How to Make Drapes With Gromments
- 1). Calculate the length of the drapery panel by measuring for the desired finished length, adding 8 inches for the lower hem and 2 inches plus two times the outside diameter of the grommet for the top hem.
- 2). Determine the width of the finished drapery panel by measuring the space you wish to cover multiplied by the fullness desired. Drapery panels are usually 2 to 2-1/2 times the width of the area being covered. Use these measurements to purchase enough fabric to create as many panels as desired.
- 3). Place the panel wrong-side-up on a flat surface. Turn and press 3 inches toward the wrong side on both sides. Unfold and fold 1-1/2 inches of the raw edge toward the pressed fold line. Press in place. Fold again along the original pressed fold, creating a double-fold hem. Press, pin in place and blind-stitch by hand for an invisible hem or a machine stitch using a long straight stitch, which will be visible.
- 4). Turn and press 8 inches of the lower hem allowance toward the wrong side. Unfold and turn 4 inches of the raw edge toward the pressed fold line. Press in place. Refold the edge creating a double-fold hem 4 inches deep. Pin in place and hand-stitch with a blind stitch or machine stitch with a long straight stitch.
- 5). Create a hem at the top of the panel by folding and pressing the hem allowance calculated in Step 1 of Section 1 toward the wrong side of the fabric. Unfold and fold the raw edge toward the fold line. Before stitching, unfold the top hem and using scissors, trim the side hems to within 3/8 of an inch of the first fold of the top hem to reduce fabric bulk and make grommet placement easier. Refold the double-fold top hem and blind stitch by hand or machine stitch in place.
- 6). Measure 3/4 of an inch from each edge at the top of the panel and mark with a safety pin. This marks the placement of the first grommet on either side. Measure the placement of the rest of the grommets, allowing 6 to 10 inches between each, depending on how much drape you want in the fabric between the grommets. The further apart the grommets, the more the fabric will drape between them. Place a pencil mark for the final placement of each grommet, aligning the grommets between the top fold of the hem and the stitched edge.
- 7). Place the drapery panel wrong-side-up on the small block of wood, and with the grommet punch centered on the mark, hit the punch with the hammer to indent the fabric. Make an X inside the indentation with a utility knife. Cut out the fabric inside the indentation with scissors. Be careful not to make the hole too large.
- 8). Lay the panel wrong-side-up. From beneath the panel, insert the front section of grommet, the piece of grommet that extends from the front to the back. Place the ring portion of the grommet over the protruding part of the first section, with the curved side facing up.
- 9). Place the round section of the grommet-setting tool on a firm surface. Place the drapery panel wrong-side-up with the grommet section centered over the hole in the tool. Place the punch section of the tool over the grommet ring, making sure the protruding part of the grommet is seated in the indentation on the punch. Strike the punch four or five times with the hammer to seat the front portion of the grommet with the back ring. Repeat for each grommet.