Practical Steps on How to Make Curtains

Practical Steps on How to Make Curtains

Here are the steps that you will follow to make your curtain easily:

First, Things you will need:

Fabric
Lining and curtain heading tape
Metal measuring tape
Dressmaking scissors
Sewing machine
Thread
Needle and pins
Pencil

 Step One: Measuring & Cutting

Measure all the curtain lengths, marking them with pins or a pencil. On patterned fabric, choose one main point in the design and mark off each length starting at this point. Cut out all the lengths. You'll need the same amount of lining fabric as your main fabric (less any pattern repeats).

Step Two: Join the Lining

If you need to join widths to make up each curtain, pin the fabric pieces together along the selvages (the finished edges of the fabric that won't unravel) with right sides facing. If you have an odd number of fabric widths, cut the 'odd' piece in half lengthways and pin one half to the outside edge of each curtain. Stitch the pieces together, taking in a 2.5cm seam. Press the seams open and snip into the selvages at 45cm intervals so the seams won't pucker when the curtains are washed.

Measure, cut and join the lining in the same way as the main fabric. Trim 5cm from one side of each curtain lining piece.

Step Three: Stitch The Curtain & Lining Together

Place the curtain and lining right sides together, with side edges matching (the lining is now narrower than the curtain, so the curtain won't lie flat but don't worry). Machine stitch the side seams taking in a 2.5cm seam. Press the seams open and snip into the selvages at 45cm intervals so the seams won't pucker. Turn the curtain to right side out and press flat, so that the lining sits centrally behind the main curtain.

Step Four: Stitch On The Heading Tape

Turn under 3cm at the curtain top and press. Knot the cords at one end of the heading tape. Pin the tape close to the top of the curtain, fold under the short edges of the tape and hiding the raw fabric edges. Machine stitch along all the edges of the tape. Draw up the tape to fit the window and knot the cords.

Step Five: Hem The Length

Undo the side hems at the bottom so that you can turn up and finish the main curtain hem. Temporarily hang the curtain by a few hooks and mark off the desired length with pins. Turn up a double hem in the main fabric to the marked length. Press and hand stitch the hem. Turn up the lining; making it 2.5cm shorter than the main curtain (trim off the excess lining at the bottom to make the hem less bulky). Hand stitch the hem.

Finally, Important Tips you should take care of:

       1- Measure twice before you cut as mistakes can prove costly.

2- Look out for lining fabric that's the same width or wider than your fabric, so you won't have to join pieces.

3- Get a bespoke look with coloured lining, or use a complementary fabric, such as a toning checked  fabric to line a floral curtain.

4- Already made unlined curtains? Buy detachable linings and simply hook them onto your existing curtains