Custom curtains, though they add value to your interior, can be quite heavy on the pocket. If you cannot justify spending thousands of Dirhams or Dollars on window coverings, which are just stitched rolls of fabric, we are with you. A cost-effective alternative: teach yourself how to sew curtains. It is no rocket science. You do not need to be crafty or have impressive sewing skills. You simply need to follow our easy guide.
This curtain-making tutorial by Lush Loom is perfect for a beginner with some sewing skills (check the last section for a no-sew guide). You’ll learn easily about how to take measurements, cut, and hem with this step-by-step guide. So, follow along!
The Ultimate Guide To Sewing Your Own Curtains From Scratch
This tutorial will teach you how to make curtains for any room and answer all your questions.
Table Of Contents
- Which Curtain Fabric To Choose For Making Curtains?
- How To Make Your Own Curtains Cheaply?
- Decide Between Lined & Unlined Curtains
- Checklist Before DIY-ing Curtains
- How To Calculate Curtain Fabric?
- Easy 8-Step Curtain Sewing Manual
- How To Make No-Sew Curtains?
1- Which Curtain Fabric To Choose?
Do not ignore the fabric function. Let us elaborate. Think about how much daylight you want in your room with curtains. And choose the right textile for sheer, light-filtering, or blackout curtains accordingly.
Another key consideration is the weight of your curtain fabric. Bulky materials are better at providing insulation & last longer than flimsier textiles. Otherwise, medium-weight cotton or velvet curtains can be an excellent choice. A lightweight 140GSM curtain fabric is the easiest to stitch and hang.
Slippery and stretchy materials, such as silk, satin, and Lycra, can be difficult to work with. We recommend avoiding such challenging fabrics if you are a complete beginner. If you can afford it, upholstery fabric can make great-looking curtains.
2- How To Make Your Own Curtains Cheaply?
It is quite possible to make expensive-looking curtains on a budget. It just needs a bit of creativity. Instead of buying costly upholstery material, you can make do with bedsheets, tablecloths, designer deadstock fabric (leftover material at local fabric shops), or second-hand curtain fabrics.
Thrifted Fabric
You can purchase fabric from second-hand stores and upcycle it into new curtains. This way, you can prevent the textile from ending up in a landfill and save tons of money. You can find thrifted material for as low as AED 50! Follow the tutorial provided below and make your own bedroom curtains from a pre-owned fabric.
Bedsheet
Make your next curtains from a bedsheet. These bedsheets can introduce fun patterns that are unusual for curtain fabrics. And they are inexpensive, meaning you won’t have to dread making a mistake and wasting money.
Napkins
Sewing handkerchieves to make curtains can be a fun DIY project. Napkins are low-priced and more easily available than special curtain textiles. You can stitch napkins together into a patchwork pattern. Use unique or repeating patterns for each square. Try this out to make kids’ room curtains and inspire creativity in your young ones.
3- Decide Between Lined & Unlined Curtains
See the perks of lined and unlined drapes below and decide which one suits the functional needs of your room.
| Benefits Of Lined Curtains | Benefits Of Unlined Curtains |
| Daytime & Nighttime Privacy | Offer Daytime Privacy |
| Offer Thermal Insulation | Allow Airflow & Prevent Overheating |
| Resist UV Damage | Trap Minimal Dust |
| Better Drape & Look | Less Fabric Required |
| More Long Lasting | More Cost-Effective |
| Best For Bedrooms & Offices | Best For Living Rooms & Kitchens |
4- Checklist Before DIY Sewing Curtains:
Cross out the stuff you already have & highlight the things you need before making curtains.
- Curtain Fabric
- Scissors
- Measuring Tape
- Pins
- Iron
- Pencil OR Tailor’s Chalk
- Buckram
- Heading Tape
- Sewing Machine OR Simple Needle & Thread
- Basic Stitching Skills
5- How To Calculate Curtain Fabric Length & Width?
Length
With a measuring tape, get the length from the pole to where you want your curtain hem to end. Follow the instructions below to measure for window-sill length, below sill, hovering, and pool curtains.
- Sill Length: Measure from the top of the curtain track to either the window sill or half an inch (0.5 in) above it.
- Apron: Place the starting point of the measuring tape on the curtain track and end it 4 to 5 inches down from the sill.
- Float: Find the distance from the rod to the floor. Minus 0.5 inches or 1–1.5cm from the calculation.
- Puddle: First, find the curtain rod-to-floor length. Second, add 2 to 8 inches to the length, depending on how much fabric you want to pool.
Width
To calculate the width, calculate the size of your drapery pole or track. Next, decide the volume you prefer in your curtain pleats.
Width = Track/Pole Length x Curtain Fullness
Replace the curtain fullness with 1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 for a less full, soft gather, highly gathered, and opulent look, respectively.
Tip: Measure the pole only and not the decorative finials.
Fabric Measurement For Pinch Pleat Curtains
Pinch pleat curtains must have a high fullness to create proper folds. Choose a 2.5x volume if you are working with a lightweight fabric. And 2x fullness for heavyweight fabrics. Their pleats require more area. Therefore, we recommend adding 10–20% to the pole length. Remember that curtain hooks can alter the length by 1 to 2 inches. So plan accordingly!
Fabric Measurement For Eyelet Curtains
Eyelet curtains create moderately full folds. A curtain fullness of 1.5 to 2 is sufficient for them. The eyelets stand approximately 5 cm above the curtain pole. So, add this extra length to your desired curtain drop.
