The Complete Photo Guide to Window Treatments: DIY Draperies, Curtains, Valances, Swags, and Shades

by Linda Neubauer (Editor)

The Complete Photo Guide to Window Treatments, Second Edition is the most comprehensive book of its kind on the market, offering the reader both inspiring location photography plus step-by-step instructions for making 50 different projects. Window treatments include several curtain styles, formal draperies, swags, valances, cornices, various Roman shades, and roller shades. Designed for the DIY home sewer, this book is also valued by professional workrooms and trade schools because it teaches professional methods for measuring, sewing, and installing window treatments. Now updated with new photography and the latest window treatment styles, this second edition is a must-have for any DIY home sewer.
 

Genres: Sewing, How To, Design, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle of this book should have been its title. This book is not a "photo guide to window treatments" though it has excellent photos showing the reader how to sew and construct draperies and curtains. It does an excellent job of that but it doesn't help the reader decide what treatments are best for certain applications. Basically if you know what you want and plan on making the draperies or curtains yourself this is a good book. If you are wondering where to place the curtain rod, whether to have long or short treatments, this book won't help at all.

[Donna Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking at window treatments. This book was not as good picture wise as the other one I picked up, however, it shows you how to make the treatments. Since I'm not going to be doing the work, I skimmed the information.

[Andrea M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has detailed instructions for making every kind of window treatment imaginable. The instructions are spelled out in a few steps which make the projects seem simple. I looked at one particular curtain in depth and I wasn't certain that I'd be able to succeed at making the project with the instructions given. There wasn't a picture of the finished project only the step by step detail photos. I felt that I would be more successful with a pattern from the fabric store than with this book alone. However, I did get an idea of what techniques were needed to create the look and how to make your own head rail if a curtain rod is not going to be used. I liked that there were multiple photos of each style so you could see a curtain in different fabric types or with the variations that exist and make a better choice that way.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise directions for making just about any window treatment. It reminded me of one of my favorite books, that is well loved, and has been well used, Soft Furnishings. From Balloons to rod curtains to valences, this book has it all. Except pinch pleated drapes is not covered well. But only grandma has those now. It would take many more pages of instruction than the author has devoted.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I checked out a large stack of books on making curtains from the library, this was the clear winner. I liked the simple, easy to follow instructions with lots of pictures. Good to remember, as I'm sure I'll need to use it again.

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing here I didn't already know. A great resourse for someone just beginning, though.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains many, many window treatment options, and has really good instructions. I haven't actually made anything, yet, but I will be using this when I do.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of photos, which is good. Instructions seem clear and easy to follow.

[Lila Rudolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the book was devoted to instructions for hand-sewing window treatments. Thus not all that many methods or types of window treatments were actually covered in this book. I wanted an idea book with hundreds of sample window treatments. So it was a disappointment.