Draperies and Top Treatments - Help I need advice for sewing sheers

I would like to sew sheer curtains for my sunroom. I have made valances before and found them pretty easy. I am having trouble finding information about how to work with sheer fabrics. There are a lot of windows in my sunroom. I have two sets of triple windows that are 100"x96" and then I have five single windows that are 33"x96". I don't think I want to do pinch pleats, just something I can gather on a decorative rod. Are there any things I need to know about working with sheer materials? I how do I seam the panels so that the seam does not show too much? How do I make the hems? I have looked at the fabric store for either a book or pattern to give me some guidance but I have not found anything. I figure I will need to do either a double or triple fullness but since I have not worked with sheer material before I am not sure. I would appreciate any advice I can get. Thanks!
Diane

I would use 3x fullness if you're doing a rodpocket. You need to pin really well to keep the fabric from sliding and use thin pins so you don't make large holes. Also, hold the fabric taut between your hands, front and back, when sewing with your machine, and sew small sections at a time. You want to use a french seam for joining sheers. Directions found HERE (http://www.sewneau.com/how.to/french.seam.html) and HERE (http://www.ehow.com/how_8585_sew-basic-seams.html) and HERE (http://www.alternative-windows.com/seams.htm)
As for a hem, I would either make a double 4" hem, hand stitched if you do not have an industrial blindhemmer, because a top stitched hem does not look nice and will make the sheer pull, and do the same for the side hems, or do a rolled hem, either with a serger or a rolled hem foot, or you could do a double 1/2" hem (a new popular style for hemming sheers) and use Steam-A-Seam2 for sheers (a double sided fusible tape - no sewing required :) ).
Also you'll want to pull a thread to make the cuts, to keep the fabric on grain. Test a sample piece with your iron to get the setting right, so it doesn't burn or pucker. I don't think there's any books on sheers so hope this helps.

or you can purchase sheer drapery fabric that is more than 96 inches wide and railroad it (use it horizontally), so there are no individual widths and hence, no seams.

or you can purchase sheer drapery fabric that is more than 96 inches wide and railroad it (use it horizontally), so there are no individual widths and hence, no seams.


I have seen some fabric that is 120 inches wide and could probably work horizontally. I will have to look into it. I guess that my biggest problem is still the hem at the bottom. Thanks!