Cost of custom curtain panels?

[cajungal]

Has anyone had custom curtain panels made? I need long curtains, 12 feet long. My mom can sew them for me, but the fabric I keep going back to will end up being $145 per panel. That seems crazy expensive to me, but I've always been able to find the lengths I need at BBB, Target, etc. I need 4 panels. The fabric is on joann.com, and this is with it being 60% off plus 15% off code I found. The picture doesn't look true to real life on joann, and this is more how it really looks - beautifulfabric.com/asccustompages/products.asp?productID=7742&RegistryID=

Does that price seem very expensive or typical for such long panels? Thanks!

[stephm0188]

No, that's pretty typical unfortunately. I think it ended up being $300 for me to make 3 lined 9 ft panels for my family room.

[kaylie]

That sounds about right, especially for curtains of that size.

[moolarkey]

I had custom lined drapes made for our dining room and living room. The LR opens in to the DR, they really needed to match. We have very high ceilings also, I couldn't even find pre made drapes to buy in the length I needed. We got estimates from several places. The only one that showed us a fabric that we liked/worked for us happened to be a place we'd used on a much smaller project before but we know of many projects them done (all the drapes for the Ohio State House renovations from a few years ago and others). Their price was in line with other places but it was still $4,000 for 2 pairs. Wow. They are gorgeous but there isn't much else to say about that price but wow.

[cajungal]

Holy cow, Moolarkey. I bet they're beautiful!

Thanks for the feedback. I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the fabric.

[auntie]

Seems reasonable. I'm surprised your mom is willing to take on a 12' panel. That's a challenge. Should you be lining them? Figure another $5/yd for lining.

[cajungal]

Jan 13, 2013 23:41:55 GMT -5 auntie said:

Seems reasonable. I'm surprised your mom is willing to take on a 12' panel. That's a challenge. Should you be lining them? Figure another $5/yd for lining.

Now you're making me nervous! I think we'll work together on the sewing but I have no idea what I'm doing. She sews a lot, mostly quilting though. We'll probably line them. We found lining for $2.99/yard at Hancock.

[boiler717]

So the price of the fabric is $30 a yard after a 60% off coupon and a 15% off coupon? So like $100 a yard fabric? That seems crazy expensive to me.

My panels were expensive because of the labor but my fabric was less than $15/yard.

[TBM]

We made some curtain panels for a woman that we do costume work for. She was freaking out over the cost of the fabric, and we were marveling at what a great deal she got at $20 a yard.

I have been pricing custom drapes for my mom, since I don't live close and don't really have time right now anyway, and they are very expensive to have made. Especially if you use a decent quality fabric. It really does make a difference though....my mother spent a fortune on her custom drapes almost 30 years ago, and they are just now starting to show wear, but still don't look dated. She chose a pricey fabric and it has held up much better and gets much more use than the drapes she got at the same time for a bedroom.

[sratsey]

I had custom silk panels made for my living room and dining room. They were about $165 a panel. Pinch pleats, lined and interlined. 103" long and 1 width each. I had them custom because I needed an odd size.
They only do silk, but I cannot say enough good things about the massive color selection and the quality of the drapery.
www.villageworkroom.com/

I found this place which carries patterns and solids and they will also do curtains custom
www.decoratorsbest.com/

I priced out a standard sized curtain panel and the price seemed reasonable for a custom job, but I've yet to try them.

All that said, $145/panel for a 12' panel is AMAZING.
If you want to cut the cost down, your best option would be to go with cheaper fabric.

[Blueper]

Holy smokes! I feel extra grateful now- I have a discount fabric store down the road where the upholstery fabric that I use is always $10 a yard. It's called SR Harris if any of you live in the twin cities area.

[cajungal]

Yes, the fabric is $30/yard on sale. I have around 30 different fabric swatches and this is the only one we both like. I thought it was ridiculously expensive, but it's the cheapest I've seen so far - was $45/yard before this sale. Since my mom is making them, we went ahead and bought the fabric. We were at our last house for 6 years and never changed the curtains, so I figure we'll have these for a long time since we plan on this being our forever home and will be worth the cost. Thanks for both sides. I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking it's expensive fabric, but also that others think it's not such a bad price either.

[cajungal]

Jan 14, 2013 13:22:22 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

I don't think the price is too high. I looked at the fabric, and it is lovely. Just be sure you use a lining that is equal in quality. You don't want to cheap out on part of the panels. Cheap lining will be so lightweight and I don't think will add the heft needed to make the panels hang nicely.

Thank you! I'll be sure to be careful about that.

[boiler717]

I don't understand. If it was $45 before the sale, which is 60% off, how is it $30 a yard? Especially when you have another 10% off? It should be just over $16 a yard.

I don't think $30 a yard is too much though. I'm just confused by your math. I try to stay under $20 a yard but I would splurge for something I loved, especially if I was getting the labor for free.

[cajungal]

Jan 14, 2013 13:59:59 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I don't understand. If it was $45 before the sale, which is 60% off, how is it $30 a yard? Especially when you have another 10% off? It should be just over $16 a yard.

I don't think $30 a yard is too much though. I'm just confused by your math. I try to stay under $20 a yard but I would splurge for something I loved, especially if I was getting the labor for free.

Oh no, it's around $90/yard full price. The cheapest I've seen it (on sale) before was $45/yard, which was 40% off. Now it's 60% off, and it's $33/yard + 15% off to be exact. When I added in the tax and shipping, the price per panel (excluding the lining) ends up being $145.

[auntie]

Jan 13, 2013 23:47:40 GMT -5 cajungal said:

Jan 13, 2013 23:41:55 GMT -5 auntie said:

Seems reasonable. I'm surprised your mom is willing to take on a 12' panel. That's a challenge. Should you be lining them? Figure another $5/yd for lining.

Now you're making me nervous! I think we'll work together on the sewing but I have no idea what I'm doing. She sews a lot, mostly quilting though. We'll probably line them. We found lining for $2.99/yard at Hancock.

I didn't mean to freak you out. It's just laying out a 12' long curtain panel takes a significant amount of safe once you add in the hem and header and make adjustments for a repeat so that the panels are identical if there's a pattern. Not sure what you get for $2.99 a yd/ at Hancock, but I wouldn't line a $90/yd fabric with anything less that a similar weight Roclon- I might even underline it with flannel if it was a silk.

These are going to be amazing when they're done.

[boiler717]

Jan 14, 2013 14:21:50 GMT -5 cajungal said:

Jan 14, 2013 13:59:59 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I don't understand. If it was $45 before the sale, which is 60% off, how is it $30 a yard? Especially when you have another 10% off? It should be just over $16 a yard.

I don't think $30 a yard is too much though. I'm just confused by your math. I try to stay under $20 a yard but I would splurge for something I loved, especially if I was getting the labor for free.

Oh no, it's around $90/yard full price. The cheapest I've seen it (on sale) before was $45/yard, which was 40% off. Now it's 60% off, and it's $33/yard + 15% off to be exact. When I added in the tax and shipping, the price per panel (excluding the lining) ends up being $145.

Oh okay! That is really expensive fabric! It's a good deal for sure.

[sierramist03]

I'd check warehouse fabric inc to see if they have anything similar. They carry a lot of classic patterns in multiple colors

[cajungal]

Jan 14, 2013 17:14:31 GMT -5 sierramist03 said:

I'd check warehouse fabric inc to see if they have anything similar. They carry a lot of classic patterns in multiple colors

Thanks for the recommendation! They do have some pretty fabrics that I may check out for other rooms of the house.