How to Knit Curtains

Knitted curtains are an easy project for any knitter.

Unlike standard curtains, hand-knit curtains add a touch of your personality to a room. For small windows in bedrooms, bathrooms or kitchens, knitted curtains are easy projects for knitters of any skill because they are just large rectangles. Like lace curtains, they filter the light and provide privacy. This pattern creates a lace effect with a simple garter stitch pattern knit on large needles.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 300 to 500 yards of cotton, linen or bamboo yarn in worsted or DK weight
• 16 or 24 inch circular knitting needle, U.S. size 9
• Stitch dictionary, optional
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Curtain rod

Instructions

Preliminary Steps

1. Measure the window's length and width. Measure where you want the curtain to start and stop. For example, measurements inside the window frame would be smaller than for a curtain that covers the frame and window sill.

2. Add additional width to the measurement. Curtains generally are larger than the width of the window for draping. You can add as much as twice the width or as little as 10 percent.

3. Cast on 18 stitches, knit 18 rows of garter stitch and cast off. This is your gauge swatch.

4. Wash and dry the swatch as you would the finished curtain.

5. Measure the gauge swatch; it should be 4 inches from edge to edge. This is a stitch gauge of 4 1/2 stitches per inch.

6. Multiply 4 1/2 times the width of the curtain to determine number of stitches to cast on. For example, if your finished curtain must be 16 inches wide, cast on 72 stitches.

Knitting the Curtain

1. Cast on the requisite number of stitches. Knit every stitch, every row until the curtain is 1 inch shorter than the length measurement of your window.

2. Make an eyelet row by knitting two stitches together followed by a yarn over. Spread the eyelets evenly across the curtain.

3. Continue knitting every stitch for another inch and cast off. Weave in the ends with the tapestry needle.

4. Wash and dry the curtain.

5. Attach a safety pin to the ribbon. Start at one edge of the curtain and lace the ribbon from back to front of each eyelet hole for the width of the curtain.

6. Attach the curtain rod by slipping it through the ribbon at the top of the curtain.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant-fiber yarns, such as cotton, linen and bamboo are good choices for curtains because they are washable, strong and drape well.

• If your swatch is smaller or larger, you can either change needle sizes and knit another gauge swatch or use the measurement as your new stitch gauge.

• This is a simple garter stitch panel. To make it more interesting, add beads or buttons randomly or choose a lace pattern.

References

• CraftStylish: How to Knit a Cool and Breezy Button Curtain
• "Mason-Dixon Knitting"; Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne; 2006