godet Walk through the steps to plan fabricate and install a stationary, pleated-to-pattern panel with a center godet. Adding a second layer that peeks through to the front on a cornice is a nice way to tie panel fabric to the cornice. Learn the steps to create this light weight cornice using FirmaFlex™ or ContourFlex™. Pleated Panels with a Grommet Detail Header and Mixed Media Tieback Learn to fabricate a window treatment featuring both pleats and grommets in the header to create visual interest, installed on AriATM Metal Hardware rod with mixed-media Artisan Collection finials in a stone and metal combination and tied back with a custom designed tieback incorporating grommets as the finishing touch.

Relaxed Style Roman Shade Learn how to create a relaxed style Roman shade, perfect for any room or client looking for an "unstructured", casual window treatment. Reverse Mount Hobbled Shade Discover the steps to create a reverse mount hobbled shade and a box pleated valance. Roman Shade with Color Block Banding Roman shades can be fabricated many different ways and the classic flat Roman shade is one of the most subtle yet elegant styles. Add another layer of style by incorporating a color block banding to the hem that coordinates the shade with the rest of the design elements in the room. The shade is fabricated to function by incorporating a standard-approved shrouded lift cord and a lift system. Scrunchie Tab Top Panels Learn how to add scrunchies to a standard tab top panel to make a fashion statement. Get tips for best fabric choice for the scrunchies to get the best look for your treatment. Shower Curtain with Inverted Box Pleat Bathrooms need love too!