How to hang a scarf

by Rita Osland
(Tempe, Az 85283 )

I am trying to hang a 54x216 inch scarf over sheers on a decorative rod that is just above the window. Sheers are on the same rod.

The window is 96x58.5 i can get the scarf up but am having a problem getting the swags to come down even after I lay it across the rod. Seems it doesn't want to drape and shouldn't it drape over the top of the rod and not show that.

Hi Rita

This is one of those window dressing jobs that are so easy in thoery. Yet so difficult in practice to get looking just right.

I'm not sure if you have seen this page on scarf swags. It gives some instructions on hanging a sccarf swag.

The real trick to getting your swag to hang right is to make the bottom edge of the swag move down. While at the same time making the top edge of your swag stay still.

Usually the top does move a little no matter how hard you try. So you will need to tease it back up after you have got the bottom shaped into a nice swag.

The truth is I could write instructions all day long on how to do this properly. Most people would still struggle to really understand how to do it. So I am going to make a short video of me doing this hanging job. It will probably be a couple of weeks before it goes live on my site so keep an eye for it.

Best regards

Lee

How to hang scarf on my Large Window

by Paulene
(Mount Royal, NJ)

Hello,

I attached a photo. This is the only window in my study/office. I have ( 2) 50x216 length scarves.

I was thinking hang from top center and bring down to halfway point on each side of top window? I am not sure if this will look right? Like swag down from the center point of the top window. Is this right? Thanks so much!



Hi Paulene

I Think that should look fine. I have put a link to a picture of a scarf swag in the style you suggest. Ignore the fact it is on an arch top window. It should work well over your window.


Scarf swag over a large window

Hope this gives you an idea of what it will look like.



Best Regards

Lee

I have wrinkles in my pole swag

how do I get the wrinkles and kinks out of a pole swag I was unable to cut on the bias

Hi

Without seeing it all I can suggest is you try and steaming the fabric. A domestic steam iron should do the job.


Regards

Lee

How to hang a shear drapery on a curtain rod

by Carolyn
(Powderly, TX )

I took my shears down (2 of them) to wash and now can't remember how I put them up on the rod.

It's just a single small round rod. The tan one goes on first and is shorter than the long crinkly green one.

I've tried to hang the tan one and it just keeps slipping off. Can anyone please help me so they will once again look nice? (above that's supposed to be "hang" a shear drapery...)

Thanks


Hi Carolyn

It took me a few minutes to get my head round what you meant. Getting a bit slow in my old age :-)

Obviously the rod is a bit to slippy for your freshly cleaned sheer panels. You don't say if the rod is wooden or metal.

If wooden then great you can use drawing pins (not sure what you call then in the US. Tacks you put up decorations and ballons with)on the back to hold your sheer scarf swags in place.

If your rod is metal then you could put strip of sticky back velcro tape (hook and loor tape) the hard side along the back of the rod.

This should grip the fabric enough to hold it. You can buy this stuff from DIY stores sewing stores or even on ebay.

I hope this solves your problem if not let me know.



Best Regards

Lee


P.S. Take a quick look at my page on Scarf Swags This will give you an idea how I hang some of mine.

scarf window treatments

How do I hang scarf window treatments over windows that have vertical blinds and their valance?


Hi

A little shy are we no name on this one.

Right The only way you can hang a scaef swag over this window. Is to use a decorative rod with extendable brackets to project further away from the wall.

A lot obviously depends on how far the rod needs to project out over your vertical blinds.

Copy and paste this link into your browser to see the kind of brackets you will need.

http://www.tracksandpoles.com/pole_comp_bracket_brass.shtml


Regards

Lee

A multitude of scarf questions (and a lot of information)

by Nikki M
(Chicago, IL USA)

Lee,

First I must say I’m SO happy I found your website:) And OH MY GOODNESS I know it looks like a lot down there, but it’s only four questions. I wanted to give you all the information you may need to make an informed decision and be as descriptive as possible…I promise I wasn’t trying to write a novel; I’m sorry.

Picture it…1 - 72 ½" W, 1 – 82" W, and 1- 27" W window – Length…I’m going to do floor to ceiling (F2C) treatments so 95" – Window lengths are truly 34 & 40". The tops of the windows are about 4" from the ceiling.

I picked a silky shiny like chocolate fabric for the drape (unlined) and white for the sheer (the fabric is tightly woven so it’s kind of heavy).

OH FYI I don’t know how to sew and I have NO IDEA what most window treatment and/or sewing lingo means.

