Hedi -
Thanks for the compliment on my curtains... if you're ready for a REAL giggle -- I'm going to TRY to explain how I came up with them :ph34r:
I made the cage curtains you're referring to ... I didn't have a pattern, I just took the measurements they gave me, and "improvised" which was an amazing feat - since I'm really
not much of a seamstress. LOL
I would have made them MUCH differently, had I realized how hard it would be to keep the corners together, once hung over the wire cage frames. (yes, they were 3 separate pieces, all sewn together at the top edge)
One word of warning... they keep saying the cages are 22" x 22" x 44" -- but they didn't bother to tell me there is 2" of space between the 2 halves of the 44" space... which made the overall dimensions of their particular cages just a fraction OVER 46" long. One reason the top didn't fit, properly.
And even MORE confusing... I was told that in some part of the country, the cages ARE different dimensions, as well.... YIKES
I used two colors, so they would be "reversible" -- and cut one piece of
each fabric color 24" x 46" (had I known, I would have cut it 48" long, instead.) Then I hemmed the sides and bottom of each piece, sewed the two pieces together, measuring a hundred times (as I said, I'm a terrible seamstress) to make sure that where the seams of the two sewn together hang over the wire frame of the cage, it would hang down 22 1/4 inches. Then I took 2 SETS of the colors and cut them into 24" squares, hemmed each side and the bottom, and sewed the tops together.. also making the "length" of each 22 1/4 inches when hung over the wire at the seams. Then I used a zig-zag stitch, and sewed all three together, at the seams, allowing the top corners of each "square" to overlap the ends of the long piece just a little.
The top was made with a piece of gold "sheer" fabric and cut it in a rectangle 24" x 46" (another mistake) and made four, 4" reversible bands by sewing the ends and bottom of the same fabric used for the sides and table skirt fabric together, then reversing it, and sewing a 22 1/2 inch strip across each of the short ends, and 44 1/2 inch (should have been 46 1/2 inch) strip across both long sides.
It WOULD have worked "perfectly" if I had the CORRECT dimensions of the "double" cage.
I still plan to use them, but I'm going to have to work on them some, to make them hang properly. (sigh)
All in all, to be honest, there are a lot of people who make the cage curtains, here in the US who do a MUCH better job than mine... I think a lot of people just liked "mine" because they are more "talored" looking than a lot of the frilly "ruffled" curtains. (especially for BOY cats)
My biggest suggestions for you and your mother-in-law (if she's going to make them for you) is to talk to an entry clerk, and ask if they can give you the EXACT dimensions, if you want tailored curtains.
Second, if she plans to use 2 different colors, as I did, to make them reversible -- to have SEAMS at the corners, instead of hemming both sides of the back and each end. Then after sewing the two ends to the "back" of EACH color -- put them with the faces (right side) of each fabric together, then sewing the top seam all in one LONG piece. (if she sews a lot, she will know what I mean.)
The table skirt, I made much the same way. (I don't remember the dimensions - but I used "standard table height plus about 6 inches) to tuck the skirt UNDER the front side of the cage.
This explaination is getting WAY too complicated, and if you're not interested, I'm boring EVERYONE... so if you'd like MORE detail... please write an e-mail to me at <f.lavon@att.net> and I'll try to make the directions make more sense. LOL
To tell you the truth, after ALL that work, I went to the show, and there was a vendor selling cage curtains she had already made up, for $65 dollars. And I bought a set from her. LOL
Dagger will be HORRIBLY embarassed, because this set is RED with a lot of silver and white lace (great for christmas or valentines -- but pretty "prissy" otherwise") One of the big disadvantages of buying at a show -- you have to just choose from what they have made, regarding color, design, etc.
I LOVE the fabric that I used, and think I will still try to use them, again, after some modifications - but in all honesty... I probably won't make any more. I'd rather be spending the time it took sewing PLAYING with my cats!
Even though, in all honesty, all the help I got from Dagger and his sister Emma -- was pretty entertaining, in itself.
There are several vendors who sell cage curtains online, but they seem terribly price prohibitive.
I believe there are also some "patterns" out there, I'll see if I can find them again, too, if you wish!
To all others -- sorry for the LONG post.
Hope this helps... or at least makes you think twice about putting your mother-in-law through what I went though :blink:
By the way, at my FIRST show... I just took RAW fabric, 45" wide 2 1/2 yards long, and just folded it longways over the top edge and "draped" it as best I could. Then another piece 45" wide just over 1 yard long, for the "skirt" and put a little bathroom rug in for the "floor" of the cage. Then covered the TOP of the cage with a "lap throw" and allowed the "extra" to hang over the back of the cage. It was a hassle, but functioned.
I'm just BARELY getting into all of this. I'm SURE there are people with MUCH more experience who could give you better advice. (grin)
LaVon