StangH Plaid Velvet Curtains: Heavy and Blackout but Awkward Tiebacks

The first thing I noticed about these velvet curtains is that they are much heavier than my old curtains. I was concerned that the weight might be too much for my curtain rod, but that has not been a problem so far. It would be a good idea, though, to make sure your curtain rod is mounted into wall studs or with toggle bolts, molly bolts, or threaded metal anchors. The velvet fabric is made from polyester rather than traditional silk, but is just as soft as silk velvet. I consider polyester velvet to be an advantage because the curtains are machine washable and can be placed in the dryer on low heat. The second thing I noticed was that the room became pitch black once night fell. I don’t know if they can technically be considered blackout curtains, but to my mind that is what they are. They are thermal-insulated as well, helping to make the room cooler during the summer and warmer during the winter. Installation was a breeze. There are 7 back tabs on each panel which slide easily over a curtain rod, even a larger diameter rod, and enable you to drape the curtains in evenly spaced soft folds. Once the curtains had hung overnight there were no wrinkles or creases. With the heavier material, full lining, and fine stitching, they should last for years to come. I have only one complaint, but to me it is significant enough to dock a star from my rating: the tiebacks. The tiebacks have bright white 2” long elastic loops on either end which you fasten over a wall hook. The side edges of the tiebacks are supposed to align with the side edges of the curtains. Instead, you have cheap, obtrusive elastic stretching 2” from the side edges of the curtains to the side edges of the tiebacks. The white elastic is especially noticeable and garish-looking if you choose a darker color for the curtains. Since I chose the mocha brown curtains, I dyed the elastic loops brown with acrylic leather paint so that they would not be as obtrusive. However, the side edges of the tiebacks are still 2” away from where they should be. If I get ambitious, I will replace the elastic loops with small o-rings or cup hooks, which is what the manufacturer should have done. I have attached 2 photos — a full-length view of the curtains and a close-up of the tieback issue. These curtains will deserve 5 stars once the manufacturer fixes the tieback problem.