Custom drapes shrunk - what to do?

[Anonymous]

Designer installed custom drapes around a year ago. A few months ago, I noticed they were oddly 1.5 or so inches off the floor. The window installer came over and lowered the drapery rod.

Now this week I noticed they have shrunk again. I measured and it looks like in total the drapes have shrunk 3 inches total since they were ordered. I have not washed or dry cleaned them.

Is it appropriate to ask for a replacement with a different fabric? I don’t want drapes that continue to shrink. Nor do I want have the pole lowered again.

[Anonymous]

That is so bizarre. Is the lining fabric puckering at the side seams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is so bizarre. Is the lining fabric puckering at the side seams?

That’s what the designer said. No, don’t notice any puckering. There is a blackout liner and it looks normal. They are just shorter now!

[Anonymous]

That’s a lot of shrinkage. What material are they made from? If linen, you would expect them to shrink a bit in the winter, but with the humid months coming they should move back to their original length.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is so bizarre. Is the lining fabric puckering at the side seams?

That’s what the designer said. No, don’t notice any puckering. There is a blackout liner and it looks normal. They are just shorter now!

The blackout liner won’t be attached to the face fabric at the bottom, but it will be on the sides. I can’t fathom that the blackout liner could shrink that much or at all, so surely the side seams will be pulling if the face fabric is really shrinking? What is the face fabric made out of?

[Anonymous]

OP has anyone taken them down to like, dust them or paint? I’m wondering if the drapery hooks got moved at the top for some reason? Also moving the hooks up might be a way to cheat to get an extra inch of length.

[Anonymous]

The only time I've had this happen is when they've been taken down and machine washed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP has anyone taken them down to like, dust them or paint? I’m wondering if the drapery hooks got moved at the top for some reason? Also moving the hooks up might be a way to cheat to get an extra inch of length.

Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of shrinkage. What material are they made from? If linen, you would expect them to shrink a bit in the winter, but with the humid months coming they should move back to their original length.

It’s upholstery grade fabric

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of shrinkage. What material are they made from? If linen, you would expect them to shrink a bit in the winter, but with the humid months coming they should move back to their original length.

It’s upholstery grade fabric

Is it possible your floors are sinking?

Idk re: who pays. If it’s a full service designer and it was a costly project, they should cover it if they selected the fabric. If it was Calico Corners or you picked the fabric, you’re probably on your own.

[Anonymous]

I’m an interior designer that works on hotels. I always send fabric out to be pre-shrunk and stabilized for this very reason. But for residential that’s not really an easy thing to do. But one thing I would say is this is an issue with the fabric manufacturer and not the drapery fabricator. If the lining were shrinking you would still be able to let out the fabric and remove-line. You need to have whoever ordered the fabric do the leg work to reach out to the manufacturer. Or if the fabric was sent to a fabric finisher, whoever ordered it needs to reach out to them. Sadly, I don’t think you’ll have luck getting the fabric replaced and remade though. Everyone is just going to point the finger at the other guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m an interior designer that works on hotels. I always send fabric out to be pre-shrunk and stabilized for this very reason. But for residential that’s not really an easy thing to do. But one thing I would say is this is an issue with the fabric manufacturer and not the drapery fabricator. If the lining were shrinking you would still be able to let out the fabric and remove-line. You need to have whoever ordered the fabric do the leg work to reach out to the manufacturer. Or if the fabric was sent to a fabric finisher, whoever ordered it needs to reach out to them. Sadly, I don’t think you’ll have luck getting the fabric replaced and remade though. Everyone is just going to point the finger at the other guy.

Helpful, thanks. The window installer is reaching out to the fabric manufacturer next week.

I think my question is - is it reasonable to ask and receive a replacement? I’d be fine going with another fabric from the same manufacturer. I paid a decent sum for these drapes and they look terrible. I think they should be replaced and not on my dime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of shrinkage. What material are they made from? If linen, you would expect them to shrink a bit in the winter, but with the humid months coming they should move back to their original length.

It’s upholstery grade fabric

Is it possible your floors are sinking?

Idk re: who pays. If it’s a full service designer and it was a costly project, they should cover it if they selected the fabric. If it was Calico Corners or you picked the fabric, you’re probably on your own.

Not possible with the floors. I measured the drapes as they are currently versus what was listed on the original order. The actual drapes have shrunk in length.

Technically I approved the fabric, but it was through a designer who uses a window treatment installer. We used the same installer/company for most of the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an interior designer that works on hotels. I always send fabric out to be pre-shrunk and stabilized for this very reason. But for residential that’s not really an easy thing to do. But one thing I would say is this is an issue with the fabric manufacturer and not the drapery fabricator. If the lining were shrinking you would still be able to let out the fabric and remove-line. You need to have whoever ordered the fabric do the leg work to reach out to the manufacturer. Or if the fabric was sent to a fabric finisher, whoever ordered it needs to reach out to them. Sadly, I don’t think you’ll have luck getting the fabric replaced and remade though. Everyone is just going to point the finger at the other guy.

Helpful, thanks. The window installer is reaching out to the fabric manufacturer next week.

I think my question is - is it reasonable to ask and receive a replacement? I’d be fine going with another fabric from the same manufacturer. I paid a decent sum for these drapes and they look terrible. I think they should be replaced and not on my dime.

Ask for half from someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a lot of shrinkage. What material are they made from? If linen, you would expect them to shrink a bit in the winter, but with the humid months coming they should move back to their original length.

It’s upholstery grade fabric

Is it possible your floors are sinking?

Idk re: who pays. If it’s a full service designer and it was a costly project, they should cover it if they selected the fabric. If it was Calico Corners or you picked the fabric, you’re probably on your own.

Not possible with the floors. I measured the drapes as they are currently versus what was listed on the original order. The actual drapes have shrunk in length.

Technically I approved the fabric, but it was through a designer who uses a window treatment installer. We used the same installer/company for most of the house.

I was kidding about the floors!