I love the fact that there are drapery patterns to help me make window treatments. Being a self-taught sewer, I'm not very good at coming up with my own patterns. To have them already made, makes my life infinitely easier. But, I am still astounded, that there are so few people selling patterns. And I'm often more astounded, that since there are so few, not everyone knows who they are. Most workrooms (I'm making sweeping generalities here.) know about M'Fay and Patterns Plus.

According to both their websites they have both been in business since 1990. Patterns Plus was created and is run by Joan Willis a workroom manager who speaks and teaches extensively in the industry. M'Fay is run by Marylan Fay, who also ran a workroom and retail showroom for years, before closing it, to concentrate on her pattern business. Both of the companies have many of the traditional patterns such as swags, kingstons, and balloon shades, but they also have a number of more interesting and fun valances.

Recently Rowley Company has begun selling M'Fay patterns in their catalog. M'fay has been putting out several interesting and fun new patterns each year.

Two more recent entries into the pattern business are Decorate Now and Pate Meadows. Decorate Now, is a workroom, run since 1985 by Lisabeth Martin. The number of patterns she carries is not as extensive as the other companies, but her patterns are very well thought out, and the directions are very detailed. Also, several of her patterns, can be altered in 3 or 4 different ways. Lisabeth's website also includes several interesting workroom products including M-Tape adhesive tape and a wall mounted fabric rack.

Pate Meadows, is run by the design team of Leigh Pate and Caterina Meadows, two lovely southern ladies, I had the pleasure of meeting several years ago. The have two lines of patterns, their Show Home Patterns and a line they produced together with Southern Living. Their designs have a fun, fresh youthful feel about them. A great feature on their website is their picture gallery featuring their patterns made into actual window treatments. It's a great way to get ideas on how to alter the patterns to get new looks.

The newest entrant into the pattern field is The Details Pattern Company. The patterns are designed to add detail to panels. They only have a few, but the Ribbon Edge Panel is gorgeous enough to take a peek at the website.