Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Eggasperated]

I decided to wash my huge dining room curtains (full length covering a set of patio type doors). I could only get one in the washing machine, I put it on a cold wash, and it dried beautifully in the sun, so I ironed it, rehung it, and it was 2 inches shorter than the one I hadn't washed .

They are fully lined with weights and everything and were the first curtains I'd ever had made (no I don't know what possessed me to wash them). Now I'm spending today unpicking what appears to be quite a complicated hem and lining so that I can let the curtain down to the correct length and then re-hem it. I suppose then I'll have to wash and re-hem the other one so that it matches exactly; think I preferred it when it was raining .

[Chickvic]

I know I shouldn't laugh but... It's raining here now if it's any consolation! I must fight the urge to wash my curtains although mine are from Ikea and easy to replace!

[furball]

I have had this happen on a pair curtains . Luckily i bought them from ebay, the curtains would have cost £600 for the material alone. I used to work with curtains so i had them cleaned by a specialist dry cleaners. I had to sign a disclaimer before they would clean them incase of shrinkage. Yep, but mine shrunk 5 inches bought some more material and lengthened one curtain from the top, 2 widths of fabric and had to match the pattern as well as unpicking and reattaching the pencil tape, Hence to say the second curtain never got done. I bought some laura ashley curtains off ebay and added and extra removable lining. I will never wash curtains again unless there is a VERY large hem.

[lillybettybabs]

I need to do ours, I have a steam cleaner and woundering if that would work

[furball]

I think a steam cleaner would definately shrink them and or fade them. Vac them, then use a dry shampoo or bicarb then vac again, that's what i would do but i am not an expert, just wont wash curtains again

[craftyhunnypie]

Whoops! I think I'd have been inclined to have added a contrast fabric on the bottom.

 

Emma.x

[Alis girls]

That happened to my curtains from the Curtain Mill - have to have 2 pairs for a bay - so just washed the other pair and hey presto they matched wth shrunk hems - and they are machine washable so no excuse for shrinkage.

[LuckyChickenLover-]

This has never happened to my curtains, but the cover for one of my armchairs shrunk after it was washed. It's against the wall so that no-one will see that the zip at the back doesn't do up any more .

[Alis girls]

have to say OH was lying in bed and asked why 1 pair of curtains was shorter by 2 inches than the other and I said " are they, never noticed!"

[Jools]

I think I could paint a room sky blue with pink dots and my OH wouldn't notice!

[Angie]

I learnt my lesson many many years ago.

If i want to make my own ...anything....... i wash the fabric first.

I buy my curtains larger than i need( length and width) I wash them before i hang them, do the hems and voile

Perfect curtains.

When i make a patchwork quilt i always wash my materials first to avoid shrinkage on the finished item.

I have had some disasters in my early years , i just don't do it any more.

[Purplemaniacs]

As I am on holiday I was thinking of washing some curtains, never washed them before, I am wondering if I risk it or not now

 

Chrissie

[Snowy]

As I am on holiday I was thinking of washing some curtains, never washed them before, I am wondering if I risk it or not now

 

Chrissie

Do something else Chrissie!

[Purplemaniacs]

As I am on holiday I was thinking of washing some curtains, never washed them before, I am wondering if I risk it or not now

 

Chrissie

Do something else Chrissie!

Ok you have persuaded me not to wash curtains.

 

I have to stay in today to wait for a delivery so I will do other spring cleaning jobs

 

Chrissie

[Lewis]

Never thought that'd happen!

 

Maybe with the weights they'd relax/stretch a bit? I know when we're in the theatre and hanging backcloths, after we put them up and come in the next day they stretch by a good few inches (and the ropes also stretch) so have to re-set them!

[Plum]

Well Eggasperated now you are so experienced I'll send mine over Thanks

[The Dogmother]

Sorry to hear that.

 

I always either leave a big hem when I make mine, or wash the fabric before I make it up.... been caught out before

[Rhapsody]

You lot are domesticated at a level I can only dream of. Personally I was out in the nice weather riding my horse and issuing Death Warrants to all the hideous inherited shrubs in the garden. Got sunburned cleavage and didnt think about curtains once. So who is weird?

[Eggasperated]

Well Eggasperated now you are so experienced I'll send mine over Thanks

 

 

Still hemming, using invisible thread , don't think I ever want to look at another curtain - sorry Plum.

[JillM]

I wash all my curtains in the machine once a year, or whenever I get the urge. Yes,natural materials do shrink, but I usually allow a hem of about 6 inches on the bottom and curtain tape with 3 lines of thread to it, then I can adjust to fit.

 

I have also been known to add contrasting material on the bottom. What des it matter as long as you like them!