Please explain curtains to me

[boxofshells]

If you have a curtain pole and want to out up new curtains with rings that go round the pole rather than eyelets or tabs, do you just buy normal curtains and then attach the rings somehow (how?).

Also if your windows not standard size how much does it matter if you but ones significantly wider (about a meter) than needed (so much cheaper than made to measure).

Thanks

[didireallysaythat]

I'm no expert but

1. The rings on your pole probably have little metal hops. You put a curtain hook into the curtain header tape (if the curtains don't have this it's about a two minute job with a sewing machine and you can get the tape on eBay etc).
   

1. Depending on space and the thickness of the material you probably want the curtain rail to go 20-30cm past the window. So measure the width of the window, divide by two (I assume you're having two curtains) and add on 20-30cm. Take this number and multiply by 1.5 - 2.0 for a standard pleat. 1.5 looks a little stingey sometimes. Of course if you have blinds as well you probably don't want such generous curtains and 1.5 will do.
   

1. Don't forget you want the curtain rail sufficiently above the window to stop light coming in (unless you have blinds...)
   

1. If you line the curtains you don't need to be as generous (ie the liner can be < 2.0)
   

Hope that helps. I'm sure an expert will be along in a moment (I've literally just finished hanging an IKEA pair of curtains..)

[boxofshells]

Thank you. Also when the shop gives a measurement is that that for the pair or per curtain?

[didireallysaythat]

I'm afraid that varies shop to shop..