You Can Make Your Own Inexpensive Curtains

by Christopher

If you're looking for a way to pep up the décor of your home, you might think about new, inexpensive curtains. They come in numerous different colors, designs, and fabrics, and you can buy them ready-made. However, if you've looked at all the curtains available and still can find anything you like, maybe you should take a look at making the curtains. By making them yourself you'll be able to have the curtains you want at a price you can afford.

You don't need to hire a seamstress to make them for you, because you'll be surprised at what you can do on your own. By following the basic tailoring advice outlined below, you'll amaze even yourself.

Naturally the fabric you choose is the main item you'll need in order to make inexpensive curtains. Stick to fabrics like cotton, linen, polyester, and microfiber when you make your selection, because they will keep their shape and color better than some other fabrics do. Never use quilted fabrics which stretch or shrink, and avoid silky materials which discolor quickly. When figuring the amount of fabric you'll need to buy, allow for twice the height of the window and three times the width.

In the following paragraphs you'll learn some very simple techniques you can use to make your own curtains as well as methods for hanging them.

You won't believe how easy it is to make inexpensive curtains with rings. Start by sewing a 3" hem across the top of the fabric. Then you can sew curtain rings on at certain intervals leaving a gap in between each one to make the curtains easier to pull. You can even find clip-on rings at the store if you don't want to tackle sewing the rings on.

Button tab curtains are really simple to make. Using your sewing machine, make evenly-spaced horizontal buttonholes across the top of the fabric. Then make a tab to hang the curtain by for every button hole. The tabs will be basically loops of fabric with a button on the end. You can make them from ribbon or anything you like. Then you will button them to your curtain and hang the curtain by running a rod through the loops. Here's how you can make curtains that require no sewing. Buy the fabric you like and add 3" to the height and 2" to the sides of the measurements outlined above. You will also need a curtain rod, two tiebacks, two small hooks, and fabric glue. Take the rod and fold the fabric evenly over it so that the opening part is at the bottom. Using the fabric glue, tack the edges together. Attach the rod to the top of your window frame, and place the hooks on the wall right above the frame. Hook one tieback on each hook. Adjust the folds you want in the fabric, then loop the tieback around it and hook it back on the same hook the other end is on.

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29.10.09

A MOD HOMESTEADER might hear the word "curtains" and flash back to the Victorian brothel-esque velvet panels Aunt Ida put in her dour den. But framing, covering or simply adding decorative punch to your unsheathed windows needn't mean hiding your sense of style. Interior designers say all rooms deserve — really, need — window treatments. They add both functionality (blocking the sun, keeping Mr. Creepy's prying eyes out of your condo) and flair. And the pros also know that the curtain has closed on fluffy, too-sweet window frosting — and opened on low-key lines, punchy patterns and haute hues.

"Many people think window treatments are purely functional, but they're one of the more important parts of the decor, and one of the first things people notice," says Esther Steinfeld , trends blogger for Blinds.com .

Likewise, an undressed window looks just that: naked. "A clean, tailored drapery panel finishes a room and warms up the windows," says

Source: Express from The Washington Post (blog)