Beginner sewists often ask us how to hem curtains .
If you’ve ever struggled to locate just the perfect curtains for a window, you’ll know that creating them yourself is the best way to get precisely what you’re looking for.
Sewing them is easy and entertaining, and hanging something you’ve made may help to boost your self-esteem.
A terrific first-time project, you don’t even need a sewing machine to create curtains. You can even make them without sewing at all!
Sewing curtains by hand or with a sewing machine is a simple process that everyone can do.
Table of Contents
How to Hem Curtains : Essential Materials & Equipment’s
Materials
In order to avoid a hiccup midway through the process, be sure you’ve got everything you need before you begin. To keep things simple, we’ve compiled a list of everything you’ll need.
A piece of woven fabric
For your curtains, you’ll need a piece of cloth.
It is possible to purchase fabric from specialized shops that have hundreds of different varieties of cloth, or you may already have cloth lying around your house; old bedsheets, if large enough, may be utilized!
If you want to use curtains to cover a large window, your fabric should be at least four inches wider and eight inches longer.
Sewing Scissors
Sewing scissors are distinct from general-purpose scissors in that they are designed to last a lifetime if properly cared for and used.
At the absolute least, your scissors should be sharp and comfortable so that they can easily cut through cloth.
Weight of Drapery
Adding weights to your curtains can prevent them from swaying in the wind or swaying around.
You’ll need curtain weights, which may be purchased at craft shops, for this project.
Because drapery weights are particularly designed to eliminate any flaring at the seams, your drapes will seem more professional if you use them instead of magnets or pennies.
Thread with a Needle
Handheld needle and thread are still required even if you’re sewing with a machine. Precision stitching with hand-held needles is essential in almost every sewing job, and this one is no exception.
Because you won’t need a certain gauge for this craft, you may use whichever needle seems most natural to you.
An Ironing Board with an Iron
Having a decent iron and ironing board in your sewing room is a terrific investment, and this project is especially important since the fabric will be more evident than in other sewing tasks.
In addition, you’ll be able to ensure that the hems of the garments are perfectly straight, which will aid in the stitching process.
Yardstick
Anyone who plans to sew a lot will need a yardstick. You can buy a sturdy wooden yardstick at most craft shops, or you can purchase one online, and it’s excellent for this project.
However, a decent yardstick should measure inches and centimeters for this job, which is the only thing that matters.
Pins with a Straight Edge
For most sewing tasks, straight pins are essential because they hold your cloth in position while you stitch.
Even though they’re quite inexpensive, you don’t have to worry about them creating conspicuous holes in your cloth because to their thinness.
Rings that can be clipped
If you want to hang the curtains, you’ll need clip-on curtain rings to attach to the top of the ones you make for this project since they lack a top hole for a curtain rod.
Curtain rings may be found in a wide variety of styles, so you can select one that matches the look you’re going for with your curtains.
Let’s get started now that you’ve gathered all of your supplies!
How to Sew Curtains: A Simple Guide
Even if you don’t own a sewing machine, creating curtains is an excellent way to use one.
To complete the curtains more quickly, use a sewing machine, which will ensure that your threads are perfectly equal.
If you don’t have a sewing machine on hand, you can still make a lovely set of curtains.
Phase One: Get Your Fabric Ready
Make sure the cloth is ready to sew before you even begin.
The fabric should be at least eight inches longer and four inches broader than the window, as previously stated. Use fabric you already own and trim the selvedge first. The selvedge is a protective layer that is meant to keep your fabric from fraying, but you will not need it for this project.
Using a pair of scissors, cut the cloth in half from top to bottom, creating two curtain panels.
Even if you bought your fabric from a fabric shop, you should wash and dry it before ironing it to eliminate any creases.
Phase Two: Creating the Side Hems
Once you’ve turned your fabric the wrong way so the wrong side is facing you, iron your side hem to ensure it’s crisp before folding it to the back.
Using straight pins, hold it together by folding the side inside and ironing the hem edge again.
At this stage, you should have a one-inch thick double-folded hem with straight pins around the edge to keep it in place while you stitch.
A backstitch, rather than the more common running stitch, will help secure the hem and prevent any complications with the stitching down the road. If you’re not using a sewing machine, be sure to use the backstitch method instead.
When you’ve completed one side hem, remove the straight pins and do the same for the other side hems — one for this panel and two for the other.
Phase Three: Top Hems
Repeat what you did with the side hems but with a longer length by folding your top hem down two inches, ironing, then folding down another two inches.
Sew as near to the folded-in hem edge as possible, this time two inches from the fabric edge, and be sure to use a backstitch if you’re using a handheld needle for this step. Likewise with the second panel.
Phase Four: Hems at the Bottom
Using the same method as the top hem, fold the lower hem up two inches and iron.
Place the drapery weights as near to the top edge of the hem as possible and attach them to the inside of the hem every 18 inches.
Sew the weights to the cloth with a needle and thread and iron the hem for the second time. At this stage, the bottom of the curtains should have a double-folded hem with drapery weights.
Using a handheld needle and a backstitch, sew as near to the folded-in edge as possible, at a distance of two inches from the fabric’s edge. Likewise with the second panel.
Phase Five: Finishing the Curtains
Clip the curtain rings to the tops of both panels, equally spacing them, and hang them on a curtain rod after snipping any stray threads.
No-Sew Curtains
Even if sewing curtains is a simple job, you may still be interested in making your own curtains if you have problems with sewing machines or needles! Curtains can still be made without sewing, so don’t worry.
All-New Components
This method of producing curtains does not need the use of a needle and thread.
Fusible fabric tape is an adhesive that, when ironed, permanently ties fabric together. You may use whatever kind of fusible tape you choose, as long as it has the ability to attach fabric.
Instructional Differences
Almost all of the instructions are the same as above.
If you follow the directions, you should stitch the hem instead of cutting the fusible tape and ironing it between the folded-up hem and the wrong side of the cloth to secure it.
In the event that you’re still utilizing drapery weights, try ironing the weights with a little piece of tape in between them.
Keep in mind that various types of fusible tape may have different instructions; thus, follow the ironing instructions provided with your tape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Is it possible to hem curtains with a sewing machine?
We believe that hemming curtains using a sewing machine is the most reliable technique of shortening curtains that are excessively long – it is just as simple as using any of the no-sew alternatives available! In the event that you are going to shorten your curtains, it is probably best to hem them once and be done with them.
Is it possible to use hemming tape on curtains?
Take into consideration the usage of iron-on hem tape to permanently attach the hem to the curtain. Measure the width of your curtain and cut a piece of hem tape slightly shorter than the width of your curtain. Insert it within the hem of the curtain, precisely between the back of the curtain and the folded hem of the curtain. The top of the hem tape should be in line with the top of the folded hem.
Is it possible to cut curtains using scissors?
As soon as you have measured and laid out your new hem, cut off the extra curtain by following the pinned line with fabric scissors.
Conclusion
Even if you’ve never sewn before, you can still create your own curtains at home. Curtains may be playful and childish, beautiful and formal, or anywhere in between, depending on the fabric you pick and the length you choose.
