Made to Measure Curtains

Made to Measure Curtains

We create high quality made to measure curtains to dress your windows to your exact requirements, made to fit any window size or style. Each of our bespoke curtains can be beautifully made for you by professionals in our traditional workshop based in the UK. Choose your luxury curtains from designs in our huge range of fabrics and rest assured your curtains will be hand finished to the best quality standards with attention to detail and delivered to in as little as eight weeks (lead times are subject to fabric availability).

How to measure up for curtains

We have developed two templates that will help guide you through the measuring process. You can find detailed, visual instructions on how to measure your Curtains in the video that follows. Or you can read, print, download, or even share our measuring care and advice instruction leaflet. 

It is very straight forward if you follow the instructions carefully. And is much easier if you already have your curtain pole or curtain tracks above your windows in place first, but not impossible if you can't do that. You only need to take two measurements; the length of the pole/track and the length or drop of the curtain (from the pole/track to the floor).

Here are detailed instructions for measuring your curtains.

Before you take out the tape measure, decide how high above the window you'd like the curtains to begin. Top tip! Hanging curtains higher than the window will give a sense of height to the room. Here are more tips on how to hang made to measure curtains

How do I decide whether I should interline my curtains?

Linings are essential, even if just backed with a simple lining. However, I would highly recommend adding in a warm interlining for insulation and a more luxuriant look. Should you wish to eliminate light, we can also add blackout lining to our curtains. 

Once made up, for lined, interlined and blackout lined curtains, we advise hand-made interlined curtains to be dry cleaned by a curtain specialist. Here are tips on prolonging the life of your curtains, and for cleaning recommendations.

When we make linen curtains we recommend the linings are hemmed separately to avoid any sagging. Hems are handsewn down both sides and along the bottom.

How to prolong the life of your curtains?

Unfortunately, fading from sunlight in your windows is always possible. Here are some tips to help prolong the life of your curtains – you can draw them well back from the light, you can line and interline them, you can add a leading edge which is a chance to bring another pattern or colour into the room. You can draw them with a pulley system to avoid making the leading edge worn. Some colours are more vulnerable to UV light than others, blues tend to fade the fastest, grey and green are less vulnerable.

Swapping the curtains over from time to time helps to keep the inside edges of the fabric, which are the most exposed to sunlight, at a minimum or add a border to the leading edge where the fabric will be most vulnerable.  These are tips to help you to get good value from your curtains.

Curtains can drop a little over time. If this happens you need to take your curtains down and move the hooks in the heading up correspondingly and then re-hang them. You can do this with both pencil pleat and pinch pleat headings. It is worthwhile measuring the move carefully for pinch pleat curtains with a ruler.

Some of my fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use velvet or tweed since their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, all of my curtains can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material. This interlining — a piece of fabric slipped between the lining and the face fabric — can also help prolong the life of the curtains.

Lining and interlining are what give curtains their body and fullness. 

What style of curtain heading do you recommend when choosing bespoke curtains?

You can choose between several different heading styles:

Double and Triple Pleats

Double and triple pleat headings - Are decorative curtain headings with permanent sewn-in pleats, for a luxurious, tailored look. Recommended for more formal rooms like a dining room, study, or smart sitting room.

Double pinch pleats are a little more contemporary than triple pleats. Both options have the benefit of several different hook positions, allowing you to alter the length of the curtains if necessary and can be used with poles and tracks. If you use a track, I recommend choosing a pelmet to hide the curtain tracks. It is important to carefully measure your track or pole as curtains are made to an exact fit. 

Fullness - The fullness of our Double Pleat header is 2.3. Our Triple Pleat header is 2.5.

Double Pleat

Triple Pleat

Cottage Pleat

If you want a more informal and softer look, I would suggest our Cottage Pleat, which now comes with two depth options: 5cm or 10cm - this heading will give you an informal gathered look, ideal for use in a kitchen or bedroom.  A cottage pleat heading can be used with tracks or poles and can be gathered to suit the required width of your window.
In these photos, you will see a cottage pleat heading created with a 1" tape and a 5cm frill above the tape, and then the second with a 10cm frill. These are my favourite heading styles being soft and romantic.

Fullness - The fullness of our 5cm and 10cm Cottage Pleat headers is 2.2. *Please contact us for a bespoke quote if you would like your curtains less full. Our phone number is 01285 831437, or email sales@vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk

5cm Cottage Pleat

10cm Cottage Pleat

Pencil Pleat

A pencil pleat curtain heading has two depth options: 3" or 6" tape. Depending on your option, it will have either three or six rows of string threaded through it with hook positions to suit all types of track and pole.

