How to Sew Your Own Curtain

One of the easiest items to sew is a curtain. You only need one very large piece of fabric and a sewing machine. Curtains can be made from any type of fabric regardless of the print, texture, weight or thickness. Follow a few simple steps and you will have a beautiful homemade window dressing.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Tape measure
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Iron

1. Measure the width and length or your window. The curtain you make will require at least double the width in fabric. You will also want to make sure the curtain is long enough, so when purchasing the fabric make sure the length of the fabric extends the length of the window sill.

2. Purchase your fabric from any local fabric shop. Most towns have at least one fabric store. If not, fabric is usually sold at Wal-Mart. When purchasing your fabric make sure the sales lady measures the fabric according to your given instructions. Once the fabric is cut, you can't return it.

3. Using your sewing machine, sew a hem about 1 inch all around your piece of fabric. With an iron, press down the hemmed sides so all sides lay flat.

4. Turn down the top edge of your fabric about 4 inches. This is the loop that your curtain rod will go through. Hand sewing this loop down will give your curtain a cleaner appearance on the front side. However, if you think you can sew a perfectly straight line across the fabric with your sewing machine, then by all means, save yourself some time and use the machine.

5. Slip the curtain onto a curtain rod gathering the fabric as you go. Because the curtain is twice the width of the window, you will need to gather it in order to get the whole curtain on the rod. But that is what gives your curtain body and character.

Tips & Warnings

• If you desire to sew your own curtain with more thickness than your double wide, just purchase your fabric triple wide or as wide as you desire. As long as all the fabric gathers on the rod, then it isn't to thick.

• When sewing your own curtain, make sure your measurements are accurate. There is nothing worse then hanging a finished curtain just to find out it isn't long enough. If in doubt, measure twice.