CURTAINS, SHADES, AND DRAPERIES The use of curtains originated be fore the invention of glass, when win dows were either open or imperfectly protected against draughts. They originally hung straight down across the sash.
At present the object of window shades and curtains is primarily to regulate the amount of light in the room, and to screen the interior, when desired, from observation from with out. It is a prime rule of good taste in decoration that it must not be al lowed to interfere with the purpose for which a thing is intended. Hence curtains and draperies that cannot be drawn aside to admit the light, or let fall to exclude it, are objectionable. Curtains for French windows should be arranged with cords and pulleys so as to be brought out of the way when the windows are opened, or ad justed on rods long enough so that they can lie drawn to one side.
Window Curtains. — Some city houses have three or four sets of curtains, but the simpler methods of country houses are gaining in favor. One set is sufficient, and more than two are undesirable. A thin semi transparent curtain of lace, net, or muslin, in white or ecru, may be used next the glass. This may either be crossed at the top and hang straight down or be draped at the middle sash with a band. This is a question of taste and depends upon the propor tions of the room and the window. When an inner curtain of heavy ma terial is used the lace or net curtain should usually be draped to soften the outlines. Lace or net curtains are usually, but not always, used down stairs, and less expensive curtains of muslin are used for bedrooms and other upstairs windows.
Materials for Window Curtains.— Lace curtains may be purchased ready, made. Or curtains may be made of bobbinet or similar material and edged with ruffles or suitable lace. Or Cluny lace may be used by way of insertion. Plain scrim, with no other decoration than hemstitched hems, makes hand some curtains. They launder easily and well. If they bleach with time they can be restored to their original color by being dipped in dilute coffee.
The best materials for bedrooms are dotted Swiss or other muslins. Other serviceable materials are India linen, Aberdeen linen, Persian cotton, cre tonnes, and linen taffetas. The reps of various fabrics—cotton, wool, and silk—all hang well and are soft and graceful.
Any suitable material may be scal loped along the edge by means of a tumbler. Mark around this with chalk or pencil. Buttonhole the scallops and work in them polka dots or other sim ple design.
Muslin Curtains. — For bedroom curtains it pays to buy various cotton materials like dimity and muslin by the piece, and to make them all the same style. It is wise to keep to the same pattern, as dots or small rings, and to buy new pieces the same as the old, or as nearly so as they can be matched. Then new curtains can be used with the old. As the curtains begin to wear they can be put to gether as pairs, or changed from room to room as long as any two are left.
Or when curtains from the living rooms wear on the edges, trim them off, hem them neatly, and turn the edged border toward the sash. They will make good curtains for bedrooms or other inconspicuous windows that will last for years.
Dyeing Curtains.—All cotton mate rials can be readily dyed by dipping them in dye stuff after they have been washed and rinsed in the laundry. Thus the curtains can be made to conform to any desired color shade.
Cheese cloth when dyed in suitable colors makes pretty and inexpensive curtains. Hemmed bands or borders of striped silkoline or other suitable material add a decorative effect. Dark green trimmed with a stripe in Orien tal design and coloring makes a very pretty curtain.
Or take cheese cloth or unbleached sheeting which may be any old mate rial as old sheets, from which pieces of suitable size can be cut for cur tains, and dye them in any suitable shade. White cotton dipped in a deep brown dye and afterwards in a deep green gives a beautiful gray-green color.