Our tutorials are based on the BASIC method of making curtains where you round up or down to a whole number of fabric widths and make the curtains with that amount of fabric.

This works well in most cases especially for standard headings, pole lengths and fabric widths. However sometimes rounding up will make the curtains too full and rounding down too skimpy. To help decide if this is the case we have made this fullness ratio checker.

Enter the following into the FULLNESS RATIO CHECKER

INPUTS

1. Enter Pole length*
2. Enter Desired Fullness Ratio*
3. Enter Usable Fabric Width*
4. Press Enter to Calculate

*note enter numbers only , no letters

ANSWERS

The calculator will tell you

• The number of fabric widths rounded UP and the curtain fullness ratio that gives
• The number of fabric widths rounded DOWN and the curtain fullness ratio that gives

To help you make a judgement as to whether you need to make the curtains to an EXACT FULLNESS RATIO or WHOLE NUMBER OF WIDTHS (Basic Method) we have colour coded the background of the Fullness ratio to give you an indication of what we might be thinking.

• - OK for WHOLE NUMBER OF WIDTHS (Basic Method)
• - This should also be OK but we would consider making to an EXACT FULLNESS RATIO depending on pleat type and the design of the curtain. We would be especially cautious if rounding down the number of widths (making the curtain too skimpy)
• - We would be looking at the other rounded figure or considering making to an EXACT FULLNESS RATIO

MAKING THE DECISION

The colour coding is just an initial indication, there are lots of factors that affect your decision as to whether rounding will make the curtain too full or skimpy. Cindy goes into more depth with her "thought process" in the MAKING TO AN EXACT FULLNESS RATIO - ADV METHOD

EXTRA INFO

The pleat and space sizes a number of widths will give you, are ultimately the best indicator of the design of the curtain once made. (if you are logged in on a curtain course or PRO subscription) the calculator gives you estimated pleat and space sizes for the rounded up widths, rounded down widths and if cutting down to the exact fullness. This is really helpful information.

See our Fullness Ratio Article and Pleat & Space Guide for more information on fullnesses and pleat and space sizes

EXACT FULLNESS RATIO METHOD

If you do decide to use the EXACT FULLNESS RATIO METHOD . The calculator automatically calculates the figures you need for this method at the same time.

• The total number of widths required rounded UP
• The width of joined fabric required (per curtain)
• The flat panel width before pleating (per curtain)
• The finished curtain width (per curtain)
• The actual fullness ratio
• How much excess fabric will be left over.