How to Turn Up Curtains

Turn up curtains when you might need to move them to a longer window.

Turning up curtains is a way to shorten them, but it is different than traditionally shortening curtains. You do not need to cut off the excess fabric when you turn the hem up; you just secure the excess into a wide, thick hem. The best time to turn up curtains is when it is likely that the curtains will be transferred to another window. The fabric is still there, so length can be altered as needed by letting out the turned-up the hem.

Things You'll Need

• Straight pins
• Yardstick
• Ironing board
• Iron
• Thread
• Hand sewing needle

Instructions

1. Hang the curtains on the curtain rod, and mark the desired hemline with straight pins on the face of the curtains. Hold a yardstick across the pinned line to make sure the pins are straight, and adjust any pins that are out of place. Remove the curtains from the curtain rod.

2. Place the curtains, one at a time, face down on the ironing board. Fold the hemline up and over, using the line of pins as the folding line. Smooth out any wrinkles with the palm of your hand, and pin the folded fabric along the top edge when the hemline is straight. Press the folded hem with a hot iron.

3. Thread the needle and secure the ends of the thread with a small knot.

4. Anchor the first stitch, on the right side of the panel being hemmed, by pushing the needle 1/8 inch inside the top folded edge and poking the needle out through the fold. Draw the thread all the way through, but do not pull hard. Bring the needle back to the edge, and catch only a couple of threads on the top edge of the fold for the second part of the anchor stitch.

5. Catch one or two threads on the body of the curtain, directly above the anchor stitch. Draw the thread until it is taut, but not so much that it puckers the fabric.

6. Tip the needle toward the hemline 1/4 inch toward the left, at a diagonal of about 45 degrees, and pick up a couple of threads at the top of the fold. Move the needle straight up to pick up the next stitch on the body of the curtain panel. Make these small, diagonal hemming stitches all the way across the panel to complete the hem.

7. Remove the pins, and iron the curtains again if the hem looks bulky or wrinkled.

Tips & Warnings

• A sewing machine can be used to sew the hem, but use the widest basting stitch the machine will make in case the hem needs to come out later.

References

• Mississippi State University Extension: Common Types of Hand Stitches
• New Mexico State University Extension: Hems
• Needlecrafts: Sewing How-tos