DIY Curtains

I love curtains. Want to make a room look homey? Hang curtains. There is only one problem with this, commercial vendors have caught on to the big effect a rectangle of fabric can bring to a room, and mark up the price accordingly. I refuse to purchase pre-made curtains, and you should too, they extremely easy to sew, anyone with a sewing machine and the ability to sew in a straight line can do it.

The first thing you need to do is measure your windows. If you live in a newer home, you might be able to get away with only measuring one window. I live in an older building, and I had to measure all of my windows. This is because living room, for example, has four different sized windows. Once everything is measured, you need to determine how long  you want your curtains to be. My living room curtains go the full length of the window and then hang a little below the sill. Despite having four different sized windows, I made all of my curtains the same length to at least give the illusion of identical sized windows.

Now you are ready to determine the size of your curtain panels. For each panel, take the width of your window and add three inches to finish off your edges. Now take the desired length of your curtain and add 5 1/2 inches for the bottom hem and the top pocket that the rod slides through. Each window requires two panels, use these measurements to determine how much fabric you will need, then it is time to visit a fabric store. Curtains require quite a bit of fabric, so be on the watch for sales. I was able to purchase the fabric for my living room and dining room curtains for $1.99/yard. Do not forget to purchase matching thread when you purchase fabric. I have eight panels in my living room and I did not use the entire spool of thread, so one spool should be fine for most rooms.

Cut your fabric according to your determined measurements for each panel. You should also iron each panel too to remove any creases. Zig zag

Side seams

stitch all four sides to prevent unraveling.

Stitch the sides first. On one side fold the fabric over by 1" and stitch down, this is going to be the outside edge of your curtains. Fold the fabric over by 2" on the opposite side and stitch down. This will be the side of the panel that goes down the center of the window when the curtains are closed. Iron each side to set the creases.

Now it is time to stitch the top and bottom. Fold the top of the panel over 4" and stitch down along the edge of the fabric you folded over. Now stitch an additional line 1 1/2" from the fold. This should create a 2" pocket for the curtain rod to slide through and a 1 1/2" piece that sits above the curtain rod.

Finally, stitch a 1 1/2" hem along the bottom of your curtain. Voila! You have created a curtain panel. Now repeat all the steps to make a second panel for the same window, just make sure the two panels mirror each other, if the 2" side is on the right side of your first panel, make sure it is on the left side of your second panel.

Top and Bottom

As far as hanging goes, any curtain rod will do. I like to get the fancy metal curtain rods with the decorative finials. I like the way they finish off the windows, and I have been able to get them for a good price at stores like Big Lots or the Christmas Tree Shop. Just follow the directions that came with your curtain rod for hanging.

Once you get the hang of it, curtains are very quick project. I was able to put all four panels together for my dining room in the span of a Sunday afternoon.

With that, I wish you all good luck in creating your own curtains. If you have any questions, feel free to message me. It really is a simple project with the potential of created a large impact to your room at a relatively low cost.

The Finished Project