It is called this because the folds gathered closely together to resemble a row of pencils laid side by side. This heading has the benefit of being adjustable in width so is useful if you move house or adapt them to fit a different window perhaps. 

Fullness - The fullness of our Pencil Pleat header is 2.2. Please  phone or email us for a bespoke quote if you would like your curtains less full.

3" Pencil Pleat

6" Pencil Pleat

Flop-over Frill

A Flop-over-frill heading is a very soft and pretty look especially with a ticking stripe or other stripe in a colour picked out from the main fabric. There is a 1" curtain tape with one position for the hooks. This heading is popular in France and gives a romantic look. The frill is made in scale with the length of the curtains but is usually approximately 15cms long. This heading particularly suits curtains that reach the floor.

Fullness - The fullness of our Flop-over header is2.2.

Do you make Dress Curtains?

Although this is not part of our standard Made to Measure service, we can help! Please contact us by phone or email with the subject line "dress curtains" to further discuss your needs. We will be pleased to help put together a bespoke quote for you.

Do you offer leading edges?

Yes, our company does! They are placed on the inside edge of the curtain/s and measure approximately 8cm in width. These are a great addition to your curtains if you want to add a complementary or contrasting colour to the room. They also help protect the main curtain fabric from sunlight. Sometimes the edge can match the main fabric of the curtains, or it can be the colour of other items in the room, such as a sofa or a chair, and serves to link the two together.

The edge of approximately 8cms wide is attached to the front and reverse of the curtain and is the fabric you handle to pull the curtains closed. Another benefit of this edge is that if the window is very sunny and eventually fading occurs, this edge can protect the main curtain fabric and be replaced if necessary. An example would be for a lovely floral design to have a plain coloured linen union edge to match one of the colours in the fabric. These plain linen unions are supplied by our company. You could then have a matching blind made to sit behind the curtain in the same window.

Do you add custom leading edges?

We can create a custom edging as shown below, which is the leading edge as well as the top edge of the curtain. For further enquiries please phone us to discuss this further.

Can I have Tie Backs with my curtains?

Yes we can most certainly make these up for you! They will be made to the same fabric of your curtains whilst covering both the front and reverse of the tie backs. Contrast piping is optional. 

Which rooms do Made to Measure Curtains suit?

Made to measure curtains are customizable and versatile, so can be the best choice for any room. Some of the most popular room types for made to measure curtains include social and entertaining spaces often with large windows.

Browse our curtain fabrics available for; 

Made to measure living room curtains for added luxury

Made to measure kitchen curtains

Bay window made to measure curtains

Made to measure curtains for hallways

Dining room curtains

Discover more about our bespoke curtains

Are Made to Measure Curtains expensive?

Made to Measure Curtains can sometimes cost more than ready-made curtains that you might find online, but when measured correctly you will get the perfect fit which is something that ready-made curtains can't guarantee. They are also great value as you can be assured of the best quality sewing.

When ordering our Made to Measure Curtains, our lovely staff are on hand to help you measure curtains, window dressings and linings so that you get the perfect finish.

What are bespoke curtains?

Bespoke, or Made to Measure Curtains are curtains that are created especially for you and customised to fit your windows perfectly. You need to take certain measurements, like the length of the curtain drop, the length of the curtain poles, whether you want a blackout lining and what type of patterns or textures you like.

All of this is covered as part of the Made to Measure service offered by our company. We have a huge range of fabrics, colours and patterns to choose from so that you can find the perfect style for you. Some windows look even better with a combination of blinds and curtains; a sitting room for instance.

What types of patterns and colours can I choose from?

We have a wide range of quality designs to choose from - just browse through our collections and choose a pattern, colour or texture that matches your style or catches your eye.

Order some free samples and get a feel for the linen quality and value, see how it looks in the room you are measuring curtains or blinds for and see if they match your paint and carpet/rugs. Maybe you are looking for a lovely green curtain material or grey; both these colours are very popular at the moment and we have a simple search facility online where you can browse for all designs in the colour of your choice.

We have styles for every room, view our latest offers and choose a style from our collections that speaks to you. Your space will feel complete with our Made to Measure Curtains. We do not offer eyelet curtains.

Here is how to choose curtains for your home.

