you know i learn new things everyday. like for example found out that i shouldnt prune my cherry tree as the fungal spores causing sliverleaf are rife at this time of year. If the tree becomes infected then it would have slowly died.
Second thing i learned was that you shouldnt put your curtains in the wash. i mean i did consult the manual and i did what it said. low temp, low spin cycle and on delicates setting but they have shrunk by about 4 inches off the ground.
any ways to reverse this? i could stretch it again i suppose. any chemical that could help.
2007-11-26 07:33:01 · 13 answers · asked by g l 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
We did this about two years ago...nothing you can do to reverse it, although most curtains have generous hems on the bottom or top, but it does mean re picking the hems and re sewing them to the correct length again, Oh and of course learning from your mistakes.
2007-11-26 07:38:24 · answer #1 · answered by Knownow't 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh no! never mind - we've all done this at some point or another I'm sure - well I know I have anyway. I'm sorry to say that there is no way of getting them back to the original length. The hem probably won't be big enough to provide you with enough material if you let them down. You could actually make them even shorter by turning them up dependant upon how long they were originally. for example, if they were touching the skirting boards or floor but your window sill is a couple of feet above your floor you could take them up or get them taken up to a length that is equal distance below your window sill and above your skirting board so that they don't look obviously shrunk. Or you could get some additional fabric of a contrasting colour and sew that to the bottom - this is very trendy but of course it depends on how expensive your curtains were in the first place and whether or not it's worth going to so much trouble. If you don't think that either of my ideas are viable options I'm afraid you'll have to replace them as stretching them back to the original length just isn't an option. Good Luck
2007-11-27 11:58:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but shrunk is shrunk. If you think it would look nice, it's currently very trendy to put a different fabric on the bottom. Check out the fabric store and try to find something that would coordinate with what you have. If you can't sew, ask an alterationist how much they would charge for this. It might be cheaper than buying new curtains.
2007-11-26 07:38:25 · answer #3 · answered by gracel313 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they won't stretch back to their original length. You may find some extra fabric in the hem which you can use to lengthen but this will probably leave a crease mark where the original hem finished. Alternatively, you could lower the track a bit, maybe replace with a pole and rings? That would give you a couple of more inches to play with as the curtains sit under the pole. How about adding a strip of contrasting fabric at either the top or bottom of your existing curtains? Or make them cill length if they aren't in front of a door. Just a few suggestions, hope it helps.
2007-11-26 07:49:18 · answer #4 · answered by gizzaclue 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.... there is no way you can 'stretch the curtain back the original size - however, by picking a fabric with a matching or contrasting colour of your curtains - you can put a band 4 inches deep along the bottom and if appropriate down either side where the curtains meet I did this with a pair of pale green curtains using the contrasting fabric of yellow with a green check
Looked good and actually got compliments
2007-11-26 08:10:11 · answer #5 · answered by Nell 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ironing the fabric (using lots of steam) will help regain an inch or two of the length. This, in combination with changing or lowering the rod, might help you reach the ground.
But, as others have suggested, a panel of another fabric (different color, different texture on purpose) is trendy right now -- at least for drapes that aren't tightly gathered.
Don't try to match the current fabric - the sun fading and shrinkage have changed its color and texture already. Deliberately choose a fabric (usually heavier or brighter) for the bottom hem -- and make the band at least 12 inches deep. I think lace at the bottom would un-balance the curtains -- sheer/light go at the top, heavy/dark at the bottom.
2007-11-26 08:44:28 · answer #6 · answered by Sue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know with wool you can sometimes relax the fibres by soaking overnight in a very high concentation of fabric softener. Might be worth a try.
2007-11-26 07:44:16 · answer #7 · answered by cwceroberts 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is only one solution and that's to lower the curtain track or pole.
2007-11-26 08:23:03 · answer #8 · answered by sanfranbus 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried ironing them? Curtains shouldn't shrink that much and it may just be that they need to be ironed.
2007-11-26 12:34:46 · answer #9 · answered by Tim E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rinse again and hang them wet
2007-11-26 07:55:46 · answer #10 · answered by Gypsy Gal 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