Curtains up
Finally, half the curtains are up in the studio. It took the contractors about 3 hours to put in all the wires on the wall above the windows to support the curtains. No more ugly paper blinds, at least on one wall. I still need to purchase tension rods for the other 4 windows on the North wall. You can't tell from these pictures but the curtains TOTALLY class the place up. 10 foot high velvety curtains are a rare sight.
Unfortunately a bit of brick is exposed up at the top. But there wasn't any way around that. But here's the surprise that I'm very unhappy with. Each panel of curtains has a seam up the middle. I didn't ask for the width of these curtains. You are only allowed to custom order the height, not the width of these. So I was stuck with the width they gave me. So why do my curtains look like some one took two sets of curtains and sewed them together in the middle? If these were cheap curtains, I would totally understand the seam right up the middle of each panel. But when I pay over $1,000 for curtains, I expect some classy curtains. Am I unreasonable to complain to the store that ordered them for me that they shouldn't have seams up the middle (or they should have told me about the seams before I ordered them)?
Unfortunately a bit of brick is exposed up at the top. But there wasn't any way around that. But here's the surprise that I'm very unhappy with. Each panel of curtains has a seam up the middle. I didn't ask for the width of these curtains. You are only allowed to custom order the height, not the width of these. So I was stuck with the width they gave me. So why do my curtains look like some one took two sets of curtains and sewed them together in the middle? If these were cheap curtains, I would totally understand the seam right up the middle of each panel. But when I pay over $1,000 for curtains, I expect some classy curtains. Am I unreasonable to complain to the store that ordered them for me that they shouldn't have seams up the middle (or they should have told me about the seams before I ordered them)?
Should I complain to the store about the seams up the middle of each of my new curtains?
Curtains often have a seam right up the middle of each panel
6(54.5%)
If you didn't even ask for that width, then there's no excuse to have seams up the middle of your curtains
3(27.3%)
Other, posting comment to explain
2(18.2%)
The way those are gathered from hanging, I doubt the seam is visible to girls swinging on poles.
Fabrics come in usually 3 "standard" widths -- 36", 45", and 60". If you wanted high quality lined 60" wide curtains, you would NOT want them to use the flat 60" fabric, because it's actually weaker and less supportive. You'd prefer them to use the 36" width and seam it in the middle, and trim the excess off.
Pretty much the only curtains you'll ever find that won't have a seam in the middle, are sheers or flat panels that are usually strung on a rod and hung, and even then those are generally standard 36" width.
what width did they come?
Re: what width did they come?
It also looks like you may be able to take those two panels and pin them together at or near the top without changing the draping too much, thought that may be a function of the angles of the pictures. And if you want to be able to open the drapes. ;)
Are the curtains lined? Sometime heavy drapes have a seam to do ...something with the lining. Not a seamstress, nor do I play one on TV, but there might be a logical technical reason for the seam being there.
A quick Google search seems to suggest that running a seam up the middle of the panel has something to do with the drape and if it's heavy fabric, that seam can help reinforce the area where the curtain rod goes. Especially since the weight of the fabric would be heaviest in the middle. Also, some fabrics can develop a twist, ( I know for a fact that cotton knit t-shirt fabric does this), so cutting the fabric into strips and seaming it together will correct this problem and keep the hem even.
See above about not being a sewer, but I'm willing to be there is a quality issue for why your curtains are seamed.
I imagine that a curtain or fabric expert would give you a very reasonable explanation for why they are that way. And like I said before, I hadn't given my curtains a second thought until you posted and I doubt your students are either.