5 Best Drapery Fabric

Draperies are such an important part of your home décor. Not only do they lend to the aesthetic appeal, but they can also be functional. They can be used for privacy, preventing prying eyes from peeking into your home. Drapes can be used to prevent hot and cold air from escaping and entering your house. And, they can also be used to block out unwanted light.There’s no denying that draperies are a staple element in your home, and there are certainly tons of pre-made options to choose from. However, if you are having a difficult time finding a design that suits your needs or you just enjoy sewing, you may want to try your hand at making your own drapes. If you’re an expert behind a sewing machine, making your own drapes should be a breeze; but, even if you are novice seamstress, with a little sewing help, you should be able to craft your own window dressings. With the right sewing essentials (and a little bit of patience and time), you can create beautifully unique draperies for your windows; you just need to be able to sew a straight line and have the right sewing fabric.

There are so many different types of fabrics that can be used for draperies; burlap, denim and chambray, flannel, fleece, knit fabric, and even chenille. But with so many options, how do you choose the best drapery fabric? We’ve taken the liberty of assessing and testing out several different fabrics that would be suitable for making drapes. Based on our findings, we were able to narrow down the options to what we consider to be the best fabric for curtains that we think anyone who is attempting to make their own window coverings should have in their sewing room.

1. Roc-lon Blackout Drapery Lining White Fabric by the Yard

The first option our list of the best fabric for curtains is actually a drapery lining material. Blackout drapes are super functional because, as they name suggests, they prevent light from coming through your windows. Whether you work night shifts and sleep during the day, have children that nap during the day, or street lighting and other external lights pour through your windows at night, blackout curtains can turn a room pitch black, making it easier to fall asleep. Whatever your reason, if you want to make room darkening curtains, than you will definitely want to have this Blackout Drapery Lining in White by Roc-lon on-hand.

This fabric is made of 70 percent polyester and 30 percent cotton, which makes it extremely easy to care for. It can be machine washed and tumbled dry, and it shouldn’t have issues with wrinkling (just make sure that you are using it as a liner on a fabric that can also be machine washed and tumbled dry to avoid issues). Since the fabric is white, it works well with lighter colored materials; however, you can also use it with darker materials, as long as they are opaque. This blackout drapery lining is 54 inches wide, giving you plenty of room to work with, and since it’s sold by the yard and cut to order, you can purchase the exact amount that you need. Based on the reviews that we read, most customers seem to be very happy with this material. The majority of users said that it is very easy to work with and that it serves its intended purpose; blocking out unwanted light.

What We Like About It

• Made of polyester and cotton
• Easy to care for
• Easy to work with
• Effectively blocks out light
• Sold by the yard
• Can be used with all types of fabrics

Reasons to Complain

• There were some complaints about the fabric having an odor, but we didn’t find that to be the case
• One customer said that it was difficult to cut. We also didn’t find that to be the case

Final Verdict: If you are making room darkening curtains, Roc-lon Blackout Drapery Lining White Fabric by the Yard is a must-have. It effectively blocks out unwanted light, is easy to work with, and is easy to care for, making it the perfect choice for blackout curtains.

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2. Hanes Serenity Blackout Drapery Black Fabric by the Yard

Next up we have another room darkening material. Hanes Serenity Blackout Drapery is black in color, so if you are using a darker colored material for your curtains, this fabric will work better than white, as it won’t be as noticeable. And, not only can it be used as a liner, but it can also be used as a stand-alone material. If you’re looking to make plain black room darkening window coverings, you can easily do so. Sew a straight hem for a classic look, or you can add some sewing braids and cords or some sewing piping trim to dress it up a bit. Whether you plan to keep it simple or embellish it, this material will drape beautifully and effective block out unwanted light.

The material is made of 100 percent polyester, so it is incredibly easy to care for. It can be machine washed and tumbled dry (just make sure that you are using it with another material that is machine washable if you are using it as a liner). Also, since polyester doesn’t wrinkle much, you shouldn’t have issues with wrinkling. The fabric is 54 inches wide and is sold by the yard, so you can purchase the exact amount that you need. Based on the reviews that we read, most users are very happy with the fabric. They say that it completely blocks out light and that it is very easy to use and care for.

What We Like About It

• Made of 100 percent polyester
• Easy to care for; machine wash and tumble dry
• 54 inches wide
• Sold by the yard
• Easy to work with
• Effectively blocks out light
• Can be used as a liner or a stand-alone fabric

Reasons to Complain

• Some people complained that the fabric was cut in individual yards; not as a single continuous length

Final Verdict: If you’re looking to make black or dark-colored blackout curtains for your windows, Hanes Serenity Blackout Drapery in Black is an excellent choice. It’s 100 percent polyester, easy to work with, and easy to care for.

