How to Make Cafe Curtains

A cafe curtain can be the perfect answer for a kitchen or bathroom because it provides privacy, but lets in light.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 2 Curtain Rods
• Fabrics
• Ironing Boards
• Irons
• Sewing Machine
• Threads
• Scissors

Curtains

1. Decide how far up the window you want your curtain to begin.

2. Measure from there to the sill. Add 2 1/2 inches for a casing and 5 inches for a hem. This is your length.

3. Measure your window from side to side. This is your width. You'll need two pieces of fabric, each of them this wide.

4. Decide how long you want your ruffle to be. Anything less than 6 inches may look skimpy; 8 inches is pretty common. Add 2 1/2 inches for a casing and 2 inches for a hem. This is your ruffle length; the width is the same as for the curtain.

5. Use these measurements to calculate how much fabric you'll need.

6. Get the fabric and preshrink it.

7. Cut out your curtains. You'll have three pieces or, depending on the width of the window, you may have four - two curtain pieces and a ruffle or two curtain pieces and two ruffle pieces.

8. Sew the ruffle center seam if necessary.

9. Narrow hem all four curtain sides and both ruffle sides.

10. Make casings for the curtain rods on the ruffle and on both curtain pieces.

11. Machine hem the ruffle and curtain pieces.

Narrow Hem

1. Turn over a 1/4 inch and press.

2. Turn over another 1/4 inch and press again.

3. Machine stitch.

Casings and Machine Hem

1. Turn over a 1/2 inch at the top for your casing and press.

2. Turn over 2 inches and press again.

3. Machine stitch to form a pocket for the curtain rod to slip through. Turn over half your hem allowance and press.

4. Turn over the other half of your hem allowance and press again.

5. Machine stitch.