Margaret Muna crafted beautiful striped kikoi curtains for Jochen, adding warmth and style to his space while ensuring they fit perfectly. What's your wish?
A request by Jochen from Berlin, Germany
I would like a curtain of kikoi fabric (with stripes). I’m open to suggestions in regards to the colour (photos of the fabric would be great). It should be 245 cm long and 270 cm wide and I need two of the same size. I would like to have it with lining. There must be an option on the top to attach to standard rods (see attached photos)
The Journey of Creating Custom made curtain of kikoi fabric
Negotiation & Planning
Custom made curtain of kikoi fabric - design ideas and artisan proposals
Helo Jochen,
Am happy to provide an offer for the idea, will however give the costing as well as the photos of the fabrics, within this week, by Tuesday. Meanwhile, would like to enquire, what colours would be suitable for the project. Would you like bright colours or dark colours? Or any specific colour? Kindly. Thanks.
MARGARET MUNA
Hello Margaret,
Thank you for your reply. I'm very open about the color and I do not have a clear idea yet. The room has white walls, a beige sofa, a wooden floor. I can imagine fresh bright colors as well as something beige. But overall with stripes in different colors.
Best regards, Jochen
Hello Jochen,
Thank you for the feedback. I was able to get the costing of materials, as well as photos . The colour that I would recommend is either navy blue or reddish/ maroon because the walks are white. However, the brighter colours like cream yellow striped, or sky blue ones would also do well.
Feel free to express your preference, about the colour ,from the photos I have sent.
Thank you.
MARGARET MUNA
Helo,
I hereby submit my price list.
Thank you.
Margaret Muna.
Hello Margaret, thank you for the prices. That's fine. Because of the material I would like the one in the middle picture, the fourth from the left - purple, beige and very thin light blue stripes (next to the red fabric).
On this picture https://www.urbanchangelab.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_20180129_122259.jpg
Hello Jochen,
Thanks for the feedback. I have gotten the colour you desire,it is quite okey.
Am ready to begin immediately.
Thank you.
Margaret Muna.
Hello Margaret, sorry that I'm only replying now. I would now be ready to order. Is your offer still valid?
Kind regards,
Jochen
Hello Jochen,
I'm eager to begin the project, so yes the offer is still valid.
Thanks.
Margaret Muna .
Crafting Process
How to make a Custom made curtain of kikoi fabric – work in progress
I got the materials, they were out of market though.
Am cutting the fabric now ready to get rolling on machine tomorrow. Thanks.
Margaret.
OK
Helo Mr Jochen,
The progress is quite Okey, we are excited to do the project.
As i had stated earlier, I mistakenly cut the fabric a few inches shorter than it should be( the length is 245 cm, so added like 3 inches, to have the fold neatly done inside to the lining,) so was suggesting we attach it together, for it will be at the hem of the curtain.
However we are open to the purchasing of another fabric, if it would not be appealing.
If we are to purchase another one, we would do it after Easter holidays for the shop would be closed and open on Tuesday.
The stated date of finishing the project however,still stands.
Thanks.
Have tried three times to upload the video but it won't respond. Will keep trying though.
Margaret Muna.
Hello Margaret, that's a pity about the error. I think you can avoid buying a new fabric. I would suggest you try to convert the error into a design element, so if necessary, attaching the different fabrics together, a change in direction of the stripes etc. I am open to your suggestions.What I do not want is a simple stitching so that one can notice it by close inspection. I'm too much of a perfectionist for that.
I hope I explained it well.
Best regards
Jochen
Helo there,
I am grateful for the feedback and clarity on the preference .
I fully understand your concern on excellence, owing to the fact that it catches every eye , therefore should appeal.
We took care of that.
The project is done already, and it looks great. I have posted the pictures and videos for you to see..
At some point you'll see the curtain layout on the floor and realize the quality of the lining, though the best at that, has some faults..it can't be leveled at the hem because of the pull at some parts. That's the only challenge we experienced while sewing the hem, limiting us on providing a professional finish called mitered corner
Otherwise we managed and it looks perfect.
I however was not able to take pictures of the finished product. I'll take tomorrow, then you can give us your take on it, and where a re- do is necessary.
Thanks .
Margaret.
Helo, hope you get the videos and pictures now.
Thanks.
Hello there,
I am grateful for the feedback and clarity on the preference.
I fully understand your concern on excellence, owing to the fact that it catches every eye, therefore should appeal.
We took care of that.
The project is done already, and it looks great. I have posted the pictures and videos for you to see.
At some point you'll see the curtain layout on the floor and realize the quality of the lining, though the best at that, has some faults..it can't be leveled at the hem because of the pull at some parts. That's the only challenge we experienced while sewing the hem, limiting us on providing a professional finish called mitered corner
Otherwise, we managed and it looks perfect.
