Asked on Jun 28, 2015

Cafe curtains question...

Debbie Chapman
by Debbie Chapman
I want to make cafe curtains for my tall/long kitchen window.
I found perfect fabric at Target, but in a kitchen towel.
Would be perfect, except window is so long, almost reaches to floor, so the towels aren't long enough. I have bought several. Trying to figure out the most attractive way to patch together & make the right size. I never sew, but think, surely I can tackle this! Any advice?
This is the dish towel from Target. I would use cafe curtain clips. I planned to have it open in the middle, but pull together to close it.
This is the bare window. It goes down almost to the floor. I want to cover the lower part, but leave it so I can see outside.
  29 answers
  • Heidi Heidi on Jun 28, 2015
    Sew or use Stitch Witchery (iron on seam glue) to attach a coordinating fabric as a border to the bottom.
  • Christina Christina on Jun 28, 2015
    I think a ticking fabric in blue would coordinate nicely, a little pattern but not too busy. Be sure to wash both towels and ticking fabric before you attach together or you may have a lot less curtain than you started with. I used drop cloth for the lower and a similar towel pattern to yours in cream and black for the valance...we love it. Both on clips.
  • Donna L. Woods-Clements Donna L. Woods-Clements on Jun 28, 2015
    How many did you buy? If at least 4, you should be able to match the pattern horizontally, just as you would vertically with wallpaper, then use your cafe clips if you want them. OR, you could use a coordinating strip of solid fabric between 2 towels on each side. Just make sure you measure so your stripe of solid meets when you close the curtains.
  • Barbara Votik Barbara Votik on Jun 28, 2015
    Can you put the curtains down lower?
  • Sheryl Gilliland Sheryl Gilliland on Jun 28, 2015
    I think it would be so cute to use split rings (key rings) or round shower curtain rings to connect the towels. The ring would allow for light and air to come in and would allow privacy with out completely blocking your view. Using pressure rods( like you are using) to open it, will make an instant roman shade, if you want .
  • Teresa Pierce Teresa Pierce on Jun 28, 2015
    If you cannot match the pattern up as you'd like ... find a coordinating one, stripes or solid with similar colors, and do a patchwork look. it will be very pretty and you will have the length and with you need. Clip rings are cute for cafe curtains and hel by not taking away the length of the fabric.
  • PaintedPetals PaintedPetals on Jun 28, 2015
    Hi what about sewing two towels together then fold the top part so it appears to look like a valance or ruffle this will cover the line where the pieces are attached . Add some cool clip hooks and there you go . I did this with a tablecloth I used as a curtain I can show pics if you'll like . Good luck
    • Debbie Chapman Debbie Chapman on Jun 29, 2015
      Hi Painted Petals! I'm interested in seeing your pics! Would love to see how that turned out!
  • Ashley Freeman Ashley Freeman on Jun 29, 2015
    If you don't sew there are a couple of things you could do 1. There is such a thing as fabric glue they sell at the fabric store. You could glue them together--it is a washable glue so you can still wash them like normal. 2. You could get something called stitch witchery also in the notions section of the fabric store and iron it on and it will bond them together. I would tie some cute bows where it is peiced together for a cute country look.
  • BETTY BETTY on Jun 29, 2015
    I love this curtain. I would find a stripped material (with the same colors in design) and add to top an bottom of the curtain (horizontal). Get some clip on rings to hang it by. This way it will be long enough to cover a little over half of the window. Topper can be optional.
  • Joyce Overbay Joyce Overbay on Jun 29, 2015
    i would check Lowes. I bought tops for a large not k window there. Used short cafe curtains on top and the ones like she made on the bottom half. Used greenery in them and added lights and some grapevine. Looked really good. Had a little light in the kitchen for night.
  • Carol Carol on Jun 29, 2015
    Google instructions for no sew roman shades. Join the towels together (sew or glue) and follow the roman shade instructions. Leave enough at the top for a valance. With Roman shades it won't matter too much if you matched the seams. If You don't think you can make the shade, buy a white one and use fusible web to iron the towels to the shade. Lay out your towels first to see how it would look and if that is look you want. Another idea is to stringcord at the same lines as the glass dividers and use tiny clothes pins (available at Hobby Lobby) to hang up the towels to the cord. Please post a "finished" picture no matter whose idea you use.
