HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS | STEP BY STEP WITH VIDEO

Table of Contents

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS

Make careful measurements, choose the fabric, then cut, sew and hang your curtains. The pocket rod style is easy and an effective way to dress up your window. Even beginners will be able to make beautiful curtains. All you need to be able to do is sew a (reasonably) straight line!

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - SUPPLIES

With this simple method of how to make curtains, all you need is:

Thread - for beginners a matching color will hide any less than perfect stitching. Some curtain fabric is quite thick so make sure you match the thread to the weight of the fabric.
Fabric - The best type of fabric to use depends entirely on the end result you want. Do you want sheer curtains to let in light, blockout curtains for maximum privacy or something in between. See the next section for suggestions of fabrics to use. For beginner sewers, cotton fabric will always be the easiest to sew. .
Sewing Machine Needles - Make sure you have the right size and type of needle for your fabric. This is especially important if you are sewing sheer or heavy curtains.
Regular Sewing Machine Foot This is also called an all purpose sewing footer.
Iron and ironing board. Delicate fabrics may need a pressing cloth so the iron doesn't touch them directly.

curtain making supplies — How to Make Curtains - Supplies

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS WITH THE BEST FABRICS

The best fabric for your curtains will depend on the room, the style of the décor and if you need to block out light in a bedroom or just have a softly draped effect in a living room.

It is helpful to ask the fabric supplier to cut your fabric into the drops you need so when you are ready to start, your fabric is ready to sew. Just make sure they cut straight. Alternatively, ask for a few extra inches so you can straighten the bottoms at home. A lot of cotton fabrics will need pre-shrinking, however, dry cleanable upholstery fabric should be good to go. Many fabrics shrink so always wash before you start cutting the lengths.Here is how to make curtains using the best fabric to suit the look you like:

For sheer curtains - cotton voile, polyester voile, lace, muslin. Many of these fabrics are harder to sew so don't choose these if you are a beginner.

For regular curtains - home decor fabrics, cotton, drill, synthetics. Home decor cotton fabrics tend to be medium weight and are generally easy to sew. Choose darker colors if you want the maximum amount of light to be blocked out.

For blockout curtains - lightweight canvas, heavy cotton, blockout curtain fabric.-
If you want light-blocking curtains, the fabric should be tightly woven so it doesn't let much light in. Darker colors and busy patterns can also help block light. In addition, when learning how to make curtains, look for fabrics with a blockout coating on the back. This is a plastic-style coating (usually white) bonded to the back of the fabric.

How to Make Curtains - Best Curtain Fabrics

EXTRA TIPS ON FABRIC CHOICE

It is also important to be realistic about what your sewing machine can handle. Don't try and sew really heavy fabric with a domestic machine as it might be too thick on the hems where you have to sew through a few layers.

If you are a beginner I wouldn't recommend fabrics like silk and velvet as they are much harder to sew. Stick to simple cotton that will be easy under your machine foot.

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - MEASURING

The secret to success is careful planning and measuring.

ROD POSITIONING

If you haven't already, install your rods. There are two installation options to choose from, either fitted inside the window area or hanging outside the window area.

Bigger windows in living rooms and bedrooms look best with the rod above the window and the curtains hanging to the ground. This can also make a room look bigger.
Smaller windows, like kitchen windows or bathroom windows, may have the curtains fitted inside the window.

TIPS FOR MEASURING

Measure the width of your rod between the brackets.
Measure your desired curtain length. This may be to the bottom of the window or to the ground. Longer curtains make the room look bigger. For small windows with an inset rod, it is important to measure the length accurately so the curtain hangs well and doesn't fold over at the bottom.

Draw a scaled drawing of the window and then write in the measurements of the space to be covered. You can take this to the fabric shop.

*How to Make Curtains - Measuring Length*

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - FABRIC CALCULATIONS

Now you have a diagram of the window you can work out the amount of fabric needed for how to make curtains and each drape. Take into account the size of the rod that will slide into the pocket you create. The measurements given in this tutorial creates a 3 inch (7.5cm)casing which works best for rods less than 1.5 inches in diameter.

CUTTING FABRIC

How much fabric you need to buy depends on whether you want one curtain that goes all the way across or two curtains that meet in the middle. .

If you want one curtain

Fabric Width: (width of window x fullness)+ 2"
Fabric Length: (desired length + 12")

If you want two curtains

Fabric width: (½ width of window x fullness)+2"
Fabric length: (desired length + 12")

Metric Conversion

2" = 5cm
12" = 30.5cm

FULLNESS

So by now you have read the formula for how to make curtains and are thinking but what is fullness? This is simply how gathered you want the curtains. If you don't add at least a small amount of gathering your curtains will sit really flat and be hard to pull across.

gentle gathers: multiply your width by 1.5
full gathers: multiply your width by 2
sheer fabrics: multiply your width by 3

EXAMPLE OF HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS

My mock window for this how to make curtains tutorial was 24 inches (61cm) between the brackets and I wanted the curtain to fall below the window sill to a length of 16 inches (40.5cm). In real-life, this would be the equivalent to a small bathroom window.

I chose to have just a small amount of gathers so choose fullness of 1.5

For one curtain: cut fabric width (24"x1.5)+2"=38" and length of 16"+12"=28"
For two curtains (this is what I made): cut fabric width {(24/2)x1.5}+2"=20" and length of 16"+12"=28"

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS FOR EXTRA-WIDE WINDOWS

If you have extra-wide windows and the width of the fabric is not wide enough, you will need to add a seam. Making 2 curtains is also a better option. Most home decor fabrics do come in wider than normal widths.

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - STEP BY STEP

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - VIDEO

Here is the video showing you all the steps of how to make curtains, otherwise continue reading below. Subscribe to the Treasurie YouTube channelfor weekly sewing and craft videos.

How to Make Curtains VIDEO

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - PHOTO INSTRUCTIONS

Before you start, test a few scraps of your fabric to get the machine tension and stitch length correct. The best stitch to use on most curtain fabrics is a straight stitch in a medium length of around 2.5. If you have a specialty fabric you may have to adjust this. Curtains use a lot of thread so make sure you have a couple of spare bobbins wound.

STEP 1: HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - SIDESEAMS

On the WRONG side of the fabric, press both the sides by ½ inch (12mm) and then ½ inch (12mm) a second time to form a double fold hem. Stitch the hems with a straight stitch.

STEP 2: HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - CASING

On the WRONG side, press over the top by 3 inches (7.5cm) and then 3 inches (7.5cm) again to form a double hem. Stitch across the bottom of the hem to form a casing.

STEP 3: HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - HEMS

The final part of learning how to make curtains is doing the hem at the bottom.

On the wrong side, press up the hem by 3 inches (7.5cm) and then 3 inches (7.5cm) a second time to form a double hem.

If possible you should pin the hem and hang the curtain just to make sure you are happy with the length. The hem is nice and wide so you can easily make an adjustment.

Stitch across the top of the hem.

HOW TO MAKE CURTAINS - IN CONCLUSION

Thread the curtains onto the rod, hang the rod above the window and step back. Take a bow and listen to the applause for your final curtain call. Hooray, you've learned how to make curtains! Pocket rod curtains will always get an encore!