Back Tab Curtains

 

Pattern matching

 

     A client brought me six drapery panels that she had bought.  Originally they were pinch pleat panels.  She removed the stitching and had them cleaned.  She wanted a heavier panel to replace the back tab panels that she currently had hanging.

Tab tucked under heading

     These panels were heavy!!  The fabric is a heavy brocade.  She wanted three panels total, two with the panels sewn together and 88" long and one a single panel at 50"long.  

Tab turned under on top of heading

     To find a good pattern match I had to take apart all six panels to find the best edges to match.  The heavy weight fabric made it more difficult to get a precise match but from a viewing distance it looks good.  Then I had to hem them, do the side hems and add the lining back in.  Basically I had to start from the beginning but with the added steps of undoing everything first.

     I followed the sizing of the tabs as on the old panel that she currently was using.  When I tried to tuck the tab under the heading piece it didn't look clean so instead I just turned under the bottom of the tab and sewed it on top of the heading piece.  

Stitching at the top to hold tabs and heading in place

     The only problem with back tab panels is that you have stitching showing on the outside of the panel.  However if you use matching thread it can blend in and not be very noticeable.