Getting a smocked fabric to behave

Nicole Gray of Suite Dream has designed what she calls her "last" master bedroom- and why would she ever want to leave this beautiful room?

Because this treasured piece of smocked silk was just 52" wide, gold silk sateen was chosen to band the sides so the shades would reach 60" in width.

The workroom's challenge was to get that ruffly uneven edge under control so the band could be attached without distortion.  After the ruffles and puckers were perfunctorily ironed,  a straightedge provided the guide for applying a strip of double-sided adhesive tape.

A seam allowance was ironed, and the edge lined up against a straightedge as the paper was removed from the adhesive.

A quick dose of steam from the iron secured the strip in place.  Folding the strip back reveals the ironed line which serves as the stitching guide.

Slow and steady is key to sewing down a pressed line.  The slow speed on my Juki's Servo motor is one of its best features.  Even though the seam allowance is adhered to the face fabric, pins are helpful to encourage the banding not to walk as it's being sewn.

The shade was finished as usual, with interlining, ladder cord shroud, and Rollease clutches, and........... ta da!

Nicole's draperies cover the sides of the shades, but if they ever did peek out, the banding blends in and looks completely intentional.