Mary Dobson shows us how you can use flat sheets for making draperies or as the lining for other drapes made out of other fabrics. Before you start, there are a few things you want to consider:

– Press the sheets before you do anything else to remove the fold marks. These can be stubborn and you may even need to prewash to totally remove them.

– You may want to leave the wide hem at the top of the sheet to use as the bottom hem of the panels, but do remove the other three narrow hems (on the bottom and sides).

– Work on a large flat surface to ensure that you are able to square the sheet.  Don’t assume that they are perfectly square out of the package.

– If using for lining, cut each sheet 4 to 5 inches narrower than the main fabric layer. Then, as you stitch right sides together with a 1 inch seam down each side, you will have perfect double-folded side hems when you flip the drape right side out.

– Press, press, press. Press at each step and stage of the process to ensure a professional finish.

– Allow 8 inches at the top for the heading, and if creating your own hem, allow an additional 8 inches.

– A double 4-inch hem is custom drapery standard. A double 4-inch heading is also standard.

– If you do not have drapery heading tape, you can make your own with 4-inch strips of fusible interfacing and remnants of the sheeting fabric.

– A single panel requires 7 to 8 pleats at the top. Evenly space them approximately 7 to 8 inches apart on the flat panel and mark each with a straight pin. Begin and end the pleat spacing about 4 inches in from each side edge.

– Fold each pleat wrong sides together from the pin mark. Machine stitch top to bottom of heading section through all layers about 2 inches from the fold.

– Finish each pleat by flattening the center fold back against the stitched line. Satin stitch the base of each pleat though the center point, again through all layers.

Courtesy Mary Dobson, www.marydobsondesigns.com