How to Make Voile Curtains
Voile is a lightweight cotton fabric that's great for making sheer curtains. You can use voile curtains as the only covering for a window that doesn't require much privacy or darkness, or you can use them as a companion to a heavier curtain for times when you want to let in some light. You can hang voile curtains from a rod that mounts above the window or a tension rod that goes inside the window frame. For two layers of curtains, you can hang the voile curtains from a slightly lower, narrower rod than the outer curtain, or you can use a double curtain rod. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Curtain rod
- Measuring tape
- Voile fabric
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Sewing machine
Instructions
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1
Install the curtain rod for the window. Measure the width of the curtain rod, and the length from the top of the curtain rod to a few inches below the bottom of the window frame.
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2
Cut two pieces of voile, each about one and a half times as wide as the curtain rod measurements, and about 4 inches longer than the length. If you need to sew several pieces of voile together to make each curtain wide enough, you may want to use French seams so that the raw edges will be enclosed.
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3
Hem the top and sides of each piece of voile using a small double fold. To make double fold hems, fold each edge over 1/4 inch toward the wrong side of the fabric, then fold it over another 1/4 inch. Press the folds flat using the cotton or high heat setting on the iron, then stitch them in place.
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4
Fold the top edge of each curtain over toward the wrong side, so that the folded area is about 1 inch wider than the curtain rod. Make sure the folds are the same size on each curtain. Pin the folds in place, then stitch along the hemmed edge of each fold.
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5
Insert the curtain rod through the casing in the top of both curtains, and hang up the rod again. Check the length of the curtains to make sure they're even, and trim them as needed.
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6
Take the curtain down again and hem the lower edge of each curtain using a double fold, making sure that both curtains are the same length.
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7
Put the curtains back on the rod, making sure the right side of each curtain is facing the room, and hang them up.
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Tips & Warnings
You can add tiebacks to the voile curtains, if you wish, using strips of voile or pieces of decorative ribbon.
Use caution when working with scissors, pins, irons and sewing machines.
