How to Make Your Own Kitchen Curtains
Kitchen window treatments range from country-style gingham with rickrack trim to elegant sheers and plantation shutters. Multicolored curtains and patterns complement your kitchen's decor. Solid-color curtains play off other hues in the room. Making your own curtains allows you use your creativity to personalize your space. This is an easy project for anyone with a basic understanding of sewing techniques and it's a good way for novice sewers to practice their skills. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Iron
- Sewing machine
- Straight pins
- Curtain rods
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the window from the top of the molding to the bottom of the windowsill.
-
2
Calculate the amount of fabric you need. Double the length of the window from top to bottom and add 6 inches. For instance, a 36-inch window would take 78 inches of fabric.
-
-
3
Purchase fabric that matches your kitchen decor but also will be easy to throw in the washer without shrinking. If you're uncertain, ask the professionals at the fabric store or wash the fabric before cutting it.
-
4
Fold the fabric in half from end to end and cut it in the center. These two pieces of fabric will become the curtains. Hold one up to the window to make sure you've calculated properly. It should be long. The extra fabric will be used in the hems.
-
5
Iron a narrow hem into the unfinished sides of the fabric and sew them closed. Skip this step if the edges are finished.
-
6
Fold the bottom of one curtain 1/4 inch toward the unfinished side of the fabric and iron it in place. Hold the small ironed hem and fold the fabric again, this time making the folded part 2 inches deep. Iron the larger hem closed, hold it in place with straight pins and stitch.
-
7
Make a small hem in the top of the fabric as you did in step 6. Make the larger hem 3-1/2 inches deep. Stitch it closed.
-
8
Use pins to mark a straight line one inch down from the top of the curtain. Pin through both layers of fabric. Stitch along the straight pins.
-
9
Install a curtain rod on the window. Thread the curtains through the larger hem on top, leaving the 1-inch stitched portion to form a ruffle along the top.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you don't have a sewing machine, use seam tape or hand-stitch the seams. Make tie-backs for the curtains from matching wide ribbon attached to screw hooks in the side of the window frame.
