Do you have a tent that really needs fixing? Unlike classic curtains or blinds, a blackout curtain has a modern and refined design and lets only the right amount of light into the rooms. In addition to being, at the same time, classic and modern, it is easy to assemble, and with a few tools even non-experts will succeed.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: First Method: Classic Blackout Curtain
Step 1. Cut a piece of wood of section 2, 5x2, 5 cm
It must fit well inside the window opening.
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Screw the piece of wood to the window frame (you can also attach it in other ways).
It is not possible to mount it on French windows
Step 2. Choose the fabric for your curtain
The idea is to use upholstery fabrics, but you can also use lighter materials.
Upholstery fabrics are a little heavier, think about the weight of a tablecloth
Step 3. Cut the fabric
Add 2.5 cm to the window opening measurement for both height and length.
- Those extra inches are for the seam allowances.
- The outer fabric can be cut a little wider, so that it wraps around each side and acts as a margin at the back of the curtain.
Step 4. Pin both layers together
Make sure the side of the print, or the right side of the fabric, is facing out.
You could sew the fabric to the lining to create channels for inserting the rods instead of gluing them (as seen in the following steps)
Step 5. Sew the perimeter
Leave a few inches open to turn the fabric right side up when you're done.
- Trim away the seam allowances at the corners so the fabric doesn't pucker in those places.
- If the fabric on the outside is too much to create a back margin, sew the sides together.
- Hem the base by hand, and use an iron-on lapel on top, it won't show.
Step 6. Turn the fabric right side out and iron it to flatten it
When ironing, be careful to cover the edges of the lining with the fabric so it doesn't show
Step 7. Sew an underlay to the closures
Sew a strip of Velcro along the edges of the fabric.
You will need this later to attach the fabric to the wood
Step 8. Measure and mark the horizontal lines
Mark where you want to create the creases.
- Glue the rods horizontally along the fabric on the crease marks.
- Some upholsterers would unstitch the seams on the sides of the fabric and thread the rods between the layers to hide them.
- Chopsticks can be: old shutter laths, thin sticks, wooden planks, veneer strips etc.
- Without the rods, the folds of your curtain would sag.
Step 9. Let the glue dry
It will take about 20 minutes.
Or, as previously mentioned, make pockets in which to insert the rods, sewing lines parallel to the curtain, along the signs of the folds
Step 10. Sew plastic buttonholes
Place them evenly in 2 vertical lines.
- In fabric stores you will find cotton ribbons with plastic buttonholes already attached, you can buy them to skip a step.
- Firmly attach the buttonholes to the curtain.
Step 11. Measure and cut two pieces of string
They should be twice as long as the window.
- Firmly tie the string to the bottom loops of the two vertical lines.
- Thread the string vertically through the loops.
- Insert an eye screw into the piece of wood, at each point that intersects the vertical lines.
Step 12. Attach the top of the curtain to the wood
You can also use Velcro or staples.
Step 13. Thread the string through the eye bolt
Thread each piece of string through the corresponding eye screws at the top.
- Run the rope through the screws along the entire length of the side: it will allow you to raise and lower the blind.
- Knot the cords together just behind the last screw and align the fabric, laying it in neat folds.
- You can iron with iron if you want.
- Pull the string gently and align the fabric, laying it in neat folds.
- You can go over the iron if you want.
Step 14. Keep the folds neat and tidy
Chopsticks will help you with this!
Method 2 of 3: Second method: alternating blackout curtain
Step 1. Measure and cut the fabric
Use a measuring tape and tailoring scissors.
- Take the measurements of the window, so you can calculate the length of the curtain well.
- Allow an extra 5 cm for the hems.
Step 2. Cut the fabric and lining
- With the right sides of the fabric together and with the edges matching, sew a 2.5 cm seam and then sew the fabric and lining on the sides and bottom.
- Turn the right sides out and pass the iron.
Step 3. Mark the places to attach the wooden pins
Calculate 5 cm from the top.
- From here, mark points at regular intervals, in which you will place the wooden pins.
- They should be roughly 20-30 cm apart, ending in a final part that measures half of the total (if, for example, each space measures 20 cm, the final space will measure 10).
- Mark these spaces with tailor's chalk.
Step 4. Make the pockets for the wooden sticks
Cut strips of lining 8 cm from the width of the curtain.
- You will need to make a pocket for each stick, at the height of each space you have marked.
