Shades of Blue Interiors

No-Sew Tutorial: Lined Curtains

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I’m squeezing in a post before midnight so technically this counts as my Monday post! 🙂 Summer has taken a toll on me! I’m either lazy or really busy and don’t want to bother with photographs! I’m hoping that my trip to Atlanta next week for Haven Conference will kick start my desire to start pumping out the posts…. organizing my time better… give me some motivation…. I need it. Desperately!
 
So here is a tutorial I did per the request of someone on Instagram who saw a quick pic I posted a few weeks ago of the curtains I did in my living room. I promised her I’d do a tutorial when I made another set for my master bedroom. I KNOW there are plenty of no-sew curtain tutorials out there. I haven’t read them all, only browsed a couple, and basically created my own version when I did it. So here it is ya’ll. And don’t hate me for perhaps repeating any information you already know! 😉

 

 What you will need:
 
2 cut pieces of 2.75 yards of home decor fabric — this fabric is by Jaclyn Smith Gatework Rot in Dove Gray 
(This is for 90″ panels. If you want longer, get more fabric, if you want shorter, get less fabric. Mind blown. I know.  I used a lovely geometric print from Joann’s for both my living room and master bedroom and steered clear of multi-colored prints. I like things that have a simple color palette with a bold pattern)
 
2 cut pieces of 2.75 yards of drapery liner. 
(This is especially good if you choose a light color fabric, it will allow you a little more privacy)
 
2 tubes fabric glue (I used Unique Stitch)
 
2 boxes of curtain ring clips (10 rings per box)
 
Measuring tape
 
Fabric scissors
 
Straight edge ruler
 
4 medium-sized washers (heavier the better)
(This is for the bottom of the panels, 2 washers per panel, to weigh down the fabric slightly, so it hangs nicely)
 
Iron & ironing board
 
and (optional) a curtain rod with brackets (if you want to actually USE the curtains;))
 Pre-steps, lay out your curtain fabric, print side down. Then put the drapery lining on top, shiny side up. Okay it isn’t *technically* shiny, but there is a side that has a sheen, which I’m calling shiny.

 

Ok, so hopefully this picture tutorial is pretty self-explanatory, but just for some extra info… because the liner is almost the exact width of the curtain fabric, you want to cut 1/2″-1″ off one of the edges so that it will fit nicely under the fold that you will create on both printed sides of the curtain fabric with the iron. When I say printed sides, I mean the very edge of the curtain fabric there is a 1″ gap between when the pretty pattern stops and and fabric actually ends. This is where it says the name of the fabric and whatever else information that I find irrelevant. You are going to fold this in and iron it. 
This is where it pays to have a large open space to work, so you can smooth out any bumps and bubbles. You want the fabric to be pretty smooth when you are ready to glue.
 
 
Pick a side that will be the bottom of the curtain. Then do this step:
I actually took this ruler/flat edge and marked 4 inches from the bottom several times along that edge, so that I would stay consistent when I did my fold. 
A tip: You will want to make sure and run a line of glue along the very edge of the curtain fabric as well, so that the curtain and liner are actually attached and you don’t just end up gluing the liner in half. That would be no bueno.
So, obvsies the above curtain isn’t *exactly* the same as the curtain pictured below. But my master bedroom is far from ready for a proper reveal. My living room is still a work in progress (especially that rug… ugghhhh), but it looks much better to showcase the curtains. 
 
Notice where I hung the curtains. I didn’t do it immediately over the window. I find it looks best (and many pros agree) when hung a few inches from the ceiling or crown moulding. 
I personally prefer the look for curtains lightly pooling at the floor. If you want them to look a little cleaner or more precise, raise your curtain rod to an inch from the ceiling. Or you can trim off a little extra fabric (before you start steps 1-9). 
So that’s it! Pretty easy, right? I did both of these panels in less than 2 hours on a Saturday night and I LOVE how custom it looks and how much it changes the look of the room. Bold prints in the color(s) you want are so hard to find, ready-to-go at the store with a reasonable price tag. This option, I found to cost about the same as standard panels at Target or Lowe’s, but instead of settling for a curtain that has to be hung at the top of the window and isn’t a print or color I LOVE, I now have something that is pretty, coordinating, custom, and even better… made by me! AND I didn’t have to whip out my sewing machine! These curtains can be washed too, since the glue is washable and super strong! 
 
So. Are you gonna attempt it? I hope you do! And then come back and let me know how it went… I want pictures! 😉

 

Comments

  2. Beautiful!! Do you remember the pattern name from Joanns? I love these. Just moved into a new home and have no curtains in the entire house!! Looks easy and reasonable in price.

    Thanks so much!!

    Reply

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