I, however, was not able to take pictures of the finished product. I'll take tomorrow, then you can give us your take on it, and where a redo is necessary.
Thanks.
Margaret.
Hello there,
I am grateful for the feedback and clarity on the preference.
I fully understand your concern on excellence, owing to the fact that it catches every eye, therefore should appeal.
We took care of that.
The project is done already, and it looks great. I have posted the pictures and videos for you to see.
At some point you'll see the curtain layout on the floor and realize the quality of the lining, though the best at that, has some faults..it can't be leveled at the hem because of the pull at some parts. That's the only challenge we experienced while sewing the hem, limiting us on providing a professional finish called mitered corner
Otherwise, we managed and it looks perfect.
I, however, was not able to take pictures of the finished product. I'll take tomorrow, then you can give us your take on it, and where a redo is necessary.
Thanks.
Margaret.
Hi, I've added the photos again for your review. Thanks.
Hello Margaret, thanks for the photos. Would it be possible for you to send me photos and a video where the curtain is hung up? I cannot quite see in the photos how the spot where you mistakenly cut the fabric looks like?
Best regards
Jochen
Hello Jochen,
Glad to see the photos and videos went through.
I have uploaded the photos and videos of the finished product.My window is not as big and the length is not also equal yours. So it looks quite bulky. However there it is. Have tried highlighting as much as I can , the stitched place.
The curtain is wide enough so as to add the number of the folds..
Hope you like it.
Thanks.
Margaret
Hello Margaret, thank you for the photos. Unfortunately, you have not attached a photo on which one can see what the curtain looks like when it‘s drawn. As in without the folds. On the video you can see a dark strip in the lower third. Is this the place where you blended and sewed the fabric back together?
Best regards Jochen
Helo there, thanks for the response. I will hang it on the window again tonight. Then will send the photos tomorrow.
Thanks again.
Margaret Muna.
Ok
Hello,
Have sent the photos of the curtain. Hope you like it . Thanks.
Margaret
Hello Margaret, thank you for the photos. I cannot see in the photos where you once accidentally cut too far and then sewed it together. Could you take a picture and send it? I would also like to see some photos of different details, e.g. how you have solved attachment for the curtainrails at the top. Just take some photos of the critical areas where you think I might not be pleased. I would like to avoid that the curtain arrives in Germany and I do not like it and then you can no longer repair it. That would be a shame.
Best regards
Jochen
Hello,
Okey.
Ok
Hello Margaret,
Thank you for the added photos. Overall, I like the curtain very much and the quality also looks very good. What I do not like, however, is the spot where you accidentally cut into the fabric. To be honest, this spot will permanently bother me, which is why we need a better solution here. The best approach is probably to remove the indented area and thus make the curtain a little narrower. I had ordered two curtain parts, each with 2.70 m. If at the end both parts are a bit narrower (for example 2.20m) it is ok for me too.
Would it be possible? Or do you have a better proposal?
Best regards
Jochen
Hello,
I understand fully how disappointing it can be to have a curtain that has an eye sore.The curtain looks good I can tell you. Wish you could see it yourself.
We can take your suggestion to do away with the part that I joined, and I was to do that today, but to tell you the truth, that will lead us to undoing the whole fabric, even the tape for hooks. We observed that the curtain was really fraying if just slightly undone.
As you can see on the photos, I have pointed out a joining right at the middle which will have to be undone.
The problem is, it will not look as good as is right now.
At another photo, you will see the measurement, I had added some few inches ,to keep the cut in check and have more folds..
My suggestion is you take it as it is, I promise you it will not be disappointing. The reason you have difficulty in noticing where I repaired, Is because you simply can't notice it unless you a really look for it..
We could even reduce the amount of Labour amount by 1000 Ksh, instead of making it worse.
Thanks.
Hello Margaret,
I'd follow your suggestion and look at the curtain. If it's not okay, I'll send it back to you for revision. In this case you would probably have to pay the shipping costs. I would not like to ask for a reduction in labour costs.
Many greetings
Hello,
Thanks for feedback. The costs of shipping can prove to be a bit costly for us. Therefore,will follow your suggestion on redoing.
Thank you.
Margaret Muna
OK
Working on it, as from next week.
OK
Helo,
We re-did the curtain. It's ready now.
Jochen 10 Jul 2018 8:12 pm
Great! Many Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
Helo, good to hear that.
Will proceed then.
Thanks
Great
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON001122E-3910
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
128.62
|
| Cost of labour |
46.5
|
| Cost of packaging |
4.65
|
| Cost of delivery to local operations manager |
13.95
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
193.72
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
19.37
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
19.37
|
| Shipping costs from Kenya to Germany* |
20
|
| VAT (Germany)* |
47.97
|
| Total |
300.43
|
*Shipping costs and VAT vary depending on your location.
Each price shown is based on a unique, custom request. Final prices may vary depending on materials, effort, and delivery location.
