How to Use a 280 cm Wide Fabric for Curtains
You can sew simple curtains from any size fabric, but by using extra large 280 cm (about 110 inch) wide fabric, your curtains will have few or no seams. The fabric for curtains needs to be a little more than one and half to two times the width of the window. This allows the fabric to have a soft, draped look that covers the window well. For many windows, you can easily make the curtains from one piece of 280 cm fabric. You can hang the curtains from a push-rod that goes inside the window frame (which works well for small windows), or on a plain or decorative rod that attaches to the wall just above the window.
Things You'll Need
- curtain rod
- measuring tape
- fabric
- matching thread
- scissors
- iron
- straight pins
- sewing machine
Instructions
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1
Measure the window from top to bottom and side to side. For a push-rod, measure the window only. For an above-the-window rod, measure from the top of the rod to the bottom of the window frame, and measure the width of the rod rather than the window.
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2
Calculate how much fabric you need by multiplying the window width by 1.5 or 2 and adding 4 inches, and adding at least 4 inches to the window height. For example, for a 50” square window, you’d need a piece of fabric 79 to 104 inches wide and 54 inches high, or 1 1/2 yards of 280 cm wide fabric.
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3
Cut the fabric into two equal pieces, each the same height as your fabric measurement and half as wide as the width. For a 50” square window, cut each piece 39.5 to 52 inches wide and 54 inches high.
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4
Hem the top and side edges of each piece of fabric.
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5
Fold over the top edge of each piece of fabric about 3 inches toward the wrong side of the fabric.
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6
Press the fold flat and pin it in place.
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7
Topstitch the hemmed edge of the fold to the fabric. This forms the pocket for the curtain rod to slide through.
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8
Place both curtains on the rod, with the right side of the fabric facing away from the window.
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9
Check the length of the curtains, then remove the curtains and trim them if necessary.
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10
Hem the lower edges of the curtains.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For thin fabrics, buy enough to make the curtains about twice as wide as the window. For thicker fabrics, 1.5 times is sufficient, since too much fabric will create unnecessary bulk and be difficult to slide on the rod. When in doubt, it’s better to buy too much fabric than not enough.
To make a hem, fold the edge of the fabric 1/4 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric. Press the fabric flat, then fold it over another 1/4 inch and press it again. Stitch along the folded edge of the fabric.
Use caution when working around children with pins, scissors, irons and sewing machines.
