How to Make Easy Custom Curtains You'll Love

Elizabeth Made This
by Elizabeth Made This
2 Materials
$40
30 Minutes
Easy

We’re getting down to some home decor sewing basics today as I show you how to curtains.

These quick and easy curtains you can stitch up easily in about 30 minutes.


That little bit of straight line sewing and time investment will give you a curtain that’ll last for years in your home. And since you have to look at it hanging on your window for years to come, do it the right way with a sewing machine!


Before you start stitching, you'll need to figure out how much fabric you need.


Use your tape measure to measure your window from side to side. Multiply that measurement by at least 1.5 times.


Now measure your window from 6" above the window to the floor. Why the floor? Because long curtains are dramatic and short curtains are going to make your window and your room look squatty. The only exception is in a kitchen or a bathroom where a long curtain might get in the way of everything.


Add about 10" to your vertical measurement. That'll give you plenty of space for hems and in case your fabric got cut unevenly. I've found 2.5 yards is a good amount for one curtain panel.

Prep your fabric


To start off, pre wash your fabric and dry it. Cold water is good!


Next, iron the whole length of the fabric to get out any wrinkles.


After that, lay your fabric on a gridded cutting mat. Line up the selvages to on both sides so that they're covering the same number of squares.


Next look at the cut end of the fabric. Is it even between the selvages? If not, cut a straight line that's perpendicular to the top edges of the selvage ends. Repeat for the other end of your fabric.

Press the sides


Next, press the selvages vertically in towards the wrong side of the fabric. The printed edge of most home dec fabrics is where the selvages start.


Press once that full width of the selvage, then fold the outer edge again towards the first press line that you made.


Repeat for the second selvage edge.

Stitch down the sides


From here, sew the curtain sides down from top to bottom with a 3.0 mm straight stitch. Try your best to sew close to the pressed edges.

Stitch on curtain tab tape


Next, press the top of the curtain back towards the wrong side by 1/2"


Position the curtain tab tape close to the pressed edge. It should cover the bit that you just pressed back. Make sure that one of the tabs is close to the side of the curtain.


Start stitching the tape across the top of the curtain close to the top edge of the tape. When you get close to the end, cut off the tape a couple inches past the second side.


Fold the raw edge of the tape under so that it's flush with the side. Continue to sew down the tape around the side and across the bottom edge of the tape and back up the second side of the tape.

Finish up


First, hang up your curtain by slipping your rod through the tabs on the top. From here you can decide how deep you want your hem to be. Some people like their curtains to kind of pool on the floor. I personally like them to be just touching the floor.


Press back the hem towards the wrong side by 4-5". Fold back the raw edge by 1/2" and press it towards the wrong side.


This extra deep hem will help that curtain hang so pretty! From here, stitch the hem down along the sides and across the pressed edge.


Pat yourself on the back and enjoy how pretty your curtain looks now.

Suggested materials:
  • Curtain tab tape   (https://amzn.to/36lICNY)
  • About 2.5 yards home decor canvas fabric
Elizabeth Made This
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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