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Making and Hanging Silk Drapes

Back at the governor's mansion, some gorgeous silk drapes are being hung in the ballroom, and Bob visits the shop where they are made.
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Making and Hanging Silk Drapes

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" A little different parts of the country this is a hearing curtain for the early nineteenth century conference draperies and there are several parts to it. This is the hanging -- that was very popular in the eighteenth century it's just a straight curtain and it just tank and."

" or -- decurtis worked with it and -- right not to or you can just gathered back up exactly what we -- the tyvek -- together. These are beautiful now that we did you make."

" just these were done by person inner parts I sit -- on -- the wooden molds have been used for -- that the -- turnout and out of silk. Yeah everything goes -- incredibly and me. The -- At the top of the curtain northeast lags in Cuba -- inhaled. And this is combining two of the favorite curtains of the eighteenth century into a new curtains for the nineteenth century it's -- it doesn't mean -- It's just to be pretty okay and all of the trim on the curtain has been applied. Just so that it will accent the polls or that the contours of the carton and that's the drivers dropped to make sure that we had absolutely perfect folds in the curtains and you'll see -- works with her hands them. Now this is like that separate women it was yellow sun Europe it was a separate ribbon and the riven minute Europe that has been used for the wood mold. What do you call this written kind of fabric. Just it is just a ribbon like of a girl might read her hair but much wider."

" Well recently I visited colonial Williamsburg and saw the ladies at work putting all these pieces together watch. Ruth I know that we've tried to replicate the same types of fabric that would have been used in the mention historic long time ago. What I teach them."

" this is a silk taffeta that would have been used you know at that time. That this mansion was bill these are imported from France which is the same way they would have constantly filler cap from. Well this is the lining this affects the lining it paso pure -- This is the lining it and it's exposed to the sun is that a bad idea. Well you know it can damage to fabrics and overtime we have an inner lining inside that would help protect. With faith effort which is the blue you know in time. Eventually the linings we'll have to be replaced threat. What is this. This is the top current and this is what they're calling hammered so it's going to be this way from the -- some man this and it hangs over the top of the the panel equipment. That's wags in the juveniles. Ever so now when you're gonna do this how do you get started well we start with a pattern. So is this the design yes that's -- was taken from. This picture is taken from the White House Lou Grant and so we decided to make a pattern from this without them be quite loudly it's cold and -- window treatment yeah. And -- pattern and accent he's like he's old sheets and making Japan. Since this way up here -- to some apartments and then this thing here on the Japan and he just a little old cotton sheets right -- nine."

" They do they have beautiful and then what you've made this pattern do you take it back to the mansion to make sure it's right."

" Yes we did take you back to the mansion and hang it up with a lender and make sure the proportions are correct -- once that's -- they were ready to start working on it."

" Because the designer can't really tell yet what the proportions are you gotta do a model in order to understand. Just like that thanks yeah. And here's one of the panels here that -- is working on that is sprite easiest part of the whole job right."

" Yes -- just big let's say so in the inner lining here this is the airline that we use to protect the face of the fabric why don't you do this with -- sewing machine. Well we use curve needles and so at my hand because that fabric -- talented people and machine on that -- in the fabric. What does that mean. You know you can get our government. Metal it'll -- the thread yet wanna. And this would be one of the Jeff -- yes this is to balance it is this finishing up. We're finishing stick to the fact that this just looks like it's machine so close but it's actually off and land. It would necessarily closer to Africa. Now the needle is like a sail makers and yes that's occurred -- and we like solid that he picked -- just -- little lift that up. Fabric with -- so that you don't see your stitches. And then your hand doesn't get this tired when he sent with the curve you know. So this is what the end result look you know this is one that's that's finished. Use an -- is beautiful. And."

" Well -- to different pieces of boiler they all come together such a beautiful window treatment now let's talk about how you install it what's he doing up there."

" He's just putting the medallions up there and the medallion we have drill a hole in the plastic insert plastic sleeve. And then we haven't doubts -- that is screwed and and that and that's ultimately gotten in place there won't be too much weight off right -- of this case yet the weight from this case this is the case has been a whole. The panel and the -- testing that's on the very top the screw us will hold it straight recently hooked into the and then. Lit panel complete best in on the topple it adds that."

" Does this we have to remember it's stationary. Whatever treatment if it doesn't close up. But the interesting thing is that by using velcro it needs to come down quickly to be dry cleaner whatever you can do it that way exactly can handle it take care a lot better. When you happen Belle Allen screw that they would be ready for penalty minute. All right hook that up now is this the -- accidentally left and Angela."

" These -- South Carolina senate they've got back together up there."

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