Seems Easy But Takes a Great Deal of Expert Knowledge: How to Sew Curtains?
While conjuring up your clothing is a lot of fun, knowing how to sew curtains and being able to transform your house interiors with this skill is a whole different level of advancement in sewing.
Sewing curtains may transform your house arrangement. It can also add some charm to your sewing room ideas.
Image source: Blog Ttfabrics
How to sew simple curtains step by step
We’re here to guide you to success in easy sew curtains making.
But before we get there, shouldn’t we get to grips with curtain types?
Just to get the taste of all options.
Image source: The Chronicles of Home
Sewing curtains: Types
Before we learn to sew curtains, let’s see what their types are and what fabrics we use to make them.
According to Home ISD, these are the most commonly used fabrics for curtains:
Sewing fabric |
Reason to use them for sewing curtains |
cotton |
versatility |
polyester |
affordable and durable |
silk |
luxurious effect |
acrylic |
wool-like texture |
velvet |
adds glamour and richness to space |
brocade |
sets a sophisticated tone |
rayon |
strong, soft, and breathable |
voile |
provides a light and airy ambiance |
lace |
romantic and traditional |
In the column on the right, we added strengths and reasons for choosing the particular fabric.
Besides sewing fabric, and color, you can add another personalized touch to your new project. (Check also these 35 intermediate sewing projects).
We are talking about attaching customized labels to the curtains you have sewn.
You don’t have to look far to find the best woven labels online. Super Label Store specializes in creating them.
Now, individual sewers and DIY enthusiasts don’t have to become a renowned brand to get a taste of luxury with customized:
Super Label Store is known for:
-
- being a sustainable brand,
- providing an easy to handle online configurator to customize your labels,
- taking orders for even the smallest amount of unique labels;
When it comes to the types of curtains, the story isn’t as brief as the one with sewing fabric material or its color.
To deepen your knowledge of the curtain types, reach out to:
-
- Home ISD (“21 Types of Curtains That Actually Matter”),
- The Spruce (“What Are the Differences Between Curtains, Drapes, Shades, and Blinds?”),
- Blog Kwik Hang,
- House Beautiful,
- Home Stratosphere,
- Elle Decor (“Draper or curtains? Why choosing the right window treatment matters,”), and many others!
We won’t elaborate on every curtain-type but we’re going to present a quick checklist.
Image source: Home ISD
According to the Touch of Class, there are the following types of curtains:
-
- Austrian curtains
- Balloon shade
- Blackout curtains
- Curtain pairs
- Curtain panels
- Door panels
- Grommet panels
- Lace curtains
- Outdoor curtains
- Patio panels
- Pinch pleat drapes
- Priscilla curtains
- Room darkening
- Shades
- Sheer curtains
- Swags
- Tab top panels
- Thermal curtains
- Tiers/Cafe curtains
- Valances
Consider that other websites list more, even up to thirty types!
Image source: Ibikusjoc
How to sew curtains the easy way? What are the best sewing hacks?
Jen is a DIY lover who believes that curtains are really easy to sew.
According to her guide on The Chronicles of Home, you’ll need the following sewing tools to be successful with easy sew curtains:
-
- measuring tape
- sewing fabric
- iron and ironing board
- sewing machine
- drapery hooks
- drapery rings
- curtain rod (two feet longer than the width of your window)
Image source: The Chronicles of Home
Jen admits that window treatments can be expensive. Yet, a piece of high-end fabric for custom drapes will make them gorgeous. The choice is yours.
And here’s how to make your own curtains with Jen (The Chronicles of Home) in a couple of steps:
-
- First off, measure the finished length for your drapes. They should be wide and hanging high.
Take the first of your sewing supplies―a tape measure―and place it a few inches below the ceiling. Then, measure the length down to the floor. Add 11″ to your finished curtain length to allow for a hem at the top and the bottom.
-
- Use an iron press flat for the:
-
-
- side,
- top, and
- bottom hems;
-
If you want a double hem on all sides, fold and iron twice. For the top hem, fold and iron a 4″ double hem, and for the bottom hem a 1.5″ double hem.
-
- Take your sewing machine and sew all of your ironed hems. Close them with a straight stitch. Start with the side hems and end with the top and bottom hems.
Image source: At Home with The Barkers
-
- Lay the finished top hem flat on the floor on the left side.
-
- Measure seven equal distance points along the length of the hem.
These points mark where you will attach drapery hooks. Ensure these marks are:
-
-
- equidistant horizontally, and
- the same distance from the top of the finished panel.
-
-
- Slide the sharp ends of the hooks on the marks you made.
Do it through the back layers of fabric. Be careful not to let them poke through the front of your curtains.
-
- Take your curtain rod.
It should extend about a foot past the window frame on both sides.
-
- Before hanging the rod, make sure you measured the length of your finished curtains well.
If not, adjust the height on which you attach the rod to the wall to make them fit.
-
- Slide the drapery rings over the rod and the drapery hooks on the backside of each curtain panel through the small hanging ring on each drapery ring.