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3. Eroica Enterprises Hollyhock Damask Jacquard Antique

Jacquard is an excellent fabric for draperies. It’s a heavyweight material, so it can effectively block out light (at least to some degree), and it can also help to prevent heated and cooled air from escaping through your windows, or hot or cold air from pouring in. Plus, it drapes beautifully and is easy to work with.

Eroica Enterprises Hollyhock Damask Jacquard Antique is the perfect drapery fabric if you are looking to add an elegant touch of sophistication to your interior design. It has a lovely damask print and an antiqued color, including grey and mocha set on a beige background, which lends well with various types of styles, such as French provincial and Victorian; or, you can use it to use it to add an unexpected pop of visual interest in a contemporary or traditional room. Since this fabric is made of 100 percent polyester, it’s quite durable, easy to work with, and easy to care for; it can be machine washed on cold and tumbled dry on a low setting. The width of the material is 58 inches and it’s sold by the yard, so you can purchase the exact amount that you need. According to the majority of the reviews that we’ve read, it seems that most customers who have used this fabric are very happy with it. They say that it is high quality and stunning.

What We Like About It

• Made of 100 percent polyester
• Easy care; machine wash and tumble dry
• 58 inches wide
• Sold by the yard and cut to order
• Features a lovely damask print in an antiqued color

Reasons to Complain

• Some customers said that the material wasn’t as thick as they hoped it would be

Final Verdict: With Eroica Enterprises Hollyhock Damask Jacquard Antique fabric, you’ll be able to make stunning draperies for your windows. This fabric is made of 100 percent polyester, thick, and easy to work with, and the design is stunning.

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4. Premier Prints Winston Navy

With the Premier Prints Winston Navy fabric, you’ll be able to make truly unique window draperies. The fabric features a modern geometric design, which is printed in navy blue, light blue, and gray, and the pattern is set on a white background. It’s fun and funky, and it will totally make a statement in your living room, bedroom, or any other space in your home or office.

The fabric is made of 100 percent cotton, so it’s soft and lightweight, yet durable. It’s also easy to care for; it can be machine washed in cold water and tumbled dry on low. The width of the material is 54 inches and it’s sold by the yard and cut to order. This fabric received excellent reviews on Amazon. Most of the people who have used it said that they were beyond impressed with it. In fact, some even said that it was so durable that they used it as an upholstery fabric!

What We Like About It

• Made of 100 percent cotton
• Features a stunning geometric print in a shades of blue, which is set on a white background
• Easy to work with
• Soft and durable
• Easy to care for; machine wash and tumble dry
• 54 inches wide
• Sold by the yard and cut to order

Reasons to Complain

• One reviewer said that the fabric was thicker than she expected it to be; but, we didn’t find that to be the case at all

Final Verdict: For modern, fun, and truly unique window draperies, Premier Prints Winston Navy fabric is a fantastic choice. This drapery material is made of 100 percent cotton, is easy to work with, and has a truly stunning design.

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5. Damask Upholstery and Drapery, Jacquard Fabric

Last, but most certainly not least, on our list of the best drapery fabrics, is another Damask Jacquard material. Offered by Fabric Drapery, this Damask Upholstery and Drapery is absolutely exquisite. It features a beautiful damask print on jacquard fabric that will work well with all types of interior designs; it’s the perfect accent in a Victorian-styled room, or it can be used to add a pop of unexpected interest in a minimalist space. It’s available in several different colors, including gold, burgundy, sage, sand, sky, and chocolate blue, so you can certainly find a color that will suit your taste.

The fabric is made of 100 percent polyester, so it’s definitely easy to work with and care for; washing instructions are machine wash on cold and tumble dry on low. It’s a medium weight fabric, so it’s perfect for window coverings, and it drapes beautifully. The material is 56 inches wide and it’s sold by the yard and cut to order. The majority of reviews we read were very positive; most customers said that they were very pleased with the weight, texture, and print of the design.

What We Like About It

• Made of 100 percent polyester
• Features a stunning jacquard damask print
• Available in an array of colors
• Easy to work with
• Easy to care for; machine wash and tumble dry
• 56 inches wide
• Sold by the yard and cut to order

Reasons to Complain

• Some customers said that the color didn’t appear as advertised

Final Verdict: With the Damask Upholstery and Drapery Jacquard fabric by Fabric Drapery, you’ll certainly be able to hand-craft breathtaking window treatments. The print is stunning, the weight is perfect, and it’s so easy to work with and care for.

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