  • Carol Carol on Jun 29, 2015
    P.S. There are no rules that cafe curtains be only one layer and a valance. You can get ring clips and tension rods and do three tiers with two towels per tier and if you have an extra, cut it in half and you can sew or glue on the top edge and make a valance by just folding the towel halves over another tension rod.
  • Kellie Kellie on Jun 29, 2015
    You can put two rods, one at the top of the window and one in the middle (where the sash is). Make a valance for the top rod (14" long I think). Or using four dish towels, put 2 on top and 2 on bottom rod. Or you could add a ruffle or trim pulled from a color in the fabric all the way around the towel to make it longer and wider. I'd use one towel for each side of the window rather than cut one towel in half and sew. I saw a really cute idea on Pinterest where they used the cafe rod rings that clip to the fabric (no sewing involved) and placemats so your towels would be perfect for that idea. JC Penney clearance and Ikea have cheap rods and clips.
  • Kellie Kellie on Jun 29, 2015
    Oops, didn't see Carol's comment before I posted. Great ideas, Carol :)
  • Janice Barth Janice Barth on Jun 29, 2015
    You could add a complimentary solid colored fabric at the top and bottom to lengthen it .. or make wide strips of alternating print and solid fabric.
  • Jeannette Wilson Jeannette Wilson on Jun 29, 2015
    I would go with the towels as a topper and a solid-like the gold-as long curtains that open in the middle-maybe with tie backs out of a towel
  • 861650 861650 on Jun 29, 2015
    I love all the answers as they are great ideas. But after looking at your window several times, I thought it was too beautiful to hide. My suggestion is to use your fabric as a valance and hang white sheers under it. Or you could make placemats out of your fabric. You could also cover different items in the kitchen with the fabric such as a flower pot; glue some fabric around a can and use for a pencil holder and make hand towels and just use white sheers on the window.
  • Katie Katie on Jun 29, 2015
    If you more length 1. U.S. Ribbon as your pocket,to save fabric2 . Need more add an other fabric 3-6 in top or bottom . Also can us as toe back
  • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Jun 29, 2015
    Can you crochet a little decorative band to sit in between 2 towels, thus extending the total length? If not, scour your favourite fabric store for a heavier gauge, homespun cotton lace or a pleasing solid colour to do the same thing. WARNING: cotton towelling can really shrink in the drier, so either pre-shrink or commit to line drying only.
  • PaintedPetals PaintedPetals on Jun 29, 2015
    Hi Debbie , sure I would love to share my tablecloth valance curtains lol
  • PaintedPetals PaintedPetals on Jun 29, 2015
    Here you go .....
  • PaintedPetals PaintedPetals on Jun 29, 2015
    Ok everything I just wrote is gone I have to get use to this lol I used a 60x120 curtain since it was to long I folded the top making it look like a valance I held the fold together with a clip and and hang and done
  • Pager63 Pager63 on Jun 29, 2015
    Add a coordinating piece of fabric to the top, bottom or around the entire border
  • Just Grandma Just Grandma on Jun 29, 2015
    I would add some coordinating fabric to the bottom (i.e. plain red if you have red in your kitchen) and use the clips so they could slide on the rod to open and close.
  • Patty S Patty S on Jun 30, 2015
    Find an ecru lace to add to the bottom.
  • Kathleen Sozzi Kathleen Sozzi on Jul 01, 2015
    I recommend the same..... a miniature pattern or solid color in gray, red or mustard to the top or bottom......and since you don't sew, you can use stich witchery (any fabric store or craft store) and iron them together! Clip rings on the fabric for cute added feature and movability
  • Annie Doherty Annie Doherty on Jul 03, 2016
    Some great ideas shared on this post, picking on the most prominent colour and consider using a yellow contrast on the bottom and I would use the other towel as a valance for the top of the window, which would visually make the window looker smaller but not cut out any light, As I would use 2nd towel to cover a board to fix to the frame as a valance. Good luck.
  • Ida Ida on Sep 07, 2016
    I would put the towels in layers with tension rods.
  • Judy Tejwani Judy Tejwani on Jun 14, 2017

    These are all great ideas and it is true that there are no rules for covering your window but things you should take into consideration is 1- how much light do you need coming in that window? 2- are there any hazards close by, i.e. stove, electrical outlets? 3- do you need to open that window regularly? Have fun! And if it's not working, change it!!