Sewing Curtains

Before you even start thinking of sewing curtains it is important to examine your windows. To get the most out of your windows and curtains see first if you can improve the look of your window treatment.

Before you begin sewing curtains look in which way you can improve your window treatments:

• Short, narrow windows can be made to look longer and wider by extending curtains beyond edges of the window and down to the floor.

• Off-center windows can be made to look centered by carrying curtain fabric beyond the edge of the window on the wall.

• Place the fixture and rods first so that measuring will be more accurate.  

Measuring curtains

• To measure curtains, start from the bottom of the rod and measure to within one inch of sill, or to the bottom of the apron, or to within one inch of floor, depending on length desired. The curtain rod slips through a casing made at the top and, if desired, a heading can stand above the casing.

• Curtain should be at least twice the width of the window, and wider for very sheer fabrics or for a really full effect.

• The casing is made approximately twice the width or diameter of the rod. For a one-inch finished casing, add 2 ¼ inches, the ¼ inch for the first turn of the hem, and for one-inch heading add an additional two inches. Add at least three inches for a finished hem at the bottom and two inches as a shrinkage allowance. In sheer fabrics, hems are often made double.

• Measure lengths very carefully so that pairs are identical. Be sure center hems in a pair face each other. Hems may be done by hand or machine.

• Trimming is most easily done with ready-made trims applied to center and bottom edges. Cut off all selvages before starting to turn in hems.

• When buying curtain fabric that has a pattern you will need to the size of the pattern and at what distance the patterns match.

Sewing curtains

After straightening the fabric and cutting the lengths, sew the outside narrow hems first, then do the center hems. Do the top hem (casing and heading) and finally apply the trimming.

For an illustration of how to measure a window see our article on different curtain styles. Don't start cutting and sewing curtains yet, check thoroughly first.