How to Make Cheap Curtains

Whether you are making a window dressing for your formal room, child's bedroom, or master, this is a simple and cheap project that will spruce up the house in no time!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Fabric scissors
• sewing machine or hemming tape
• thread and needle
• measuring tape

1. 

   Start by measuring the length that you would like the curtains. For the purpose of this article we will say 8 feet.

2. 

   Next, measure the width of the window. For this article we will say 3 feet! Double this amount for a total of 6 feet (or 2 yards in the fabric world! 1 yard will be used for each panel). Each panel will be 8 yards long. Therefore, for this purchase, we would buy 16 yards (plus a foot or 2 for waste).
   
   If you are doing the tabs at the top of the curtains in the same fabric, get an extra foot or so per 20 tabs. For this I need an extra yard.
   
   For a total of 18 yards! You should be able to find nice fabric discounted at $2-$3 a yard (you can probably find better deals!). I have listed some sites to try at those prices!

3. 

   For these curtains, I would cut the fabric in to 3 pieces:
   3 X 8
   3 X 8
   scrap piece
   
   Hem the 3 x 8 pieces with a sewing machine or hemming tape.

4. 

   Move on to making your tabs for the curtain rods. You will have to decide how many will look best for your window. For a standard 3 foot window, 10-15 will look great (but 15 is a lot of work for those of you who are new to a sewing machine, and although you can use hemming tape for this, I don't really recommend it).
   
   Cut the scrap fabric in to tabs as seen in the photo. They should be around 7-8 inches long while you are hemming the long sides of them.

5. 

   Once all of the tabs are hemmed, you will attach them to the curtains by folding them in half and sewing them together. Slide the pole through the tabs to hang the curtain.

6. 

   Hang your curtains on your favorite rod and admire your work!

Tips & Warnings

• To create black out curtains, sew a second layer to the back of your curtains, make sure it is thick!

Resources

• $1.99 / Yard Fabric
• $3 / Yard Fabric
• $1.95 / Yard Fabric
• Remnant Heaven

[Rockney]

on 11/3/2009 Great advice! 5*!

[kimbundance]

on 10/3/2009 Great tips, I've always wondered how to make my own curtains. I might use these tips this weekend! Thanks!

[vintage]

on 9/1/2009 good info on how to make cheap curtains 5*

[divaonline]

on 8/29/2009 Really easy steps for beginners and everyone trying to save money - and right now, who isn't?

[onejo2go]

on 8/10/2009 I would like to try this!