- Join the right sides of the fabric, fold in half along the length and, giving a 1 cm stitch, sew the open edge.
Step 5. Sew the pins into the pockets
Turn them over and push to insert them.
- Pin and sew the pockets, centrally along the marked lines.
- Sew all the layers of fabric and make sure that the lines are not noticeable on the front of the curtain.
- Put a stick in each pocket and sew the ends together.
Step 6. Sew the curtain loops
Apply one to the end of each pocket, 2 cm from the edge.
Add the rings at regular intervals of 20-40cm across the entire width
Step 7. Attach a Velcro strip to the hook
Secure the wand in place and attach a velcro strip to the front.
Step 8. Attach the curtain to the plank
Calculate 2.5 cm on top of the curtain, on the wrong side of the fabric. Pin and sew.
- Pin and sew the Velcro strip to the end of the curtain, and attach it to the wooden plank.
- Screw in the eye screws of the bottom of the plank and line them up with the rings on the curtain, add one more screw on the side you want to pull the string from.
Step 9. Tie the rope
Secure each loop at the bottom and thread it upward into the slots on the board.
- Bring all the cords to the side where you applied the extra buttonhole.
- Thread the strings into the knob, knot and cut.
- Apply a hook to secure the curtain wire when it is open.
Method 3 of 3: Method Three: Do-it-yourself curtain curtain
Step 1. Measure the window
So you will know how much fabric you need.
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Measure both length and width. Since the blind will not cover the entire window, you will need to choose the amount of surface to cover.
This version of the blackout curtain cannot be opened and closed, so choose how much light you want to come in before you get to work
Step 2. Cut the fabric
You better do this with tailoring scissors.
- Cut a section that is 5 cm wider of your window. The excess is for the hems on the sides.
- Cut a section of fabric 2/3 longer than the portion of the window you want to cover. If you want to cover 46 cm of window, size 76 cm: they are used for the slots of the fake blackout window.
Step 3. Hem all four sides of the fabric
By preventing it from fraying, it will last longer and look neater.
- Each side should be 2.5cm, the extra material decided first.
- Use a thermo-adhesive tab as an alternative to the needle and thread.
Step 4. Cut a 5 cm piece of scrap wood
- The length of the wood should match the width of the curtain.
- If you don't have a saw (or prefer not to use it), you can have it cut at a DIY store.
Step 5. Make three holes in the wall with a drill
This will save you from using chopsticks.
Make holes (right, left and center) the size of the screws you have
Step 6. Cover the ends of the wood, they are not so pretty to look at
You can use anything:
- pieces of cloth (attached with glue or tape);
- painting;
- beads (attached with with glue).
Step 7. Roll the fabric around the wood
Use some colored tape or glue to make it cute and to secure it well.
- Turn the part where the wood and fabric are attached, towards the window, so it will not be seen.
- Make sure the fabric is facing the right way!
Step 8. Make the folds
Organize the fabric in folds, curling the fabric; each fold should hang a little less than the previous one. You decide the length and width, the standard measurement is about 12.5 cm.
- Put the tent on the ground. To make it straight, you can take a carpet or a tile as a reference, if you have them at hand.
- Use a ruler if you want to be meticulous. The folds must have the same length on both the right and left.
Step 9. Pin the folds together
Make sure you do it from behind so they don't see each other.
- Don't remove too much fabric from the front. This could cause the curtain to curl up and show the pins.
- Apply three pins to each fold: left, center, right.
- If the creases are crooked or the pins are placed unevenly, redo everything before moving on.
- Pin the bottom of the curtain. The hanging part becomes the last fold.
Step 10. Hang the curtain
Lift it and screw the wood to the wall, using the three holes previously made with the drill.
- The fabric should hide the vines and wood.
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Once you've hung it up, make the necessary small adjustments. If you are satisfied you can fix the fabric and remove the pins.
If you fix the fabric, creases may occur
Advice
- If you decide to attach the top of the blind to the piece of wood, do so before mounting the latter to the window frame. After that you can rotate the side with the points 90 degrees up or 180 degrees down, so that the pins are not seen when the curtain is hanging.
- By attaching the curtain with velcro, you can wash it every time it gets dirty.
Warnings
- The dummy curtain method creates a curtain that doesn't move. If you prefer an adjustable curtain, just use the first two methods in this article.
- The scissors and needles are sharp and sharp. Be very careful.