-
- We don’t have to tell you that your new curtains are already beautifully hanging. Thanks for the ride, The Chronicles of Home!
Image source: Home ISD
How to make curtains by hand sewing?
This is a topic for another story. For example, this one by Emma Sandy:
Sewing curtains: Lighting
Before revolutionizing your living or working space, get to know several lighting tips provided by Age Berry.
Read also about the best sewing tips and tricks to level up your sewing skill.
Curtains are a decorative gadget that covers the spontaneous flow of natural outside light, whether you want it or not.
So before you learn how to sew window panels and how to start sewing curtains, let’s check up with Age Berry.
Here you can work on ensuring that your sewing room is light and breezy. Consider that what applies to a sewing room will work well also in any other space where you work or live.
Tip |
Description | Explanation |
Ensure that you have multiple sources of light |
It’s essential, especially if your working space is in the basement or garage. One light is not enough, even if it may seem like it at first. Lit well not only your sewing machine but also other areas. A light that illuminates the needle area is not enough. Think about hunting for lost pins in the abyss of this romantic darkness. |
Ironing board, closet, storage (colors of thread and sewing fabric must be easily recognizable)―having enough light everywhere in the sewing room is a must. And that’s impossible to achieve without multiple light sources. You’ll get to know more about sewing threads types and tips here. |
Change the light bulbs |
There are three kinds of bulbs:
|
|
Paint your place in light colors and ensure the furniture isn’t too dark |
We’re not reinventing the wheel saying that shades of white will make space feel brighter. The mechanism is simple: the lighter, the more they reflect the natural light entering the room. On the other hand, dark colors absorb the light. |
accessories with a reflective surface. |
Even if your place is spacious and bright at the stage of planning the arrangement, reality often sneaks in with practice. It reveals some uncomfortable issues about the expected result.
The same with light.
You may think that curtains will cover just a piece of a window, and it’s all under control. Yet, think twice before you put your plans into action. You may both well brighten and darken your place with the use of curtains.
Keep in mind that it’s our mission to take you from a sewing hobby to successful sewing business (yet, only if you want the same).
We’re motivated to provide only the best tips and advanced sewing techniques!
Image source: By Gum By Golly
Another two tips by Age Berry for spicing up your place with a dash of extra light are as follows:
Tip |
Description | Explanation |
Use as much natural light as possible |
If you’re able to pick all the circumstances from the start, choose:
windows. What if you don’t have many windows? Buy the best quality artificial light similar to natural daylight. |
Abundant natural light:
|
Use lamps with magnifiers and LED headlamps |
A magnifying lamp is perfect for:
A headlamp is compact, battery-charged, lightweight, with a wide-strap adjustable elastic headband. You can rotate it down to more than a 90-degree angle. |
Magnifying lamps have flexible arms. This feature helps you adjust the location and the angle of the light and magnifier. LED headlamps are helpful if you need some extra targeted illumination, especially if your eyesight isn’t spectacular. Read the complete guide through “Best Magnifying Lamps For Crafts” by Looney Lumens. |
We know everything about lighting. Should we get a taste of easy beginner sewing projects for sewing curtains?
Here’s the first step to getting your hands-on experience with how to sew curtains for beginners.
Christina from The DIY Mommy explains how to make curtains with pleat at home in her smooth YouTube tutorial:
Read which sewing tools will be helpful to make it happen at The DIY Mommy blog.
Image source: The DIY Mommy
It may also come in handy to discover what not to do when hanging your newborn curtains.
And guess what?
There is a fancy tutorial about it too!
Watch Posh Pennies video to discover which terrible mistakes shouldn’t you make when hanging your curtains:
How to sew curtain panels?
What is a curtain panel? Or better, what is the difference between a curtain and a curtain panel?
Home Guides explains:
“The difference between curtains and window panels is one of semantics. A panel is a length of fabric, hemmed at the bottom, that hangs in front of a window. It may be tab- or tie-topped; have grommets; be one of two panels that form a set of curtains that cover a window when pulled closed; or be a fixed, flat panel of cloth over the window. “Curtains” is a broad term that covers drapes, cafes, and other fabric window treatments.”
Read also what is the difference between curtains and drapes on Windows Dressed Up.
Image source: Little Pink Monsters
And here’s how to sew a simple curtain panel with Hobby Lobby:
Why should we use curtains?
Now that we know everything about curtains, let’s get back to the beginning.
Why should we cover our windows with any fabric in the first place?
As we read on Dengarden, there are several reasons to install curtains in your house. Let’s browse them together.
Curtains can:
-
- create privacy,
- diffuse or augment outdoor lighting,
- provide background to the interior décor:
-
-
- elegant,
- casual,
- subtle, or even
- dramatic;
-
Image source: Home ISD
4. frame a beautiful view or hide an ugly one
5. influence interiors as any other piece of furniture, become the focal point of any room and pull together the room with its furnishings
6. provide insulation against the cold of the winter, the heat of the summer, and so on!
Image source: Fabalabse
Related posts:
Categories