Making Curtains

hug0

Hi everyone,

I have pretty much no experience making curtains except for sewing in primary school! Would I need to do a course to learn? If so could someone recommend a course in north dublin pref around dublin 15?

Also would a regular sewing machine be ok? I bought the material and its not that heavy. Really interested in learning.

looksee

Once you have sussed measuring, making curtains really is not that difficult. An ordinary sewing machine is fine. The biggest problem is managing the amount of material, I find a good area of floor space is handiest.

What style of curtains are you making? And are you already handy with a sewing machine?

hug0

I wouldnt say Im handy havent used one in years! I basically want to make one curtain that will hang across a small kitchen window.

Im a little confused on how to measure material needed for one curtain. The width of the window is 56 inches and 49 length. Thats with the extra 6 inches included on either side.

I will use a pole to hang them with. Should the lining material be a similar type of material to the main curtain?

G453

You need to double the width of the window and then add the 6 inches on each side. Then you minus 2 inches each side for the lining. So its, 56+56=112+12" extra=124 in total for the actual curtains and then 124-4"=120 for the lining.

Lining material should be lighter than material. If your unsure ask in a fabric shop what they would recommend to use as lining with your fabric. As its a kitchen window your dressing I'm guessing you wouldn't be concerned about blackout lining or anything like that, its just to make the fabric hang better and create a nice finish, basic curtain lining will suit your requirements if this is the case.

Good luck!

looksee

I was going to write out detailed instructions, but a picture is much simpler, and this site gives good instructions http://www.alternative-windows.co.uk/tabtop-curtains.htm
There is a series of youtube videos, but apart from the fact that it is in about 10 parts, the instructions are not that great.

For tab top curtains you do not need as much material as gathered curtains, one and a half would be loads, or the 20% suggestion that they make.

If you want to line them I would suggest you cut your fabric about an inch narrower and an inch shorter than your curtain material. Machine side turnings of half an inch, and turn up the bottom edge so it is just about an inch shorter than the curtain. When you stitch the top tab panel on at the back of the curtain put the lining under it and incorporate it into the seam. It will not quite reach the edges of the curtain, but that is ok.

You can catch the lining to the curtain at the side in a couple of places, when you have hung it and it has relaxed. Your curtain will hang better than if you sew the lining to the curtain down the sides.

hug0

Thank you for all your help. Just a quick question if Im only making one curtain on on side would I need to double the width of the window?

Window width 42 + 12= 56inches of material needed?

looksee

No, double width is more suited to gathered curtains. If you get too much material in tab top curtains you cannot pull them back as the tabs take up too much space on the pole. They usually hang flatter than gathered curtains. If the curtain is going on the outside (ie the wall) rather than in the window space, you need a bit more width so that it overlaps the walls by about maybe 4 - 6 inches. So really you could use a little bit more than 56, just to give it a bit of fullness, but not too much. The tabs should be pretty well spread when the curtain is pulled across.

If your fabric is 60, use that, if its 48 or 56 you will have to match and add some. In both cases I would consider adding a matched strip on either side, rather than having a single join in the middle/off centre.