Pole or Track? Measure the Width
The width you order is the width of your pole or track, not the window. Where you measure depends on which one you have:
- Pole — measure between the two finials (the decorative end caps), end of pole to end of pole. Don't include the finials themselves.
- Track — measure end to end of the track itself.
If your pole or track isn't up yet, we recommend mounting it 15–20 cm beyond each side of the window so the curtains sit clear of the glass when open, and 10–20 cm above the frame for a taller, more elegant proportion.
Measure the Drop
Where you start the tape matters:
- Pole with rings — start from the eye of the ring (the small loop where the curtain hook clips in), not the top of the pole.
- Track — start from the top of the track.
Then drop the tape down to the finish line you want. Pick whichever look suits the room:
- Sill
- Stops 1 cm above the window sill — neat, practical, doesn't collect dust.
- Below sill
- Drops 15 cm below the sill — useful when there's a radiator or pipe to cover.
- Floor (clearance)
- Stops 1 cm above the floor — easy to vacuum under, classic look.
- Floor (kissing)
- Just touching the floor — the most refined hang for tailored linen.
- Pooled / puddle
- 5–15 cm of extra fabric on the floor — soft, romantic, only for rooms with light foot traffic.
Calculate the Fabric Width (Fullness)
Curtains need to be wider than the track to gather and hang properly. The multiplier depends on your heading style:
| Heading | Fullness |
|---|---|
| Pencil pleat | 2.0 – 2.5× |
| Pinch pleat (triple / French) | 2.0× |
| Eyelet | 2.0× |
| Wave | 2.0 – 2.2× |
| Sheer / voile | 3.0× |
Worked example. A 200 cm pole with pencil-pleat curtains at 2.2× needs 440 cm of fabric total. Our linens come in a 140 cm bolt width, so that's typically two pieces seamed together — handled in our atelier, you'll never see the join.
Choose Heading & Lining
The heading sets how the curtain folds at the top — pencil pleat is classic and gathered, pinch pleat is structured and tailored, eyelet is contemporary and slides easily, wave is sleek and modern.
The lining changes the fall and the light. Unlined linen lets the room glow at golden hour. Standard cotton lining gives the curtain weight and protects the linen from sun. Blackout lining is the right choice for bedrooms.
Configure Your Curtains
Enter your pole/track width and your drop in our configurator. We'll handle the fullness multiplier, the seaming, and the linen relaxation allowance — you just give us the two numbers.
Patterned linen — allow for the repeat
If your fabric has a stripe or motif, we add the pattern repeat length on top of the drop so the design lines up across seamed pieces. The repeat is shown on each fabric page; you don't need to add it yourself, but it's why patterned linen costs slightly more per metre than plain.
Linen relaxes after hanging
Real linen settles by roughly 1–2 cm in the first weeks once gravity does its work. We allow for this in our finishing — your finished drop will match what you ordered after the curtains have hung for a fortnight, not the day they arrive.