If your panels are less than 55 inches wide, you’ll probably want fewer tabs. I like to think no one really knows.įirst, decide how many tabs you want per panel. Here’s how much of a beginner seamstress I am: I still don’t know what bias tape is actually for. But this way will get you there.įor the tabs on my master bedroom curtains, I used bias tape: Maybe there is a “right” way to do this? I’m not sure. Warning: I completely made up this entire process. If you do it, it will look something like this: If you don’t do it, the curtain police will not even know about it. The truth is, you can really skip this step if you want. Basically, you’re hand-sewing the corner in place. I say “just” because I still don’t really know what that means. Now, “just” blind-stitch the corners in place. Right now, the bottom corners of your panels look like this:įold the corners of the curtain fabric in so it looks like this: Iron the side edges so it stays in place. Now, kind of maneuver the curtains until you have equal curtain fabric on each side of the lining. Lay your curtains on the floor, lining side up.
Stand up and pat yourself on the back! (Necessary step.) Because here is fun part #1: Turn the panels inside out, and you (almost) have a lined panel! All you have to do is finish the top and bottom! LOOK AT YOU GO! Just do the best you can to make the second side lined up, then pin it in place. Because your fabric is wider than the lining, it’ll be bunched up and kind of awkward. Now that one side of the lining is sewn to one side of the fabric, lay them back on the floor again, and line up the other side. You should probably backstitch here too, but what do I know? Now, pin down the side where the two fabrics are lined up.Īnd sew that side together. The bottom of the lining should be 1.5 inches from the bottom of the curtain fabric, and one of the sides should be lined up. Please no one ask my mom how many times I accidentally didn’t lay the right sides together and had to go back and redo this step. (The right sides are facing each other, because in a minute you’re going to sew the sides together, then turn it inside out like a pillow. Now lay your lining on top of it, right side down. Lay your curtain fabric on the floor, right side up. No one look at how horribly crooked I cut the lining though. I’d like to draw your attention to the relatively straight hem you see before you. Sew the hem, doing your back-stitch thang. Fold another 2 inches up, iron the fold and pin it in place. (I like to say things like “make sure you back-stitch,” as if that’s something I was totally familiar with before attempting this project.)įold the bottom of the lining 2 inches up and iron the fold. Make sure you back-stitch at the beginning and end. Just a plain-vanilla straight stitch or whatevs. Then fold it up another four inches, iron it, and pin it in place. (For me, this was 49 inches.)įold your fabric up four inches from the bottom and iron the fold. Now, cut the width of your lining to six inches less than the width of your curtain fabric. (My panels are 96 inches long, so I cut my lining 98.5 inches long.) Okay, remember how long you wanted your finished panels to be? Add 2.5 inches to that, and that’s how long you should cut your lining.
It’s all about the lining isn’t it? No flimsy, transparent curtains for us! We’re using blackout lining and sleeping til noon! In an alternate life. (My finished panels are 96 inches long, so I cut my fabric to 106 inches long.) TIP: Plan to hang your curtains high and wide!Īdd 10 inches your finished panel length: that’s how long you should cut the fabric for each panel. Measure the finished length you want your panels to be. Bias tape ( I think this is the one I used) or ribbon for back tabs.Thread (my fabrics are THICK but regular thread seamed to work okay.).Curtain Fabric (I used this in the nursery and “Premier Prints Avery” in the master bedroom.).I leaned pretty heavily on this great tutorial at Midwest Magnolia, but I improvised my own back-tab system because I love how the back-tabs look hanging up: This is the method I used to make the drapes in my master bedroom… Best completed accompanied by wine and a mom who can sew. Hopefully I can still explain this clearly enough for you to go forth and sew your own curtains drapes window pants. Let’s just get this out of the way: I don’t know whether to call these “curtains” or “drapes.” Or “drapery panels.” Or “window dressings.” Skivvies for your wall orifices? I also never know whether to say “armoire” or “armuaaaaahh.” Or “vase” or “vahhhze.”Īlso unfortunately, my sewing skills are about on-par with my decor-pronunciation (in)abilities.