An enquiry about making detachable thermal linings
Tina Summerville emailed last week with this query. We have Tina’s permission to publish her question and our reply.
Hello,
I read the new release for December 2008 and it mentioned it is easy to make thermal lining for curtains. Is it possible to find out more information on how to do this,and how to know what makes good lining fabric?
Thank you for you help.
Tina
Hi Tina,
The plain, (usually cream or white) thermal backed fabric for curtain linings is available from most curtain or fabric shops, eg Lewis’s, Spotlight, etc. Cost is around $11 per m for 1.40 m wide fabric. The tape to go along the top is around $1.00 per m.
It’s a little hard to do a written description of how to make them. If you wanted, you could call me on 0800 388 588 and I could talk to you about the method, and answer any questions. The shop you buy the material from should also be able to help you out –tell them you are wanting to make detachable linings. I will also try to get some better photos posted up soon.
Basically you make the linings as long as the front curtains, plus about 8cm for a hem. Each lining should be about three quarters the width of the curtain track (this is assuming you have two curtains). However, the width doesn’t have to be exact and often you just make the width the same as one drop, or one and a half drops, or two drops of lining fabric, whatever comes closest to the desired width.
if you need more than one drop of fabric for each side, stitch drops together at the sides. Neaten the outside edges if required and do the hem.
The total width along the tops of the curtains is how much tape you will need, plus a few cms extra.
The tape gets sewn along the top of the lining curtains, turned over and neatened at the ends. Then gather in the tapes slightly, so the width of the lining curtains suits the front curtains.
Take the hooks out of the front curtains.
Lay the front curtains out on the floor wrong side up. Place the linings over the front curtains right side up.
Replace the hooks, by catching up a slit in the lining tape and a loop in the main curtain tape on the same hook.
Once all the hooks are in place, lift up the curtain and lining together (it may be quite heavy) and hook back up onto the track.
Tina, I hope that helps, but as I said do feel free to call if you it isn’t clear. Would you mind if I posted your question and this email on our site as I’m thinking this could also be helpful to others?
Kind regards,
Sarah Free
Energy Advisor
January 3rd, 2010 at 6:30 pm
We have been organising removable linings for our drapes but our problem is that the more effectively we insulate for heat loss the more trouble we have with mildew from condensation. The answer to condensation is supposed to be more ventilation but that defeats the purpose of keeping the warmth in. We wonder if a quick-removal lining that can be washed more frequently would help.
January 11th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Hi Bev,
This can be a problem especially if you have single glazed aluminium windows. The condensation occurs because the warm moist air behind the curtain cools down and the water vapour condenses on the coldest surfaces. The more effectively the curtains are insulating the colder the back of the curtains will be.
Some suggestions:
1. Make sure the house is well ventilated during the day and into the late afternoon to reduce the indoor humidity. Open kitchen windows when cooking or use an extractor fan to reduce moisture being released indoors.
2. Open the windows (just a crack) behind the curtains for a short time after nightfall. This will let a small amount of colder (but drier) air in. Alternatively, try opening the curtains just a little at the end of the evening to let some of the warmer air in behind them.
3. If you do notice condensation on your wiondowsills, do mop it up, as otherwise it will re-evaporate once temperatures rise again, and will contribute again to indoor humidity.
It may be a matter of experimenting to see if the above suggestions help at all- I would be interested to know how you get on.
Best wishes,
Sarah Free (energy advisor, Wellington )
January 29th, 2010 at 3:01 am
I have been using detachable lining on the back of my drapes for the last 18 years. They are as new as the day I made them. They are easy to sew and use. They look great from the outside as I have made all my hems on the side that faces my front drapes. I have made these for friends for pinch pleat, four prong hooks, pencil pleat and ring curtains. I am looking at making them with press studs at the moment for eyelet curtains. I highly recommend them for both summer and winter insulation. I make them narrower than the front curtain and just a little wider than the window that way there is not too much curtain bulk for asthetics and for the wight of track or rod. They sit neater when opening and closing curtains if press studs are attached to the sides of lining and curtains to hold them together.