The right side of a printed fabric may be evident, but it isn't on curtain lining. On some printed fabric, information about the fabric is written in the selvedge edge -- obviously on the right side of the fabric. The selvedge edge is the tightly woven edge along the length-wise edges of the fabric. Curtain lining has no information on the selvedge, and often the two sides are either so similar or so different as to present quite a conundrum. The right side of the lining orients to the window, so you need to know how to determine the right and wrong side before you start your construction. The right side of the lining faces out the window. A few drapery-maker’s tricks and some industry knowledge will give you the information you need to make the right determination.
Choose to place registration marks on either the right or wrong side -- the choice is yours. Choose one side and be consistent through all your curtain placement. The purpose of these marks is to help you know which is the right and which is the wrong side of the lining during construction. The marks should be removable or placed in a spot that will not be visible when the curtains are completed. Mark the side with painters tape, which leaves no residue (unlike masking tape). Or invest in a fabric stapler; the staples are small, blunt-ended and easily removable. Use a permanent marker in the selvedges only and place a paper towel under the fabric to prevent marking your table or cutting surface if the ink bleeds through. Also, make sure the ink is dry before you move the fabric. The right side of the lining orients toward the window. The wrong side of the lining sits against the wrong side of the curtain fabric. The layers, starting from inside the room, are: curtain fabric right side (facing into the room), curtain fabric wrong side (not visible but orienting out the window), lining wrong side (not visible but orienting into the room), lining right side (facing out the window).
Feel the surface of blackout or dimout lining; one side will feel smooth, and one will feel rougher. The rough side is the right side, and it should orient to the road. (“Rough to the Road”).
Locate the pin holes in the selvedge of a cotton or blended fiber woven fabric. One side will feel rough, and this is the right side. During the manufacturing process, the fabric is held taut with pins inserted through the selvedge up from the underside to the topside, which is the right side. During laundering, these holes may disappear, so mark one side before laundering.
Choose flannel-backed lining for increased insulation protection. The flat side of the flannel-baked cotton is the right side and the fuzzy side should be against the wrong side of the drapery fabric.
Avoid confusion with twill, which can appear the same on both sides because of the weave, by choosing one side and using it as the right side. The diagonal lines of a twill weave will run in one direction on one side of the fabric and the opposite direction on the reverse side. Just be consistent. The exception is if there are longer surface threads on one side than the other. The longer surface threads indicate the wrong side.
Be consistent. If the two sides are very close in appearance, choose one and use it as the right side for all of your curtains.
Pick the shiny side for the right side if the fabric has a shiny surface. This may be a chemical finish, or it could be the result of exceptionally fine fibers and a satin weave. The chemical finish may wash away and the shine from the weave may dull over time, but it looks lovely when it is new.
- If you do not intend to wash your drapes, do not pre-launder the lining. Wrinkles may be difficult to remove and unless you have a large work-surface, it may be difficult to cut it straight after laundering.
- Remember that man-made fibers tend to produce static more than do natural fibers. If your curtain fabric has man-made fibers, choose an all-cotton lining to avoid the two repelling each other due to static. Be aware that the cotton may shrink in cleaning, so have it pre-shrunk before construction. Your local dry-cleaner may be able to pre-shrink it for you, or ask the local drapery maker for a recommendation.
- Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images