To calculate the amount of fabric needed for curtains by drops:
For drops the fabric width is less than the width of the window and needs to be joined together. The following formula is used for the Easy Track system to calculate how much fabric is needed when fabric is used by the drop:
- Calculate number of drops: Lenght of track x Fullness(2:1) + Allowance(40cm) / Fabric Width
then round up answer to nearest drop.
Example 200cm x 2 + 40cm = 440cm / 140 = 3.14 roundup to 4 drops.
- Calculate lenght of each drop: Distance under track to foor - allowance for hanging glider hanging below track and amount above floor (1.5cm + 1.5cm = 3cm) + Allowance for hems(30cm).
Example 213cm - 3cm + 30cm = 240cm fabric required per drop.
2A. If there is a pattern repeat(PR): Devide the fabric per drop calculated without pattern repeat in
step to by the by pattern repeat, round the devided number up to the nearest whole number and multiply number by pattern repeat.
Example fabric per drop with no pattern repeat = 240cm / 37cm(PR) = 6.486
round up to 7 = 7 x 37cm(PR) = 259cm fabric required per drop with PR 37cm
- Multiply number of drops calculated for window in step 1 x fabric required in step 2.
Example 4 drops x 240cm = 960cm or 9.6 metres.
To calculate the amount of fabric required for continuous curtain - normally sheers or lining curtain:
For continuous the fabic that is wider than the curtain is going to be and is made in one piece:
- Calculate number width needed: Lenght of track x Fullness(2.5:1) + Allowance(40cm).
Example 200cm x 2.5 + 40cm = 540cm or 5.4 metres.
- Because the fabric is continuous no more calculations need to be done the amount needed is
simply the track width x the fullness + Allowance.
To calculate the amount of continuous lining required to be attached behind a curtain:
- Number of drops in curtain x fabric width = lining required.
Example 2 drops x 140cm(Fabric width) = 280cm continuous lining reqired.
Upholstered Pelmets:
To calculate upholstered pelmet railroading fabric:
- Take the face length of the longest pelmet that will be included in the railroaded piece of fabric: + Longest pelmet face width + width of the 2 ends + extra allowance(10cm).
Example Face Width 200cm, Track width 15cm: 200cm + 30cm + 10cm = 240cm.
- Calculate how many pelmets can fit in width of fabric: Take the face drop of pelmet add allowance devide by fabric width.
Example Face drop 30cm + 10cm allowance = 40cm (per pelmet) / 140cm (fabric width) = 3.5 round down = 3 pelmets.
Note: If you want to feature a particular pattern on the pelmet depending where the pattern is you may not be able to get as many pelmets per piece.
To calculate upholstered pelmet by joined drop of fabric:
- Face length of the pelmet + width of the 2 ends + extra allowance(10cm) / fabric width = number
nymber of drops for pelmet round up to nearest half drop.
Example Face Width 200cm, Track width 15cm: 200cm + 30cm + 10cm = 240cm/140cm = 1.714 roundup to 2 drops.
- Calculate the drop length: Face drop + allowance(10cm).
Example Face drop 30cm + 10cm(Allowance) = 40cm(fabric needed per drop).
2A. If there is a pattern repeat(PR): Devide the fabric per drop calculated without pattern repeat in
step 2 by the by pattern repeat, round the devided number up to the nearest whole number and multiply number by pattern repeat.
Example fabric per drop with no pattern repeat = 40cm / 7cm(PR) = 5.714
round up to 6 = 6 x 7cm(PR) = 42cm fabric required per drop with PR 7cm
- Multiply number of drops x fabric needed per drop.
Example 2 drops x 40cm fabric = 80cm fabric required for pelmet.
Swags and Tails:
As a general rule for nice looking Swags & Tails you need the following amounts of fabric:
- Per Swag 1.5 metres
- Per Tail 2.1 metres
- Per Jabba 1.2 metres
- Lining per Swag 1.5 metres
- Braid per Swag 1.8 metres
- Braid per Tail 2.4 metres
To get a good result with Swags and Tails it's best left up to the experts to:
- Calculate how many Swags for your window.
- Choose a suitable fabric for your Swags.
- Make the Swags and Tails.
Pleated Valances:
Easy Track sells a range of self pleating Valance tapes to calculate the fabric needed for these see below:
Valance with railroaded fabric:
- Take the length of the longest valance that will be included in the railroaded piece of fabric:
Longest valance face width + width of the 2 ends x valance tape fullness(2.5:1)
+ extra allowance(10cm)
Example Valance lenght 200cm , Track width 15cm x 2, tape fullness 2.5:1 =
200cm + 30cm = 230cm x 2.5 = 575cm + 10cm = 585cm per valance.