Question #1 – I would like to do a white scarf across the top of all three windows (a traditional hanging I guess with the big swag in the middle and an even amount of fabric on either side of the window). Since the drapery is F2C should the scarf ends also be F2C?
I’ve seen treatments where the scarf is about 6 in from the rod OR to the bottom of the window OR to the floor, I haven’t seen any that show F2C drapery yet the scarf is 8-10” from the floor. Will the scarf be considered too short or will it look stupid if it isn’t F2C also?

Question #2 – To achieve the F2C scarf I want I thought about buying the scarf and matching drapery panel and then just attaching the two of them…Can I do that or will it affect the way it flows/swags?? If I can do that how do I do that, without sewing, or would it have to be sewn?

Question #3 – The scarves I’ve looked at, and really like, are sheer white with a sheer white design. I was thinking about doing two scarves for each window one white w/white design and one chocolate w/white OR chocolate design. Both scarves would have the same print, and the prints I’m considering are, for the most part, very simple and elegant.
If the scarves have a design on them, should I stick to one color? If doing two different colors is ok, what color should hang closest to the drape on either side of the window (the chocolate drape would be the outer one & closest to the scarf)?

Question #4 – If I only use the white design scarf can I do two plain sheer white scarves and one white design one in the middle of them?
I’ve found a sheer plain white F2C scarf, I figured if I do the above configuration (plain, design, plain), it would appear as though the scarves are actually F2C, thereby matching the drapes. Is that too much scarf?

I’m so sorry I’ve rambled on and on and taken up so much of your time. Please know I truly appreciate your time and any advice you may offer. If I were to go into a store and ask these questions my ignorance would end up costing me a fortune, I think you would even see the “SUCKER” sign stamped on my forehead from all the way out there.

Again, thank you for your time & hopefully advice.

Sincerely,

Nikki M.
Chicago, IL USA



Hi Nikki

What a fantastic submission you have put together I love the fact you have taken the time to ask me so much.

I just have a little question, what does F2C mean (sorry for my ignorance) probably obvious once you tell me.

Hope you don't fall out with me but I can't answer your question right now. I'm just on my way out the door to go on a camping trip this weekend with the family.

So if you answer my question by posting a comment just lower down on this page. I will give you a full reply on Monday evening. your question deserves more time and thought.

Best regards

Lee


Hi Nikki M

I,m back from my trip so lets get to answering your questions.

Question #1 – You can have your swag finish anywhere you like there is no rule on this. Simply hang it and see if you like it. Obviously you can't make it longer but you can make it shorter.

Simply cut off one end how much you want to lose.Then remake the hem using fusible hemming tape (stuff for hemming trousers and skirts). Fix in place with a hot steam iron.

Question #2 – IF you want your scarf panel to reach the floor on both sides of your window. Then you could attach extra panels but I don't recommend you do.

If you did you would want to join them so the join is where the fabric falls behind the decorative rod on each side. Just just where the swag ends and the side tails start.

If the scarf panels are not long enough to do the job you want. Then I recommend you go and buy some fabric straight off the roll and get as much as you need to make your scarf swag in one piece.

Rather than tell you how to make your own without sewing. Take a look at this page Make scarf swags

Question #3 – Again no right or wrong on which color top or bottom. My personal preference would be for the chocolate to be the bottom swag. This way you have a break between the white.

Question #4 – No I don't think that would be to much because your using sheer fabrics that don't have a lot of bulk. You could try and drape the fabrics over your rod so that they look like one continuous swag as you suggest.

Really it is going to be Some trial and error. Even after many years of hanging and dressing scarf swags. It still on occasion takes me hours to get them just right. So don't lose heart if they don't go just right on the first attempt. Or even the fifth :-)

I know you have fallen in love with these scarf fabrics. But take a look at some others that will do it in one before you make your final decision.

Take a look at these discount Sheer fabrics

Also don't forget to look at Make scarf swags

Best regards

Lee

Best size rod for a draped pole scarf valance?

by Jan
(Missouri, USA)

The rods I see in the stores, the largest at 1.25", seem to be a little narrow for this type of valance -- is this what's used or are there larger rods available?


Hi Jan

You can use a rod like this as most of it will be covered by your swag. I know what you mean though it would look that much better with a thicker diameter rod.

I have been searching U.S. suppliers for some. So far I have only come up with one Continental Window Fashions. They have decorative drapery rods up to 2 1/4 inch diameter.

Hope you find something there. If you do tell them I sent you. They might send me a commission (wink).


Best regards

Lee

Does the scarf have to match the curtain?

by Chenoa
(Waianae, HI)

My bedroom in very neutural so I bought dark brown sheers with a off white scarf, do you think they will go well together or should I just buy the same colored scarf to match the curtains?

Thank you,
Chenoa


Hi Chenoa

Personally I think you have chosen right. Sometimes a bit of contrast is a good thing.

