Make-it-Yourself Monday: Curtains

In this week's Make-it-Yourself Monday feature, we're talking about making curtains. For those of you who are challenged in the area of sewing, take heart--I am, too, and I still managed to make some cute curtains. :-) Curtains can be simple, inexpensive, and take very little time--yet completely change the feel of a room.


Supplies needed:

tape measure
cloth
thread
iron

1. Measure your window. How much cloth you use for the curtains can vary according to your taste and how gathered you want your curtains to look. I used about three times the width of the windows. You should also decide approximately how long you want your curtains, though you can always shorten them.

2. Wash, dry, and iron your fabric before beginning.

3. Cut your material, adding 7" to your curtain length and, if not using the natural edge of the fabric on the sides, 3" to the sides.

4. Fold down a 1/2" of material along the top, toward the wrong side of the fabric, and press.

5. Fold down 3-4" of material toward the wrong side of the fabric, and press again (original 1/2" fold will now be hidden on the wrong side of the material).

6. On the wrong side of the fabric, sew a very narrow hem, catching the 1/2" you turned under.

7. Make a similar seam about 2" higher, leaving two "tubes" along the top of the curtain.

8. Hang your curtain in the window, and decide exactly how long you want it to be. Use a pin to mark the length.

9. Cut curtain 1" below your hem mark.

10. Fold a scant 1/2" up along the bottom (toward the wrong side). Press. Fold a generous 1/2" up, and hem along the bottom, catching both layers in your seam.

You did it! :-) If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment, and I'll do my best to answer you.

For more Make-it-Yourself Monday topics, click here.