Making curtains in no time

Making curtains may seem like an impossible task, yet there are many styles of curtains and draperies that even beginners can make – even if the can only sew a straight line. Even better, making curtains without sewing a single stitch opens the home decorator up to some beautiful options as well.

Curtain Making With Simple Stitches

Probably the easiest curtain making style is the balloon valance. It can be completed with three straight lines of stitches! Here’s how:

1. Measure a width of fabric 3 times the window’s width.

2. Cut its length to double the length you want it to hang down the window.

3. With the fabric folded lengthwise in half with right sides together stitch the top 5/8” down along the entire width. (Note: if the edges are unfinished they will need to be hemmed first, but using twin sized bed sheet eliminates this step.)

4. Next sew a line across the width about 2 inches from the first stitch line.

5. The third line you’ll sew is the width of the curtain rod you will be using. So for a 4” rod, sew the next line down about 4 ¼” from your middle stitch line.

Now, just turn it right side out and you have a pocket for your rod with a 2” ruffle on top! Gather it on the rod and stuff with tissue paper for the balloon effect.

Another straight stitch window treatment is the café curtain. With a pressure rod for hardware, you will make a pocket for the pole just as you did with the balloon valance. The only difference in café curtain making is that you may want to have two panels, and the finished length should be about ½ the window’s length.

No-Stitch Window Coverings

Some styles of window curtains that require no sewing at all are the swag or a simple drapery. As long as the edges are hemmed you can easily drape the fabric throughout a decorative rod for a beautiful treatment. If the ends are not finished, creative folding and tacking with pins or hot glue can give a finished edge. So even those that don’t sew can be successful at making curtains.