Making your own curtains at home can save you a lot of money and give you exactly what you want for your decor. Depending on your sewing skills, there are different methods of making curtains ranging from very simple to more complex. This article illustrates some of them.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Method 1: Simple Bow Curtains
This project can be done by sewing either by machine or by hand, although of course by machine it will be quicker.
Step 1. Measure the window
He will give you the necessary measurements for the quantities of fabric. You will need three panels for each curtain (two curtains in total), each measuring one third of the total length.
- Add 8 cm to the top of the top panel. It will act as a head.
- Add 6 '' to the bottom of the last panel for the curtain hem.
- In terms of width, both curtains should cover the rod width plus 12cm for the side hems.
- If you are using a slipcover, make it 4cm smaller than the finished curtain.
Step 2. Cut the fabric according to the measurements obtained
Step 3. Put the top panel on a flat surface
Add the central panel on top. Place them on the same side, aligning the edges. Pin them together, then sew them to one side, making sure you have half an inch of abundance. If the fabric has wefts, stripes, or squares, line them up as best you can before sewing. Press the finished seam firmly.
Step 4. Join the bottom panel to the middle panel in the same way
Step 5. Cut two lengths of braided tape
Cut them to the width of the curtains. Pin them on the seams that join the curtain pieces. Sew them in place, attaching both edges of the braid. So you will cover the seams and the curtains will look more harmonious.
Step 6. Press a hem from each side of the curtain
Press a 6 cm hem. For the base, press an 8 cm hem. Press the corners inward. Pin and sew the hems in place.
Step 7. If you are adding the cover, cut to the required measurements
Press a 2 cm hem on the side edges and a hem equal to the base. Pin and pick up the corners, and sew everything precisely.
Step 8. Spread the curtain out on a flat surface, with the front facing down
Spread the lining over the inside of the curtain, aligning the corners of the two. Pin in place and zigzag stitch onto the curtain layer. However, don't sew the base, it will help the curtain go down better.
Step 9. Make the bows
The bows should be placed 10 inches apart along the top of the curtain, so determine how many you will need. To make a bow:
- Cut a 6 x 50 cm rectangle of fabric for each bow.
- Knot the ends of each strip.
Step 10. Turn the curtain around placing the front side facing the surface
Mark a line 8 cm below the top edge along the top of the curtain. Use an invisible fading marker or tailor's chalk.
Step 11. Start at the top corner of the curtain, then measure 10 '' apart for each bow
Pin each bow in half along the line you drew. Sew all the bows along the line, stopping each bow halfway up (the easiest way to do this is by machine).
Step 12. Press inwards a double fold of 4 cm in the upper inner side of the curtains
Pin and zigzag the fold.
Step 13. At each top corner of the curtain close the open ends
Sew zigzag to close.
Step 14. Iron the finished curtains
They are ready to be tied to the window rod using the bows on top.
Method 2 of 5: Method 2: Tongue Edge Curtains
Step 1. Measure the length of the curtain
Use a tape measure to determine the distance between the curtain rod and the floor.
- Add 13 cm to this measurement to account for the hem of the curtain. If the distance between the rod and the floor is 3.05 m, the result is 3.18 m.
- Add 20 cm to the total to account for the tabs on the curtain. If the total (including hem) of the curtain is 3, 18m, you will get a length of 3, 38m.
Step 2. Measure the width of the curtain
Use a tape measure to determine the width of the area you want to cover. Include the amount of wall you want to cover within the measurement.
Multiply the measurement by 1, 25. If your original width was 61cm, the fabric to be cut should be 76cm in total
Step 3. Cut the fabric
Cut the fabric following the measurements obtained in the required length and width.
Step 4. Hem the curtain
Spread the tent out on a flat surface. The inside should be facing up.
- Fold a 2.5 cm hem along the bottom and top of the curtain. The hem should fold towards the inside of the fabric.
- Use a needle and thread that matches the curtains to close the hem with a blanket stitch. A blanket stitch is a shallow stitch that enters the fold, exits the outside of the fabric, and re-enters the fold. Sew the entire length of the fold in this way.
- Fold another 7.5 cm hem along the top of the curtain.
- Also close this fold with a blanket stitch.
Step 5. Secure the lengths of the tabs
Determine how long you want your curtain tabs to be. If you want them 10 cm, you will need a 20 cm piece of fabric. Cut the fabric according to the width of the curtain and the desired height of the tabs.
- Place the length of fabric on a flat surface. The inside should face up.
- Fold the fabric in two. You will have a long fabric tube from which you will cut the tabs.