Both of the colors you have chosen are not loud colors so will sit comfortably together without shouting.

On the other hand when picking greens, purples, and reds you need to very sure about which color to mix with it or you can end up with a really eye jarring look.


Best Regards

Lee

How do I hang and drape window scarf in bay window?

by Lori
(Washington State)

Scarf swag in a bay

Hi,

The scarf is 59" w x 216 L, I plan to use three rods. Should I hang the rods closer to the ceiling? I have a standard ceiling height.

Thank you so much for your time.


Hi Lori

I would fit the rods about 6 to 8 inches over your window. Assuming you have room. If not about 3 inches down from the ceiling to allow the fabric to pass over the rods.

I usually just butt the rods together in the corners of the bay. Then have finials on the outside ends. Don't worry about where the rods butt together. Your scarf swag will cover it.

Take look at the picture above, It's a scarf swag I fitted in a bay a few years back.


Best Regards

Lee

Making swag curtains

by Linda
(Hazleton, PA)

I am interested in making the swag curtain on your curtain gallery page (last photo on page).

Could you please tell me the type and color of fabric used?

Also, were these curtains made or were they purchased in a store? If purchased, how is one of them 2.5" shorter? Can you purchase curtains with tabs for pullback hooks or were they sewn on? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Linda

These swag curtains were custom made by my curtain maker. They look stunning up I think you will agree. For visitors to my site I have put the picture in question below.



They are surprisingly simple to make if you have some sewing skills. Each curtain is a flat panel simply pleated over and sewn down. Like you said one panel is 2.5 inches shorter. To allow it to wrap over the wooden rod.

The central swag is made from a template. If doing it your self then you could use some scrap fabric or surplus lining. Use this to make 2 or 3 dummy swags to test which looks the best. Simply pin in place and hold up to see how it looks.

The fabric used on this job was silk. The color was a turquoise green. You can't see it in the picture (my naff photography) the lining is a similar color but with a very thin stripe.

I think silky type fabrics look the best for this kind of window treatment. You don't have to use real silk. Mock silks and some smooth polyester fabric can look just as good and a lot cheaper.


For anyone else reading this if you want to read more then click in this link. Swag curtains


Best Regards

Lee

P.S. Nearly forgot Linda the tabs to hold the curtains open were sewn on. They were in the wrong place when I hung them. So I had to unpick them and hand tack them back on.

I will just sew rings on after I have hung them next time.

POLE SWAGS

(Sully)

How do I cut and measure a pole swag curtain to get that layed and pointed effect? My windows are 3 ft wide by 5 ft high.


Hi Sully

If you want the swags to fall the 5 ft of your windows. Then your swag will need to be 13 ft long.

then to get the tapered look to the ends of your swag. you need to cut a slope across each end of your swag. You need to measure up about 6 inches along one side Then draw a line from this point at an angle to meet the opposite corner of your swag.

So thats it If you have not seen my page on scarf swags yet take a look here

Scarf Swags


Best regards

Lee

Swag on wide window?

by Tracy Phillips
(Wentzville MO)

I have a 71" x 71" window that I would like to use a 38" long swag. Would this this be odd? I've seen swags on long windows but they were always narrower windows.

Hi Tracy

Yes you can use scarf swags on widows this wide. What you may need to do if it hangs too deep on the window is wrap it over your rod (see picture above).

If you are using swag holders on sconce. Then you may need to add one in the centre. so you end up with 2 swags that cover each half of your window.


Best regards

Lee

Scarf swag for bay window

I have a bay window which is 3 way. How high should I place the scarf? And can it touch the floor?

On the other side I have regular windows (two together). How should I dress this?

Thanks.


Hi there

I would keep the same theme on both windows if practically possible.

I would fit the rods to hang your scarf from about 8 inches over all your windows. this allows the scarf to swag down for a nice shape but not come too deep into the window.

As to whether you should have the scarf ends down to the floor. I think this gives a great look really framing the window. It's just sometimes you have to be practical. For example if you have small children or pets that may stand on them or brush past.

I have a small picture of a 3 sided bay with a scarf swag on one of my gallery pages. Click on the link below to take a look.

Bay Scarf swag


Best Regards

Lee

window scarf

by Beth

Is it possible to buy a window "scarf" that is 24 or 25 feet long? I've been searching the internet and seem to only find 18 feet long scarves.


Hi Beth

You will struggle to find a scarf swag that long. I would recommend just picking a fabric you like and buying the length you need.

Most fabric come at 54 inches wide so perfect width for this kind of swag.

You would only need to use wonder web (stuff you hem skirts and trousers with usig a hot iron) to hem the cut ends. When you hang your swag just make sure the side seems are tucked inside the swag so you dont see them.

