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London Shade Test Calculator

Cathy Tucker beaded weight Chain Version

London Shade Calculator
Workroom calculator

London Shade Calculator

Based on Cathy Tucker’s beaded weight chain method. Drape the chain on your board, measure it, then enter your measurements below. Results round to the nearest ⅛″.

Type inches as decimals or fractions, like 3.5, 3 1/2 or 7/8.

Job
Board & shade
Where the push pins go. This is also the flat face between the return and the pleat.
Chain measurements
Remove the chain from the pins and measure it end to end.
For your records and the diagram. Cathy hangs the tails the same as the droop. It is already counted in the chain length.
Pleats
Ringing
Cathy uses 27″. Changing it changes the cut length only, not the pleats. Test other amounts with your fabric.
Cathy: first ring 3″ up, then 6″ apart. 8″ maximum for shade safety.
Construction allowances

Defaults are Cathy’s. Change them only if your workroom fabricates differently.

Cathy folds a double 3″ hem = 6″.
Weight bar extension (each side)1″

The chain on the board

Live, not to exact scale

Pleat calculations

Cutting measurements

Face fabric

Lining & interlining

Weight bar

Mark the top for pleating

Face side up

Measure from the finished (hemmed) side edge. Shaded sections are the pleats. Fold each pair of half-pleats to meet behind the face at the dashed line.

Mark and sew the rings

Lining side up
London shade method © Cathy Tucker. Calculator by Live with Sandra V. Always confirm measurements on your own work before cutting. For functioning shades, follow current shade safety guidelines with your preferred headrail system.
London Shade Calculator
Sandra VanSickle Workroom Tools

London Shade Calculator

Based on Cathy Tucker’s beaded weight chain method. Drape the chain on your board, measure it, then enter your measurements below. Results round to the nearest ⅛″.

Type inches as decimals or fractions, like 3.5, 3 1/2 or 7/8.

Job
Board & shade
Where the push pins go. This is also the flat face between the return and the pleat.
Chain measurements
Remove the chain from the pins and measure it end to end.
For your records and the diagram. Cathy hangs the tails the same as the droop. It is already counted in the chain length.
Pleats
Ringing
Cathy uses 27″. Changing it changes the cut length only, not the pleats. Test other amounts with your fabric.
Cathy: first ring 3″ up, then 6″ apart. 8″ maximum for shade safety.
Construction allowances

Defaults are Cathy’s. Change them only if your workroom fabricates differently.

Cathy folds a double 3″ hem = 6″.
Weight bar extension (each side)1″

The chain on the board

Live, not to exact scale

Pleat calculations

Cutting measurements

Face fabric

Lining & interlining

Weight bar

Mark the top for pleating

Face side up

Measure from the finished (hemmed) side edge. Shaded sections are the pleats. Fold each pair of half-pleats to meet behind the face at the dashed line.

Mark and sew the rings

Lining side up
London shade method © Cathy Tucker. Calculator by Live with Sandra V. Always confirm measurements on your own work before cutting. For functioning shades, follow current shade safety guidelines with your preferred headrail system.