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Show WOMAN'S WORLD New Windov Curtains Give Crisp Look By Ertta Haley JUST 8EFORE the warmer weather makea it appearance, many a woman Is apt to take a good look at her windows. The curtains look very dirty and sleazy after a winter's heating. If you're certain they won't stand another laundering session, then get out the tape measure and sewing machine ma-chine It's time to make new window win-dow dressings! Glass curtains are among the easiest items that can be made at home. Mi st of them require only long stretches of straight seams. There's no fancy stitching or cutting, cut-ting, no elaborate patterns, and hardly ever any ripping If you follow the simplest rules. Soft, full gathers will make the ' simplest materials exquisite when they're made Into curtains. First measure the windows as to height and width. The curtain material should be purchased twice as wide as the window. You'll need at least two inches at both top and bottom for seam allowances, and from two to four Inches for a shrinkage tuck, so add at least eight Inches to window win-dow measurements on the length. Net. marquisette, scrim, sheer rayon or nylon are all used for frlnaa riirtiitnt A oncu nimHfv firm. ly woven material will give you the most satisfaction and most wear and is well worth the few cents more a yard which It costs. Ira Miasur windowt ctrtjully , , It's very Important to buy good material if you live in a community that's dirty or smokey, because then curtains will have to with-, stand frequent washing. nave Edges Straight For Good Appearance Because curtains are so large, it Is best to cut them on the floor where you'll have enough space to spread them out If you place the curtain material on a rug, the fabric adheres to the rug and you For nkt, full curtains. need no pins to secure It Use the vacuum cleaner on the rug, and run over it with a damp No Purse Problem f ' ' (x ' You need never again worry about what to do with your purse when dining out, If yon have one of these smart purse holdcrettcs. These Inexpensive gadgets are small and compact; they fit Into your bag when not In use, and will help you avoid uncomfortable Juggling of the purse on the lap or trying to find a place on the table or floor for the bag. They may also be used for holding unbrel-las unbrel-las or packages. cloth to catch any dirt, or you will soli the curtain. Whenever possible, tear the curtain cur-tain fabric, rather than cutting It as this will give you stralghter seams to sew. If the fabric docs not tear, draw a thread and cut on the thread line. If you cannot pull a thread use a yardstick or ruler, and draw a chalk line on which to cut Pay special attention to the grain of the fabric In cutting, folding and stitching so the curtain will hang straight Selvage edges are woven tighter tight-er the the curtain fabric and should be removed before cutting and sewing sew-ing the seams. Why? After the curtain cur-tain Is washed, you may find yourself your-self with baggy curtains which never nev-er can be ironed smooth. This selvage does not show up in the new curtain, but it will almost al-most always show up after laundering. laun-dering. Use Iron to Save Basting Stitches Professional seamstresses always work with an Iron and Ironing board set up, ready to use, In their sewing room. Many edges can be pressed Immediately after cutting so that the fold Is sharp. This may be stitched without basting. As soon as the curtain is cut or torn, turn the side seams, using an Iron to fold them neatly. The hem edge on these li one or two Inches when finished. Press first a quarter of an Inch turn, then a second one inch turn. Pin the hem on the outside edge and then stitch, thus having basting. The top edge Is turned In a casing, cas-ing, out this usually is basted first so that you can hang the curtain for trial to see that It tits your curtain rod. This fitting will also help you In seeing that the curtain hangs properly. Use Stiffening At Heading If you like transparent curtains to hang properly, it'a best to use some stiffening at the heading of the curtain. Usually three Inches or slightly more is best. Firm crinoline or buskram are fabrics which are best In measuring the turning necessary neces-sary tor the heading, decide first on the depth of the pleat then turn the top edge In two inches more than this measure, allow a double turn-to the buckram will not show. When measuring the buckram, measure two inches from the edge, because the top stiffening should not extend to the outside hem of French-pleated curtains. It's also possible to use washable buckram banding made with eyelets eye-lets to form the French pleats. No rings are needed. The curtain pole Is slipped right through the eyelets, eye-lets, thus giving the necessary pleat. If you are putting in the shrinkage shrink-age tuck of two to four Inches, put this In at the top In a narrow heading head-ing above the casing. Or, to avoid the shrinkage tuck, wash the curtain material before sewing, and it will shrink as much as It is going to, and oo allowance need be made. |