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Home & Interior Design books:
Simply Window Treatments: All You Need to Know to Make Curtains, Shades, and Swags

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Manufacturer: Sunset Publishing Corporation

List Price: $18.95
Our Price: $7.46
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Average Customer Ratings:

The dressing on a room's windows can mean the difference between a decorating scheme that doesn't quite work or one that is truly successful. But custom-made window treatments can be terribly expensive, and many do-it-yourselfers are afraid to tackle anything more complicated than a hemmed rectangle of fabric stuck on a pole. As this attractive and thorough guide points out, most curtains start out as exactly that; their uniqueness and appropriateness to a particular setting is a matter of proportion, color, trim, and other detailing. Embodying Sunset's winning how-to series format (see also Simply Slipcovers and Simply Upholstery), the book explains how to choose the right treatment and supplements its extensive step-by-step instructions with good, clear photos and diagrams. In addition to actual construction information for various curtains, valances, swags, and shades, the projects explain planning, measuring, and cutting and include loads of great tips on achieving a professional appearance. Many projects also feature design variations and occasionally "designer details," ideas for finishing touches like tiebacks, rosettes, or sheer mitered hems. Following the 20 projects, the "basics" section explains hardware and mounting considerations, yardage calculations (including photocopy-ready worksheet blanks), installation directions, general construction techniques, and an overview of essential equipment. Even the novice sewer can create dynamic, professional-looking window treatments with the excellent guidance here. --Amy Handy


PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS:

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 646.21
EAN: 9780376017376
ISBN: 0376017376
Label: Sunset Publishing Corporation
Manufacturer: Sunset Publishing Corporation
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 128
Publication Date: 1998
Publisher: Sunset Publishing Corporation
Studio: Sunset Publishing Corporation


SIMILAR ITEMS:

• Sunset Curtains, Draperies & Shades
• Simply Pillows (Simply...)
• The Ultimate Curtain Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Your Own Window Treatments
• Windows with Style: Do-it-yourself window treatments
• Window Treatments Idea Book (Taunton Home Idea Books)


CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

misleading title: draperies are omitted completely -
I was interested in having some standard draperies made, and wanted to learn about sizing. I assumed that a book on window treatments would cover draperies. Wrong. Nothing on draperies, not even an index entry. So draperies are not a window treatment? This is especially bad, because there is a section in the beginning where they discuss the pros and cons of different types of window treatments; without an explanation of the pros and cons of draperies, how can you decide that the curtains explained in the book are the right thing for you? Another bad effort from a publishing industry that apparently has fired all the editors.

Not exactly simple -
I purchased this book because after searching the entire internet, it was the only item that I could find that showed a curtain for an arched window. The book was helpful in making a pattern but was very vague in its instructions. Since I have been sewing for 36 years I was able to overcome that obstacle, but beginning sewers will have difficulty following the instructions. So, if you're an experienced seamstress and want to make a curtain for an arched (or half moon) window, buy this book, if not, think twice.

Good Reference -
There are a few things I like about this book. The back of the book has a good reference section to teach you about hardware, inside mount, oustide mount, and basically to explain a lot of the techniques it uses throughout the book in the various projects. That is great. I also learned form this book how to make a perfect mitered hem. So professional looking! For that reason alone this book was worth my purchase.

I will say, however, that this book is a bit dated so it may be hard for a beginner to envision their own style with some of the outdated window treatments illustrated. I also think the instructions are difficult to understand. I read many of the projects (especially the one for Roman Shades) and thought, why are they making this so complicated? It's not that hard!! I thought the same thing about Simply Slipcovers. Maybe I like things explained very simply but I do think that some of the projects could really scare off beginners with the complicated wording.

I am happy I bought this book though. It is good for ideas, although I wish it had more of them. I've seen bigger books out there with more window treatments ideas than this one. I kind of wish I had gone with a book that would give me more bang for my buck.

My London Shade turned out lovely! -
This is one of two curtain making books I own and it is my very favorite. The project I tackled was the "london shade" - mind you, one of my FIRST sewing projects. I had a bit of trouble making the box pleats - but overall, this book guided me to success and I'm looking forward to making another london shade for another room in my house. I've also got plans to try the poufed cloud shade.

I had some difficulty finding the cafe rings used for the backside of the London Shade (the rings that the cord runs through) but was able to order them from Ace Hardware.

There's also a Double Drape tied swag that I'd LOVE to try - but real wary of trying a swag project after one EXTREMELY frustrating experience with swags. That was, of course, before I owned this book - so perhaps it would go more smoothly this time around.

I LOVE this book. I found the directions easy to follow and I LOVED the way it broke down measurements for me for the London shade (Tail, Pleat and Scallop). My shade truly turned out lovely, I made it with a red linen.

I highly recommend this book!

Too confusing -
I bought this and felt let down. The instuctions are confusing, have too many cross references, and assume a certain amount of skill. This is definitely not what I would call straight forward. I would absolutely not recommend this to a beginner as it can be overwhelming. I ended up not using one bit of information from this book. I also found the ideas to be either too stuffy or relaxed, I couldn't find a middle ground. I found Window Style to be much more informative

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