Gabardine curtains

Decorating window openings with textiles is the final touch in interior design. The range of materials for curtains today is simply huge. One of the most popular fabrics is gabardine. What makes the material so popular? What are the advantages and disadvantages? How to care for gabardine curtains? Below are answers to these questions, several design ideas and a description of the newfangled trend - photo curtains in the interior.

Gabardine curtains: main features of the material

Gabardine is a material with a long history. This is a durable, dense and very practical fabric, ideal for sewing curtains. Manufacturing technology and fabric composition may vary. An invariable characteristic feature is the thread weaving system - a complex twill, which gives the material a number of excellent properties.

What fibers does gabardine consist of?

Initially, gabardine was exclusively natural wool fabric. The development of the chemical industry and technological progress have made their own adjustments.Today, the composition of fabrics under the same name can vary greatly. It all depends on what threads were used in production. This also applies to gabardine. Today the following options are available:

• woolen;
• half-wool;
• cotton;
• polyester.

Woolen and wool blend options are more often used for tailoring. Polyester gabardine is ideal for photo printing, which is why it is chosen for photo curtains.

Reference! The name gabardine refers not to the composition, but to the method of weaving the threads - complex twill.

Varieties of gabardine fabrics for sewing curtains: photo examples

Curtain fashion is moving forward. Designers work hard to create new trends and annually replenish the arsenal of catalogs with fresh ideas. The choice of model is a matter of taste and style in which the room is decorated. Below are several ideas.

• For a minimalist style, a simple, strict form of curtains with vertical folds on the eyelets is suitable.
• Combinations with contrasting color inserts are an idea that helps to combine dissimilar interior details in one room.
• Massive floor-length curtains, with complex draperies and fringe, with tassels and a rigid lambrequin with an original edge, will fit perfectly into an elaborate rococo style.
• Ensembles with repetition of accessories made from curtain fabric are good - tablecloths, bedspreads, decorative pillows.
• Multilayer compositions made of thick gabardine curtains and weightless tulles look great.
• Models of photo curtains with tulle companion curtains are an innovative idea.

Advantages of gabardine textiles for windows

Gabardine can be considered an ideal material in all respects for sewing curtains, as well as tablecloths and bedspreads, thanks to which you can create interesting ensembles.

• The complex twill weave makes the fabric dense and gives it water-repellent properties. Droplets of liquid falling on the surface of the canvas roll off faster than they can be absorbed. This property is reliable protection against stains, especially if there are children in the house who can spill something.
• The material allows air to pass through well, which is important in the summer, when at night the windows are open but tightly curtained.
• Wear resistance and durability are undeniable advantages. During the economic crisis, not everyone can afford to change curtains every season. Gabardine curtains completely solve this problem.

Important! Special impregnations protect the product from fading, the appearance of the curtains remains fresh, bright and presentable for a long time. This can be confirmed by those who have gabardine clothes in their wardrobe. A model goes out of fashion before the fabric wears out.

The main pros and cons of gabardine curtains

This material has many more advantages than disadvantages. Let's talk about the advantages first.

• Poor stretchability. This means that the curtains will hold their shape perfectly and will not deform during use.
• Wide range of colors. There are many monochromatic options. A variety of shades allows you to choose the material to suit the interior of any room - kitchen, bedroom, living room. Polyester gabardines are perfect for printing. This feature is especially relevant when there is a need to create a certain style using curtains, or to decorate a nursery.
• Easy to process. Even a novice craftswoman can easily sew gabardine curtains. Thick fabric is easy to cut and process.
• Price. Gabardine is a budget material.This does not prevent it from looking modern, stylish, and having a number of advantages.
• Lightness and softness. The density of the material does not increase its weight and does not impair drapability.

The only disadvantage can be considered the low level of light absorption. The leading position in this matter is occupied by blackout matter - it absorbs light by 99%. Gabardine protects the room from light by only 70%.

Gabardine photocurtains: what are they?

Modern digital thermal printing technologies allow you to create entire photo masterpieces on curtains. Blackout, gabardine and satin are ideal “canvases” for printing. The structure of gabardine allows ink to penetrate deeply into the fibers, and fixers and impregnations reliably hold them and protect them from fading.

The print should be chosen in accordance with the style in which the room is decorated. Fortunately, there is no shortage in this regard today. Stripe for Provence, check for country; portals, columns, terraces with peacocks - classics. Favorite cartoon characters - an idea for a nursery; juicy, luxurious 3D masterpieces - in the living room. Photocurtains can be purchased ready-made or made to order.

Features of caring for gabardine window textiles

The material does not require special handling or expensive, delicate cleaning products. The fabric does not fade and is abrasion resistant. But this does not mean that there are no special care features at all. Labels usually use a number of symbols with the rules for using textile products, and curtains are no exception. The icons indicate the temperature conditions for washing and ironing, explain how to properly dry the product and what products to use. Following the manufacturer's advice will extend the life of your curtains.

Probability of washing

Washing gabardine curtains will not cause much trouble.

• Products made from natural wool fiber should be washed by hand at 30°C, or better yet dry cleaned. Synthetic options - at 40 °C.
• Hand washing is preferable without twisting, machine washing is allowed - in the “Synthetic” and “Delicate Wash” modes, also without spinning. Gabardine is not subject to deformation, but hanging it without first twisting it will eliminate the need to iron the material.
• If you decide to machine wash, you should not pack the drum tightly with curtains. The best option is to fill it halfway.

Reference! This fabric is often used for sewing tablecloths and curtains in catering establishments, as well as for uniforms for cooks and waiters. Restaurant owners and staff note the excellent characteristics of the fabric in terms of ease of removing stains.

• It is important to rinse the product well to avoid white streaks.
• Do not dry in direct sunlight.

How to store products

For those who strictly follow the fashion of curtains and change them according to the season, the issue of storing the accessory is especially relevant. The storage process is simple.

• General wash before storing. You should not store curtains dirty. After several months of staying in the closet, the dirt will be firmly ingrained into the material.
• Neat folding and storage in the closet.
• Shaking and, if necessary, ironing upon removal from the cabinet.
• Ironing. In principle, gabardine is a low-wrinkle material. But if there is a need to iron the product, this should be done only from the wrong side at medium temperature, with steam or moisturizing from a spray bottle. Before you begin ironing, it is important to test the temperature of the iron on an inconspicuous area, for example, the bottom corner of a curtain.
• The last stage is hanging and airing. To ventilate the curtains, you need to open the window, draw the curtains and leave them in this state for a while.

Reference! Ironing the material from the front side leads to the formation of lass (unwanted shine).