Fabric Measurement For Box Pleat Curtains
Plan the number of pleats when measuring for box pleat curtains. Then calculate the size of each box pleat and the spacing between them. These curtains have a structured appearance, which looks good with a 2x fullness.
6- Easy 8-Step Curtain Sewing Manual
Step 1: Align The Patterns
If you are working with a printed fabric, you need to ensure the patterns are not misaligned or facing the wrong side up. First, place the textile (printed side up) on a flat surface. Line the fabric panels, ensuring the motifs align.
Step 2: Cut The Fabric
Follow the curtain measuring guide and trim the curtain fabric. Trim the lining with fabric scissors as well. This would prevent it from peeking out of the finished curtains.
Key Tip: Wash the fabric first to pre-shrink it for accurate measurements.
Step 3: Join The Widths
This step is optional and only applicable if your window is wider than a single fabric’s width. First, stitch the curtain fabric together to create panels. Next, join the lining widths and sew them.
Step 4: Iron & Pin Side Hems
This is a prerequisite step to hemming the side of the curtains to create clean edges. Fold the sides of the drapery fabric twice (recommended: 3 inches) over the wrong side. Next, iron the folds to create a flat crease. Lastly, add pins to temporarily hold the fabric.
Step 5: Stitch Sides
Using a sewing machine or needle, make small stitches along the folded sides of the curtain fabric. Use the pins as a guide for an even stitch. Repeat the same steps for the lining and sew the side hems. This will maintain the integrity of the drapery and prevent it from fraying.
Step 6: Prepare The Header
Decide the type of header you want and follow the tutorial below to learn how to make curtains.
Sewing Pinch Pleat
There are two ways to create a pinch pleat header: either with a pleater tape (recommended for beginners) or by hand.
To create pinch pleat curtains with a pleater tape, place the tape at the top of the curtains while ensuring the pockets are at the bottom. Next, sew along the lines of the tape and pull the cord to form pleats.
To hand-stitch pinch pleat curtains, pinch the fabric with your finger to create even folds. Finish by sewing the base of the folds to secure the pleats.
Sewing Eyelet
Mark 4 to 6 inches on top of the curtain with a pencil or chalk. Fold that side down and stitch it to create a durable header. Decide the position of the eyelets, which should ideally be 6 to 8 inches apart. Cut the holes with a pair of scissors and snap the front rings and the bottom rings together. This would create an eyelet opening for the curtain rod.
Sewing Box-Pleat
Box pleats are typically 8 inches apart. So, mark the location of the pleats with chalk. Next, fold the top edge of the curtain fabric and insert a piece of Buckram to give it shape. Lastly, fold the pleats into a box shape and sew them.
Step 7: Hem The Curtain Borders
Just like how you hemmed the sides, now hem the curtain borders. Hang the curtains and fold the bottom edges inwards. Place 8–10 pins to mark the final length. Stitch the border with a matching thread and remove the pins as you go.
Step 8: Hang The Curtains
This is the final step! If you’ve created pinch pleat curtains, this is when you insert the hooks. Steam or iron the drapes and hang them on the rod.
7- How To Make No-Sew Curtains?
This is the simplest way to DIY your curtains without sewing. You only need an iron-on hem tape and fabric glue/adhesive.
Step 1: Apply Fabric Glue To The Hems
Apply a strong adhesive to the raw borders and fold them together. This would hide the seams and make the drapes appear neat. Fabric glue creates a strong bond & does not lose its efficacy in the washing machine.
Step 2: Add An Iron-On Header Tape
Measure and fold the top hem of the curtains. Attach a fusible header tape by ironing it onto the fabric. This header tape will give shape to the tapes and even form pleats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How To Make Simple Lined Curtains?
First, trim the face fabric and lining to the same size. Second, place the lining on top of the textile and sew it together. Third, sew the drapery header. And fourth, stitch the final curtain hem and hang your simple lined curtains.
What Stitch Is Best For Drapes?
Straight stitch is the easiest (if using a sewing machine) and gives curtains a polished look. If sewing by hand, a simple running stitch would be the best option. We recommend a blind stitch for hemming the drapes for an invisible-thread look.
How To Cut Curtain Fabric Perfectly Straight?
Cutting in a straight line is easy if you have a long ruler & a rotary fabric cutter. Iron the curtain fabric and spread it on a flat surface to eliminate wrinkles. Now, place a clear fabric ruler as a guide and trim the fabric with the rotary cutter. To cut a slippery fabric, sandwich it between sheets of tissue to add grip. And trim one layer at a time with a sharp blade.
What Common Curtain-Making Mistakes To Avoid?
Skimping on the fabric width is a common mistake. The result: narrow curtains that look cheap. Most people forget to steam the curtains before hanging, which ruins the beauty. Do not forget to use the right needle according to the fabric weight.
Final Insights
To sum up, this article provided a step-by-step tutorial for sewing curtains at home. Making drapes from scratch can be a fun DIY project. Given that you know how to choose the fabric and get measurements, in-depth information on which we provided in this guide. Use sharp scissors & a dependable sewing machine and pay attention to pattern matching. If you can’t sew, you can still make curtains with a glue gun.
We hope this guide helped you make your own drapes at home. If you need more information, contact us – the leading curtain supplier in Dubai.