DIY Curtains and Drapes
Do-it-yourself curtains and drapes are easier to make than you might think. With a little bit of fabric, a staple gun and some creativity, you can fashion an interesting look for your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Selecting Fabric
Choose just about any type of fabric. You can use fabric from a store, old curtains, bedsheets or even towels. The amount of fabric you need depends on the type of curtains you want. For curtains covering the entire window, measure the window from the outside of the frame on one side to the outside of the frame on the other side and from the top of the frame to the place where you want the curtains to fall. Add four inches to the width. For example, if you have a window that measures 60 inches from top to bottom and 30 inches from side to side, you need fabric that's 60 inches long and 34 inches wide.
If you want cafe-style curtains or just a valance, determine how long you want the curtains to be, and add four inches to the width.
If you're planning to fold the unfinished edges under and secure with iron-on tape, add a seam allowance of an inch or so to those edges.
Full-Length Curtains
For full-length curtains, cut the fabric in two or make two panels that are each 32 inches wide. This will give you two panels, one for each side of the window. Take one panel and hold the upper edge to the top of your window frame. Using a staple gun, carefully staple the panel to the top of the window frame. Then hold the other top edge of the panel to the midpoint of the window. Staple that to the top of the frame. Let the curtain hang. It will bow out in the middle. Take the very middle of the panel and staple it to the top of the frame. Now you have what is starting to look like pleats. Continue to pull up and staple. Repeat on the other side.
Although these curtains are permanently attached at the top, you can tie them back with strings stapled to the sides of the windows. Tie back during the day and untie for privacy at night.
Valance or Cafe-Style Curtains
You can also make a valance or cafe-style curtains by making two panels, as you would for full-lenth curtains and stapling to the top of the window frame the same way. The valance or cafe curtains will cover only part of the window.
Tags: want curtains, window frame, cafe-style curtains, four inches, four inches width, inches from, inches wide