Making WAVE curtains adapting pleated headed tape ...

I've recently been adapting woven pocket-pleat heading tape for making a pair of 'wave curtains' (see my Stitcherydoodaa blog for details). Conventionally, this is the sort of tape you find on a pair of readymade curtains (image at left) where you pull the heading cords up & immediately a row of 'pencil' pleats' appears across the top of the curtain. Hooks are then placed in any of the pockets to hang the curtains - minor adjustments made to curtain length by varying the position of the hooks in either the upper, middle or lower hook-pocket rows.

Here's my results:

Prepare the curtains as per normal or buy ready-mades - total width of curtains a matter of personal choice but at least a minimum of the pole. If using pencil-pleated tape, ensure the tape's edge is stitched as close as possible to the top of the curtain & just fold under the ends of the tape at either edge as the cords will not be pulled up. The lower edge of the tape should also be stitched down so that the heading tape will now only be a stiffening/support.

Using a total even number of hooks (basic metal ones) per curtain, equally space them across the upper edge pockets of the heading - this will ultimately produce the 'wave' fold when the hooks are in the rings (see image right).

To complete the 'wave' effect, please refer to the instructions detailed in 'Dressing a Window' (click to read it).

Decorating = Finishing outstanding jobs !! ...

For the past week or so I've been involved preparing for the decorator (buying etc etc) which has led into finishing a few outstanding sewing jobs. They are all being updated on the Stitcherydoodaa Blog ... above shows a cuff-link style button made for the patchwork waistcoat.

As decorating is underway for several rooms, I'm now spending some time making a variety of window coverings & curtains - these will also be on view in a few weeks time when completed.

Honesty image comes alive! ...

This morning I'm looking through some previously 'unused experiments' & found these at left - so saves me having to repeat the processes!



They capture exactly what I'm trying to acheive & by using along with yesterday's sample, have created the one below:

Immediately I finished it, it seemed perfect as a solution for the starting point for an image/design (Honesty) begun a few years ago:

2 experiments that went well! ...

I've been experimenting with a heat gun as well as using unconventional "fabric" - here are the results of 2 exciting experiments.

The orange one (result of heat) will possibly be added to an earlier 'cell' (see "Project:Cell" when you've clicked here) & the blue one (painted) will be continued with further enhancement(s). In both samples, it's the textures I primarily like as they are achieving the result I'm after.

X-ray cells !! ...

I've begun my first experiments & sample techniques using 'transparency, illusion & movement (implied or otherwise)' as an initial 'topical' starting point. They were several areas I was interested in a few years ago but unfortunately got 'side-tracked' & was unable to continue with this line of thoughts. Now resurrecting it (especially as it's a suitable topic for my 'cells' project - click if you want to see more), I intend to continue from where I left off. I've quite a few new ideas to play with as well as some from those I left 'mid-stream'. Here's a few experimental 'quick' designs I'm playing with:

This one relates to 'illusion' & is the result of working on a 'plastic carrier bag'. I like the crazing & central imagery & is a very similar effect to the one titled 'An Alien? I made.

An initial section of the above has been 'computer enhanced' (right) & now appears to resemble an X-ray. I shall be working on this more at the weekend (hopefully if time permits) & possibly taking it further to another stage.

Although only an experiment, I am going to call it 'Fossil X-Ray' as that's exactly what it reminds me of ... but more on this later !!

The next series of 'experiments' will involve 'transparency & movement'. Here a fabric swatch from 'yesterday practical work' (an off-cut coloured with water colour pencils) have been revolved through 360 degrees showing the effect of sunlight & shade on the colours & fabrics involved. Again, over the weekend, I'm hoping to work on this some more with other finishings.