- Calculate how many valances can fit in width of fabric: Take the valance drop add allowance for tape(10cm), allowance for bottom hem D10(20cm) and extra allowance to straighen fabric(5cm).
Example Valance drop 30cm + 10cm bottom allowance + 20cm hem allowance + 5cm extra allowance = 65cm (per valance) / 140cm (fabric width) = 2.153 round down = 2 valances.
Valance calculated by fabric in drops:
- Valance width + width of the 2 ends x valance tape fullness(2.5:1)
+ extra allowance(10cm)/ fabric width = Number of drops - no rounding required
Example Valance lenght 200cm , Track width 15cm x 2, tape fullness 2.5:1 =
200cm + 30cm = 230cm x 2.5 = 575cm + 10cm = 585cm/140cm = 4.17 drops.
- Calculate the drop length: Valance drop 30cm add allowance for tape(10cm), allowance for bottom hem D10(20cm) and extra allowance to straighen fabric(5cm).
Example Face drop 30cm + 10cm(Allowance tape) + 20cm(Allowance bottom hem) + 5cm(To straighten fabric) = 65cm(fabric needed per drop).
2A. If there is a pattern repeat(PR): Devide the fabric per drop calculated without pattern repeat in
step 2 by the by pattern repeat, round the devided number up to the nearest whole number and multiply number by pattern repeat.
Example fabric per drop with no pattern repeat = 65cm / 12cm(PR) = 5.416
round up to 6 = 6 x 12cm(PR) = 72cm fabric required per drop with PR 12cm.
- Multiply number of drops x fabric needed per drop.
Example 4.17 drops x 65cm fabric = 271.05cm fabric required for valance.
Straight Valances:
- Take the face length of the longest Valance that will be included in the railroaded piece of fabric: Longest valance face width + width of the 2 ends + extra allowance(5cm).
Example Face Width 200cm, Track width 15cm: 200cm + 30cm + 5cm = 235cm.
- Calculate how many valances can fit in width of fabric: Take the face drop of valance and double and 5cm devide by fabric width.
Example Face drop 10cm + 15cm allowance = 25cm (per pelmet) / 140cm (fabric width) = 5.6 round down = 5 Valances.
Note: If you want to feature a particular pattern on the pelmet depending where the pattern is you may not be able to get as many pelmets per piece.
- Length of the valance + width of the 2 ends + extra allowance(10cm) / fabric width = number
nymber of drops - round up to nearest half drop.
Example Face Width 200cm, Track width 15cm: 200cm + 30cm + 10cm = 240cm/140cm = 1.714 roundup to 2 drops.
- Calculate the drop length: Valance Face + double face drop + allowance(5cm).
Example Face drop 10cm + 10cm(double face deop) + 5cm (extra allowance)
= 25cm(fabric needed per drop).
2A. If there is a pattern repeat(PR): Devide the fabric per drop calculated without pattern repeat in
step 2 by the by pattern repeat, round the devided number up to the nearest whole number and multiply number by pattern repeat.
Example fabric per drop with no pattern repeat = 25cm / 7cm(PR) = 3.571
round up to 4 = 4 x 7cm(PR) = 28cm fabric required per drop with PR 7cm
- Multiply number of drops x fabric needed per drop.
Example 2 drops x 25cm fabric = 50cm fabric required for pelmet.
Installers opinion -
“As an EasyTrack installer, I’ve set up hundreds of tracks for many happy customers. People are always amazed at the superior craftsmanship and quality of the curtains, tracks and blinds they receive and just how easy they are to use.”
Happy customers 2010!!
“For many years I have had trouble sleeping due to the light and noise coming from a busy intersection nearby my house. After a friend had EasyTrack installed in his own house I decided to try the system out for myself and no longer get the loud traffic noise and irritating street lights through my bedroom window. Thank you EasyTrack!”
“I grew up with Easy Track in my home as a teenager, and my parents swear by it. Now that I am building my own house I can’t think of a better product to really compliment all of our hard work.”
“I’ve stayed in countless hotels, holiday apartments and guestrooms throughout Australia and have never come across a curtain tracking system as easy, elegant and remarkable as the Easy Track system. So simple to take down, wash or change and rehang; I’ll never use anything else!”