DIY Custom Curtains & Draperies

Hello! Let me show you my last sewing project: DIY custom curtains & draperies for my living room 🙂

I have an open ceiling living room and the length of the windows is longer than the traditional length. Since curtains at the store are way too short for my space, my curtains had to be custom made. Also I wanted a yellow fabric to match the wall picture that I have over the fireplace. (I carried that picture from my previous house. I use to have it in the dinning room)

Since this was my first time sewing curtains, I took the Craftsy class Sewing Custom Curtains & Draperies, and it was very helpful.  I learn how to make these professional looking curtains and I’m very happy with the result.

 

 

 

In the Craftsy Class I learned how to make a basic curtain panel. It has a 4 inch double fold hem for the main fabric and 3 inch double fold hem on the lining. The lining is placed 1″ above the face fabric.

The side hem is 1 1/2 inch double fold, and the lining fabric is tuck inside.

I sew all of the hems by hand (It can be sewn with a sewing machine)

 

The class teaches how to make three different kind of curtains:

• Grommet curtains
• Gathered curtains
• and Pleated curtains

For my living room, I decided to make the pleated curtains.

 

I learned how to calculate the yardage needed based on the window measurements, which varies depending on the curtain style and the rod that you are using (When matching fabric with motifs, additional yardage is needed.).  I also learned how to determine the width and separation of the pleats.

I used 2.5 fullness, around 5 1/4 inches for the pleats, and 4 inches for the spaces between the pleats.

 

 

 

Inside the hems, to help the curtain stay in place, they have drapery weights. It took me a while to sew these curtains, they were longer than average and there is a lot of handwork involved but I’m very happy with the result.

Next I would like to make a grommet curtain for the bathroom.

 

Happy Sewing,
Anabelle