Customer Reviews

Simply Window Treatments: All You Need to Know to Make Curtains, Shades, and Swags

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Anyone can transform their home with th beautiful customized window treatments showcased in Sunset's Simply Window Treatments. The projects range from the simple to the complex. Techniques are explained for measuring, calculating yardage, cutting, basic sewing, and installing the finished window treatment. Create your ambience exactly the way you want it to be with Simply Window Treatments.

There are a few things I like about this book. The back of the book has a good reference section to teach you about hardware, inside mount, oustide mount, and basically to explain a lot of the techniques it uses throughout the book in the various projects. That is great. I also learned form this book how to make a perfect mitered hem. So professional looking! For that reason alone this book was worth my purchase.

I will say, however, that this book is a bit dated so it may be hard for a beginner to envision their own style with some of the outdated window treatments illustrated. I also think the instructions are difficult to understand. I read many of the projects (especially the one for Roman Shades) and thought, why are they making this so complicated? It's not that hard!! I thought the same thing about Simply Slipcovers. Maybe I like things explained very simply but I do think that some of the projects could really scare off beginners with the complicated wording.

I am happy I bought this book though. It is good for ideas, although I wish it had more of them. I've seen bigger books out there with more window treatments ideas than this one. I kind of wish I had gone with a book that would give me more bang for my buck.

I purchased this book because, unlike many others, this book includes step-by-step instructions in addition to fabulous photographs and ideas. I used it to make window coverings for our entire house. Previously, I had only made simple straight rod-pocket curtains. With the instructions in this book, I was able to make roman shades, unique valances, and formal drapes. It also provides great information on hardware and how to hang treatments properly. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to cover windows. I also loaned it to a friend to help her decorate difficult half-moon windows.

I bought this and felt let down. The instuctions are confusing, have too many cross references, and assume a certain amount of skill. This is definitely not what I would call straight forward. I would absolutely not recommend this to a beginner as it can be overwhelming. I ended up not using one bit of information from this book. I also found the ideas to be either too stuffy or relaxed, I couldn't find a middle ground. I found Window Style to be much more informative

This is one of two curtain making books I own and it is my very favorite. The project I tackled was the "london shade" - mind you, one of my FIRST sewing projects. I had a bit of trouble making the box pleats - but overall, this book guided me to success and I'm looking forward to making another london shade for another room in my house. I've also got plans to try the poufed cloud shade.

I had some difficulty finding the cafe rings used for the backside of the London Shade (the rings that the cord runs through) but was able to order them from Ace Hardware.

There's also a Double Drape tied swag that I'd LOVE to try - but real wary of trying a swag project after one EXTREMELY frustrating experience with swags. That was, of course, before I owned this book - so perhaps it would go more smoothly this time around.

I LOVE this book. I found the directions easy to follow and I LOVED the way it broke down measurements for me for the London shade (Tail, Pleat and Scallop). My shade truly turned out lovely, I made it with a red linen.

I highly recommend this book!

I purchased this book because after searching the entire internet, it was the only item that I could find that showed a curtain for an arched window. The book was helpful in making a pattern but was very vague in its instructions. Since I have been sewing for 36 years I was able to overcome that obstacle, but beginning sewers will have difficulty following the instructions. So, if you're an experienced seamstress and want to make a curtain for an arched (or half moon) window, buy this book, if not, think twice.

I was interested in having some standard draperies made, and wanted to learn about sizing. I assumed that a book on window treatments would cover draperies. Wrong. Nothing on draperies, not even an index entry. So draperies are not a window treatment? This is especially bad, because there is a section in the beginning where they discuss the pros and cons of different types of window treatments; without an explanation of the pros and cons of draperies, how can you decide that the curtains explained in the book are the right thing for you? Another bad effort from a publishing industry that apparently has fired all the editors.