I have done this many times and it works just fine. The great thing about this is you end up with exactly the fabric you want and no sewing to do.

Swag Curtain idea for three windows

by Sue
(Winters, CA)

Pole wrap swag

I have three windows and want an idea for hanging swag curtains that will add color and not obstruct the view.

Hi Sue

Try a pole wrap like in the picture. One wrap for each window. Just set your rod over the window about 8 to 10 inches. This will keep a lot of the fabric off the glass area.

hop it appeals to you. Nice and simple one long length of fabric hemmed all the way round.


Best regards

Lee

POLE SWAGS

(Sully)

How do I cut and measure a pole swag curtain to get that layed and pointed effect? My windows are 3 ft wide by 5 ft high.


Hi Sully

If you want the swags to fall the 5 ft of your windows. Then your swag will need to be 13 ft long.

then to get the tapered look to the ends of your swag. you need to cut a slope across each end of your swag. You need to measure up about 6 inches along one side Then draw a line from this point at an angle to meet the opposite corner of your swag.

So thats it If you have not seen my page on scarf swags yet take a look here

Scarf Swags


Best regards

Lee

How best to drape voile from pole over french doors.

by Rose
(Scotland)

I have French doors opening inwards, I have a pole above the doors and venetian blinds on the doors themselves.

I wish to drape voile around the pole to hang to the sides, what is the best way to go about this, remembering the doors will have to open so the drape can not swag down too much.

Any ideas or better still pictures on the best way to achieve this.

Thanks in anticipation.
Rose



Hi Rose

The big question here is...How high over the doors is your pole. It would need to at least 8 inches for you to have your voile to swag at all.

Any less than this and the voile will look as though it is almost wound around your pole. Ideally you should fit your pole 12 inches over the doors to get the best looking swag effect and avoid the top of your doors when they open inwards.

Copy and paste this link into your browser. It takes you to a page with a set of french doors with the same kind of voile swag. See how much higher the pole would have to be if the doors where to open inwards.

www.junelle.co.uk/curtains/voile-curtains.htm

Best regards

Lee

Pole swag over blind in kitchen

by Fliss

Pleated pole swag

Hi Lee,

In my kitchen, I have french doors with a dark blue roller blind over them, which I love. However, what I don't love is my old curtain pole which is above the blind!!

I have considered taking down the pole, but unfortunately it will cause considerable damage to the wall as my husband fixed it rather too well!! I'm therefore stuck with it. It is however still a very nice chrome pole, and I don't mind making a feature of it. I did wonder about draping some voile over the pole, but am not sure if this will look too chintzy. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Fliss



Hi Fliss

There are many things you can do with a pole and a piece of fabric. Draping a length of voile is a simple one. But how about a piece of unlined silk it could look stunning if dressed right. I would go with voile if you want a more casual look. If you want it a touch more formal then silk dressed well could be the answer.

I know the image above is not silk but it gives you an idea of a scarf swag dressed well into pleats.

If you want some ideas on how to make and dress a scarf swag check out my page at
Scarf swags

how do I hang a fringed window scarf

by Jackie Peck
(pittsburgh, Pa)

I just wanted to know how to hang a window scarf that has a fringe on one side. The window is 80" wide and the curtain panels are about 10"s over the ends of the width. I purchased a 50" x 216" scarf and I don't intend to be even on both sides. Can you help me, give me the easiest way to hang this without too much trouble. TY, Jackie


Hi Jackie

Right the easiest way would be to pleat your scarf swag as per my instructions on my page "Make scarf swags" the link is below.

Then hang each end over a decorative rod, making sure the fringe is to the bottom. you will need to fit the rod 6 to 8 inches over your window.

Then use a tassel tie back to to tie up the swag in the center of the rod. This will give you two swag effects on the rod.

In the picture on the page below you will see the swag draped over both ends of the rod. This is a narrow window so does not need to be supported in the middle. your swag at around 100 inches wide will need to be supported in the middle. Pick a tassel tie back that matches your fringe


Make Scarf Swags


Best Regards

Lee

sheer, drapes, and swag valance

by Helen
(California)

What kind of rods do I use to hang sheers, grommet drapes over the sheers, then a long swag scarf over that? I could not find triple rods.


Hi Helen

The best way to go is to fit a double rod over your window. Hang your swag on the front rod then your grommet curtains on the back rod.

Then fit a seperate rod or track to the wall under your double rod. Use this to hang your sheers. You may have to put spacers behind the double rod brackets to move it out further from the wall. This will give a little more room for your sheers.

I guess you would have the sheers closed most of the time. so a simple track would probably do to hang them. also your swag would probably cover most of this as well.



Best regards

Lee