How to Make Waffle Curtains

Make curtains using waffle-patterned fabric

Waffle fabric, aptly-named with its lovely, textured, waffle-like pattern, is a great fabric option for curtains. Ensure you match up the waffle patterns for even and cohesive appearance on each curtain panel you sew. Anyone with a little sewing experience can make their own curtains and save a lot of money in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Waffle-patterned fabric
• Thread
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Iron

Instructions

1. Choose your fabric with a waffle design. This fabric is typically a textured fabric with a waffle-like, raised texture in a diamond or square pattern. The waffle design may be large or small.

2. Measure your windows from the curtain rod to the floor, or whatever length you want the curtains to be. Determine how wide each curtain panel should be. They should be wide enough to draw them across the window so the two panels will meet in the middle.

3. Add 4 inches to the length for the curtain rod pocket, two inches for the bottom hem and two inches to the width of each panel for the side hems.

4. Cut the fabric according to your measurements, making sure to start each cut at the same point in the waffle design, so that your finished product is a set of curtain panels whose waffle patterns line up perfectly with each other. (References 1)

5. Sew double hems on the sides of the curtains. Fold the sides of each curtain panel in 1/2 inch and iron to set. Fold over another 1/2 inch, pin and iron. Sew the hems, removing the pins as you go, using a straight-stitch on your sewing machine.

6. Make the curtain rod pockets. Fold over the top of each curtain panel 1/2 inch, pin and press with an iron. Remove the pins and fold over until the pressed edge is 3 1/2 inches from the top. Iron the new top of the curtain to create a straight crease. Sew the bottom portion of each curtain rod pocket about 1/8 inch from inside edge of the pressed crease.

7. Sew a one inch hem on the bottom of each curtain panel. Fold the bottom of the fabric over one inch, iron to create a straight crease, then fold over again one inch and pin. Sew 1/8 inch from the inner crease to finish the bottom hem. Repeat for each curtain panel.

References

• Denver Fabrics: How to Sew Curtains

Resources

• HGTV: How to Make No-Sew Curtains