DIY Eyelet Curtains

An awl was used to make the holes in handmade eyelet fabric.

Eyelet fabric often has a scalloped border that makes a lovely edge for cafe-style curtains. These curtains are light and breezy and are perfect for a country or "shabby-chic" style room. Eyelet is a fabric that has a pattern of holes. When eyelet was handmade, seamstresses would make the holes with an awl and work the buttonhole stitch around them. Modern eyelet is machine made, but still has a pattern of holes surrounded by embroidery. The holes in eyelet curtains allow the sunlight to make lovely patterns on the floor in the early morning and late afternoon.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Scalloped-border eyelet fabric.
• Tape measure
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

1. Measure from the top of your curtain rod to your windowsill. Add 2 inches to this measurement. Cut your fabric this width, measuring from the widest point of the scalloped border.

2. Measure the width of your curtain rod. Double this measurement. Cut your curtains this length.

3. Examine your fabric to determine which is the right-side. This is tricky with eyelet. The right side will be the side where the stitches around the holes are straight. Iron a 1/2-inch hem on the both sides of curtain. Be sure these hems are on the wrong side of the fabric. Fold under 1/4 inch at the top of this hem and iron it down. Sew the hem close to the folded edge.

4. Iron down a 2-inch casing at the top of the curtain. Fold in 1/2 inch on the edge of the casing. Iron this fold down. Sew the casing closed by sewing close to the fold.

5. Run your curtain rod through the casing.

Tips & Warnings

• You may make one curtain which goes all the way across your window, or a curtain for each side of the window. Two curtains are easier to open. One curtain will not have a gap in the middle.

• You may make a valance for the top of the window in the same way. Cut your fabric 14-inches wide for a 12-inch valance.