Sewing Your Own Drapery Panels With Grommets

Grommets provide a simple and utilitarian appearance to drapes.

Using grommets rather than a rod pocket to hang curtains over a curtain rod is a fresh and utilitarian way of hanging curtains. The appearance of grommet curtains is clean, minimal and practical. The grommets slide quickly over the rod with minimal friction and make it simple to quickly open or close the curtains. If you have stainless steel grommets you can also use them with shower curtain rods.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Fabric
• Lining fabric
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Tailor’s chalk
• Large grommets
• Hammer
• Curtain rod

Instructions

1. Measure the width and length of the window. Most drapes are equal to the width of the window, and two are used for each window. The length should be the length of the window plus about 4 inches to allow for a seam allowance and grommet pockets.

2. Cut two drapes from the main fabric and two from the lining fabric. Sandwich a drape fabric and the lining fabric with right sides facing. Sew the two fabric pieces together along all sides using a ¼-inch seam allowance. Leave a 6-inch gap un-sewn.

3. Turn the fabric inside out. Sew the remaining gap closed.

4. Mark the desired placement of the grommets onto the top of the curtain using tailor’s chalk. Place one grommet about every 6 inches. Place the grommets about 2 inches down from the top of the drapes.

5. Cut a small X-shaped slit slightly smaller than the diameter of the grommets along each marked point.

6. Place the top section of the grommet under the X on the fabric. Place the second half of the grommet over the top. Gently hammer the two pieces together until they close the gap between the two pieces of grommet. Repeat the process for the other grommets to finish the curtain.

7. Slide the grommets onto a curtain rod to use the new drapes.

References

• Media Wiley: Making Easy No-Sew and Low-Sew Window Treatments
• Cyber Seams: How to Attach an Eyelet - Attaching Grommets