Most Popular Types of Made to Measure Curtains

Some of our most popular Made to Measure Curtain styles include:

Our sustainable eco-friendly curtain fabric range

Harris Tweed curtains

Striped made to measure curtains

Made to Measure linen curtains

Spotted made to measure curtains

Here are the different types of curtains you can choose from and the differences in detail of each pleat type.  

Most Popular Colours of Made to Measure Curtains

Some of our most popular luxury made to measure cutain colours include:

 Yellow made to measure curtains

Luxury Terracotta curtains

Orange pumpkin and marigold made to measure curtains

Green made to measure curtains

Grey made to measure curtains

purple and plum made to measure luxury curtains

Soft blue duck egg curtains

Pink made to measure curtains

Dark blue luxury curtains

Deep red luxury curtains

Denim coloured curtains 

Choose from your favourite curtain colours and add yours to your basket. Why not pair complementary made to order cushions with your new curtains too?

Made to Measure Curtain FAQs

Q. What is the difference between Made to Measure Curtains and ordinary curtains?

Ordinary curtains are generally designed to fit most windows. Therefore, they are made to measurements that are standard for all windows. If you have a window that is unusual in size or shape, an ordinary curtain will not suit you and as such, you will struggle to find ready-made curtains.

Made to Measure Curtains are tailored to suit the customer's needs. We have a wide range of design features and fabrics available, so we can ensure that your new curtains match your existing decor.

Q. What are blackout curtains?

Blackout curtains are made with a special lining of fabric that completely blocks out light. 

They can be useful in rooms where unwanted light enters after dark. 

Browse our range of blackout curtain fabrics to choose curtains to help you achieve darkness at night.           

Q. Where to buy quality Made to Measure curtains?

You can buy Vanessa Arbuthnott Made to Measure curtains online from our website, in store, over the phone or by email. All of our hand-finished curtains are made in traditional workrooms, providing you with high quality, luxury curtains. All of our fabrics are suitable for high quality curtains, excluding velvets. 

 Q. Can you buy extra long curtains?

You can buy curtains to the length you require either online or over the phone. We just need to know your final drop (length measurements) for the curtains you need. Here is how to measure for curtains so we can make the curtains to any length you desire.

Q. Can you get curtains with different heading options?

Yes, our different heading options include; double and triple pleats, pencil pleat curtains, cottage pleats, flop over frill curtains. All of our heading options are available to view in the showroom. Here are different types of curtains and their heading types.

Q. Can you make curtains to any width?

Absolutely. We often recommend measuring the width and height you need for your curtains, once the pole or track you are hanging them from is attached; this will mean you can be completely sure of the measurements you will need for the width of your Made to Measure Curtains and the drop. 

Q.  What is the lead time for Made to Measure curtains?

All of our curtains, regardless of how you order them, will be delivered within 8 weeks of placing your order. We will always run a final inspection on your curtains to ensure everything has been made to spec. After which we will contact you to organise delivery.

 Q.  What are curtain hooks called?

There are two kinds of curtain hooks:

Metal curtain hooks that slip into a pencil pleat, cottage and flop over header: they measure approximately 30mm long, 12mm wide. The header tape is machined near the top of the curtain. Depending on the style of the curtain, there are various positions for the hook to be placed. Hook position choices are there so you can adjust the finished drop of the curtains. Suitable for hanging heavy weight, fully interlined curtains. 

Silver metal pin hooks that have a sharp pin that glides into the hand pleated folds of fabric of the double and triple headed curtains. Suitable for hanging heavy weight, fully interlined curtains.

 Q. Where to buy extra long curtains? 

We can make extra-long curtains for you, if your curtains need to be longer than our website allows, please call us on 01285 831437 and we will help you determine the dimensions of the curtains you need and talk you through the available specifications for curtains we produce.

Q. Can you alter made to measure curtains?

We can reduce the length of any curtains we have made for you to fit new windows, if you move house and want to change the location of your curtains in your present house.

Just contact sales@vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk with your details and we will see if we can help.

Q. What lining is used on your curtains?

The composition of the curtain linings used on our curtains is a mix of cotton and polyester.

Larger photos of Curtains

Get larger photos and inspirational ideas of our Curtains that have been beautifully laid out in previous photo shoots. 

Get in touch today

If you would like to know more about the styles of our Made to Measure Curtains and Blinds for your windows and doors, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are a friendly team who are on hand to take your call and are more than happy to assist you with anything so that you get exactly what you need, we can also help with accessories such as Cushions too.