- Place the edges of the folded fabric on top of the 7.5 cm hem on the top of the curtain.
- Use safety pins to secure the fabric to the hem.
Step 6. Make the tabs
Determine how many tabs you want on the curtain. They should be no more than 12.5cm apart.
- Use scissors to cut even gaps from the long fabric tube. Make sure you don't cut the attached curtain with safety pins as well. You now have tabs individually attached to the curtain with safety pins.
- Check that there is a tab on each side edge of the curtain.
- Use a sewing machine to secure the edges of the tabs to the hem of the curtain.
Step 7. Hang the curtain
Thread the tabs onto the curtain rod, then place the rod on the window. Done!
Method 3 of 5: Method 3: Veil Curtains
Step 1. Use a tape measure to measure the height of the window from where the rod will be to the end of the window
Decide how much you want the curtain to exceed this length.
Step 2. Measure the curtain rod
Measure the circumference of the rod and add 2.5 cm to be able to sew.
How full your curtains will be is a matter of taste. The average fullness is obtained by taking the total length of the curtain rod and multiplying by 1, 5. You can multiply it by 2 for denser curtains
Step 3. Divide the total length (including curl) by 2
You will get the length of each of the 2 curtain pieces you need. Again, it's a matter of taste - two panels are average but if you want more, simply divide the total size by the number of panels you want.
You will need to add 5cm to the size of each panel for stitching and harness
Step 4. Determine the height of each panel
Count the length plus 10 cm plus the circumference of the rod.
Step 5. Purchase the material
Take your measurements with you so you know how much fabric to buy. Roll material is sold in two sizes: 1, 125 and 1, 5 m. Home decor fabric is usually found more easily than 1.5m.
- Convert your measurements into meters, because the fabric is sold by measuring it by the meter. To do this, multiply the measurement in centimeters by 100.
- Also buy some thread that matches the material.
Step 6. Roll out the material at home and measure each panel
Step 7. Cut each panel
Note that the veil can be difficult to cut. Make sure your scissors are sharp, and you will need to stretch the material well on each side of the line to be cut with something as heavy as a thick book.
Step 8. Sew the hems of each side of each panel of veil for the curtain
- Fold 3mm inwards and press with a hot iron.
- Fold the remaining 2.5 cm and press again.
- Sew to form a 2.5 cm seam on each side of each panel.
Step 9. Hem the bottom of each panel
Fold 2.5 cm and iron. Fold another 5 cm and iron again, then sew to get a hem. This will leave you with the girth of the curtain rod, plus 2.5cm for the top sleeve and plenty of seams.
Step 10. Make the upper sleeve of each panel
Fold 3 mm and iron. Fold another 2.5 cm over the circumference of the curtain rod, iron and sew what will be the seam of the upper sleeve.
Step 11. Gently iron each panel to remove any creases in the fabric
Step 12. Thread the curtain rod through the sleeve on top of the veil curtain panels
It's time to hang your new curtains.
Method 4 of 5: Method 4: Sheet Curtains
Old sheets or even old clothes can be made into curtains with this method.
Step 1. Take your measurements
Ruffled curtains are usually 1, 5 or 2 times wider than the window. Most windows require two single sheets.
Step 2. Gather your sheets and sewing tools
Step 3. Using an unstitcher, open "only" the seams of the top hem of each sheet
Most of the hems are approximately 8 cm wide.
Step 4. Measure the thickness of the curtain rod
Add the thickness plus 6mm for the movement for the rod loop.
Step 5. Make a loop through the rod
Make a straight horizontal stitch above the hemline of the sheets, adjusting it to the thickness of the curtain rod. The fabric that advances over the top of the sheet will be the curl.
Step 6. Iron the sheets
Step 7. Thread the rods through the loops and hang your simple curtains
Method 5 of 5: Method 5: Make Any Other Kind of Curtains
The variations for making curtains are endless and the more you improve your sewing skills, the wider the choice of curtains you can juggle with. Here are some examples of strains to try:
- Window curtain
- Double-sided curtain
- Unlined curtains
- Shower curtain
- Kitchen curtain
- Button curtain
- Screen.
Advice
- The sheer fabric is delicate and can be pulled and removed easily. Make sure you use the smallest needle you can with your sewing machine. If you have an adjustable presser foot on your machine, set it lighter so it won't damage the material.
- The knotted tab method can work for square pieces of fabric that also cover the entire window. Instead of making panels, cut two large rectangles that cover the window together. Make the hems, and then add the tabs as explained above. It is a very simple, but impressive type of curtain.
